Motivation and Engagement Programs are defined by the CEBC as programs that increase the involvement of youth and/or families in child welfare or related services. Motivation and engagement programs typically involve working with family and youth in an inclusive, comprehensive, and results-oriented process that respectfully engages and draws upon strengths of the family. By valuing the perspectives of family members and all other participants, motivation and engagement work acknowledges, promotes, and maximizes the positive contributions of each member. This approach increases the likelihood of successful outcomes for the children and families involved.
Motivation and Engagement Programs are defined by the CEBC as programs that increase the involvement of youth and/or families in child welfare or related services. Motivation and engagement programs typically involve working with family and youth in an inclusive, comprehensive, and results-oriented process that respectfully engages and draws upon strengths of the family. By valuing the perspectives of family members and all other participants, motivation and engagement work acknowledges, promotes, and maximizes the positive contributions of each member. This approach increases the likelihood of successful outcomes for the children and families involved.
The Motivation and Engagement Programs topic area is relevant to child welfare because engaging families in constructive and trustworthy relationships is at the heart of effective child-welfare casework. Understanding motivation and engagement is essential to furthering child-welfare improvement efforts such as the Children and Family Services Review (CFSR) and its corresponding Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
Chris Mathias
Former CEBC Advisory Committee member
The Motivation and Engagement Programs topic area is relevant to child welfare because engaging families in constructive and trustworthy relationships is at the heart of effective child-welfare casework. Understanding motivation and engagement is essential to furthering child-welfare improvement efforts such as the Children and Family Services Review (CFSR) and its corresponding Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
Chris Mathias
Former CEBC Advisory Committee member
The Motivation and Engagement Programs topic area was added in 2006. Mark Chaffin, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2006 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2006 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Chaffin was not involved in identifying or rating them.
The Motivation and Engagement Programs topic area was added in 2006. Mark Chaffin, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2006 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2006 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Chaffin was not involved in identifying or rating them.
MI is a client-centered, directive method designed to enhance client motivation for behavior change. It focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence by increasing intrinsic motivation to change. MI can be used by itself, as well as in combination with other treatments. It has been utilized in pretreatment work to engage and motivate clients for other treatment modalities.
Multidimensional Family Recovery (MDFR) is a home- and community-based family intervention that addresses parental substance misuse and child maltreatment. MDFR is designed to help parents involved in the child welfare system achieve and sustain sobriety, provide a safe and healthy family environment for their children, comply with child welfare or court requirements, and prevent further child welfare involvement. MDFR provides certain direct interventions and also facilitates engagement in substance use treatment and other needed service for parents and children. MDFR promotes change in six domains: self of the parent, parenting/co-parenting, children & child safety, family relationships, intimate relationships, and basic needs and resources. Within these domains the MDFR counselors meet (a) alone with the parents, (b) alone with spouses/partners of the parent(s), grandparents, and other family members; and (c) in conjoint sessions with the parent and spouse/partner, co-parent, grandparents, children, and other family members as needed.
The Parent Connectors Program is a parent-to-parent support program delivered through weekly telephone calls to families of youth with emotional disturbance (ED) or at risk for emotional disturbance with the aim of improving academic and emotional functioning in youth.
Veteran peers are parents who have a child who has ED and who have had a history of relative success in negotiating the school and mental health systems, Veteran peers are recruited to serve as Parent Connectors (PCs). Once recruited, the PCs participate in a 16-hour training program consisting of didactic sessions, role playing, and sharing of experiences. Each PC is assigned approximately ten families to contact for about an hour each week by telephone and the PCs meet as a group weekly with a mental health professional (called a PC Coach) for supervision, support and to share experiences. The intervention is limited to 9 months.
The Signs of Safety approach is a relationship-grounded, safety-organized child protection framework designed to help families build real safety for children by allowing those families to demonstrate their strengths as protection over time. This strengths-based and safety-organized approach to child protection work requires partnership and collaboration with the child and family. It expands the investigation of risk to encompass strengths and signs of safety that can be built upon to stabilize and strengthen the child's and family's situation. Central to this approach is meaningful family engagement and, in particular, capturing the voice of the child. A format for undertaking comprehensive risk assessment - assessing for both danger and strengths/safety – is incorporated within the one-page Signs of Safety Assessment Protocol (this form is the only formal protocol used in the model). The approach is designed to be used from commencement through to case closure and to assist professionals at all stages of the child protection process.
The 4 Rs and 2 Ss for Strengthening Families Program is a program where families who have children with behavioral difficulties can participate in a group treatment to help improve family communication, family relationships, and satisfaction with services. Participating families have a child between 7-11 years old with behavioral difficulties and at least one primary caregiver who will participate in the group with the child.
The group topics focus on Rules, Relationships, Respectful Communication, and Responsibilities (4 Rs) and Stress and Social Support (2 Ss). Each session follows a similar format and focuses on the R or S of the day. There are discussions and activities to help caregivers, and their child learn how to use each R or S. Each week, there is also “Roadwork” (i.e., some activities to try at home).
The 4 Rs and 2 Ss has been adapted to be used with individual families, but that version has not been reviewed by the CEBC.
MI is a client-centered, directive method designed to enhance client motivation for behavior change. It focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence by increasing intrinsic motivation to change. MI can be used by itself, as well as in combination with other treatments. It has been utilized in pretreatment work to engage and motivate clients for other treatment modalities.
Multidimensional Family Recovery (MDFR) is a home- and community-based family intervention that addresses parental substance misuse and child maltreatment. MDFR is designed to help parents involved in the child welfare system achieve and sustain sobriety, provide a safe and healthy family environment for their children, comply with child welfare or court requirements, and prevent further child welfare involvement. MDFR provides certain direct interventions and also facilitates engagement in substance use treatment and other needed service for parents and children. MDFR promotes change in six domains: self of the parent, parenting/co-parenting, children & child safety, family relationships, intimate relationships, and basic needs and resources. Within these domains the MDFR counselors meet (a) alone with the parents, (b) alone with spouses/partners of the parent(s), grandparents, and other family members; and (c) in conjoint sessions with the parent and spouse/partner, co-parent, grandparents, children, and other family members as needed.
The Parent Connectors Program is a parent-to-parent support program delivered through weekly telephone calls to families of youth with emotional disturbance (ED) or at risk for emotional disturbance with the aim of improving academic and emotional functioning in youth.
Veteran peers are parents who have a child who has ED and who have had a history of relative success in negotiating the school and mental health systems, Veteran peers are recruited to serve as Parent Connectors (PCs). Once recruited, the PCs participate in a 16-hour training program consisting of didactic sessions, role playing, and sharing of experiences. Each PC is assigned approximately ten families to contact for about an hour each week by telephone and the PCs meet as a group weekly with a mental health professional (called a PC Coach) for supervision, support and to share experiences. The intervention is limited to 9 months.
The Signs of Safety approach is a relationship-grounded, safety-organized child protection framework designed to help families build real safety for children by allowing those families to demonstrate their strengths as protection over time. This strengths-based and safety-organized approach to child protection work requires partnership and collaboration with the child and family. It expands the investigation of risk to encompass strengths and signs of safety that can be built upon to stabilize and strengthen the child's and family's situation. Central to this approach is meaningful family engagement and, in particular, capturing the voice of the child. A format for undertaking comprehensive risk assessment - assessing for both danger and strengths/safety – is incorporated within the one-page Signs of Safety Assessment Protocol (this form is the only formal protocol used in the model). The approach is designed to be used from commencement through to case closure and to assist professionals at all stages of the child protection process.
The 4 Rs and 2 Ss for Strengthening Families Program is a program where families who have children with behavioral difficulties can participate in a group treatment to help improve family communication, family relationships, and satisfaction with services. Participating families have a child between 7-11 years old with behavioral difficulties and at least one primary caregiver who will participate in the group with the child.
The group topics focus on Rules, Relationships, Respectful Communication, and Responsibilities (4 Rs) and Stress and Social Support (2 Ss). Each session follows a similar format and focuses on the R or S of the day. There are discussions and activities to help caregivers, and their child learn how to use each R or S. Each week, there is also “Roadwork” (i.e., some activities to try at home).
The 4 Rs and 2 Ss has been adapted to be used with individual families, but that version has not been reviewed by the CEBC.
