CWEL Exam Updated 2024/2025 Verified 100%

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - growing up (prior to age 18) in a household with stressful or traumatic experiences, including abuse, neglect, and a range of household dysfunction, such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with substance abuse, mental disorders, parental discord, or crime in the home, removal or displacement, three or more placements in an 18 month period. Response to trauma throughout development: young children (2.5-6 years) - helplessness and passivity, generalized fear, confusion, difficulty identifying what is bothering them, attributing magical qualities to traumatic reminders, fighting or threatening bx, attention problems, sadness/depression, separation anxiety, specific fears, low frustration tolerance, hyperactive, moody, aggressive defiant, lying, learning disabilities, social problems, suppressed immune system Child and Family Team Meeting - center of casework activities and how all other staffings, or mandatory case processes should have information flowing from and back to the CFTM. 5 key components. In child welfare, "practice" is - the means by which individuals and families are helped to change their bxs and circumstances Illinois Core Practice Model - anchored in a Family Centered, trauma informed, and strength based approach, often times referred to as FTS 9 Core Child Welfare Practices - -agent of change -form a helping relationship with the child and his/her family -conduct initial and ongoing assessment -provide information about the impact of trauma -advocate -provide behavioral support -linkage to appropriate services -coordinate all child and family services -cultural competenceWithout family connectedness child is at risk for - instability, depression, and even unemployment and delinquency CFTM 5 key components - Engagement, full disclosure, open participation, collaboration, planning for permanency. Response to trauma throughout development: school age children (6-11 years) - physical complaints, bedwetting, school failure/absenteeism, behavioral problems, attention problems, fighting or threatening bx, guilt feelings, acting like a parent to siblings, depression, defiant, lying, stealing, learning disabilities, inappropriate emotional responses, self-blame, hypersensitivity to physical contact, difficulties coordinating and balancing Response to trauma throughout development: adolescents (12-18 years) - antisocial bx, eating disorders, runaway, dating violence, depression, suicidal, substance abuse, sleeping disorders, school failure, absenteeism, relationship problems, acting like a parent to siblings, loses time, difficulty seeing a future for oneself 3 kinds of stress - positive stress, tolerable stress, toxic stress postive stress - moderate, short lived stress responses tolerable stress - More intense stress responses that allow enough time to recover, or occur in a relatively safe environment with the presence of supportive adults toxic stress - Strong, frequent or prolonged activation of the body's stress management system, without access to supportive adults 6 protective factors - Existing strengths of the family. Parental resilience(strong and flexible) social connections (parents need friends) knowledge of parenting and child development concrete supports in times or need social and emotional competence of children parent-child relationship Guiding principles for children who have experiences trauma - (pyramid from bottom to top) feeling safe (active process), regulating overwhelming emotions, building trust in relationships, making meaning, looking to the future vicarious trauma - An occupational hazard for people in the helping professions, where a process of change occurs because you care about other people who have been hurt, and are responsible to help them. 6 protective factors in everyday language - 1. Be Strong & Flexible 2. Parents Need Friends 3. Being a Great Parent is Part Natural & Part Learned 4. We All Need Help Sometimes 5. Parents Need to Help Their Children Communicate 6. Give Your Children the Love & Respect They Need First child welfare case was in - New York DCFS mission statement - Protecting children and supporting families is called the dual mandate. Even when children are separated from their families, we do not view the children and their families as separate units and support the children's membership in their families of origin. DCFS is ruled by ____ that become ______ and are made into ______. - laws, rules, proceduresSocial security act title IV-B - establishes requirements to receive federal funding for family support services, time limited family reunification services, adoption promotion and support servies Social security act title IV-E - eligible children receive foster care reimbursement to achieve permanent living arrangements. requires REASONABLE EFFORTS must be made to prevent a child from entering foster care and reunify a child with the child's family. Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - passed in 1978 as a result of congressional recognition of the importance of preserving the Native American heritage, culture, and communities. It was intended to address the best interests of NA children and their families by preserving fundamental generational and tribal ties. Inter-ethnic placement act (IEPA) - prohibits any consideration of children's race or ethnicity as a factor in deciding which permanent placement will be in their best interest children and family services act - specifies the general duties and responsibilities of DCFS Abused and neglected child reporting act (ANCRA) - requires the Department to receive reports of abused and neglected children, to investigate these reports, and to provide services necessary to prevent harm to children. Mandated reporters - DCFS field personnel, social workers, social service administrators, teachers, any other child care workers, priests, doctors ANCRA specifies that failure by mandated reporters to report suspected child abuse or neglect is a - Class A misdemeanor Confidentiality, who gets to see records - DCFS investigating reporters, caseworkers, law enforcement officers, court, caretakers/guardians, subjects themselves (w limits), physicians, researchers (w authorization), staff of the department of professional regulation, grand juries, coroners, and medical examinersJuvenile court act - (gives DCFS authority to intervene) Establishes the authority of Juvenile Court to intervene in the lives of children and families. All children in foster care fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court act. interstate compact on the placement of children - Governs the provision of care for children in foster care from one state to another permanency initiative - 1997 governor convened a broad based group to determine what should be done to achieve safe, permanent homes for foster children in an expeditious manner. Aristotle P V. McDonald - (aristotle needs to see siblings) Requires DCFS to make a diligent search to locate joint placement for siblings, as well as place siblings together, unless there are certain exceptions. (unable to, or child is at risk, special needs require different placements). IF can't be placed together then frequent contact by phone and mail are encouraged and visitation twice a month