When families are involved with Child Protective Services (CPS), navigating the complexities of parental engagement within services and meeting parents where they are is crucial for reunification with their children. As social workers, we often focus on understanding the parent’s readiness for change, but we must also consider other dynamics.
Before engaging parents in specific services, we should ask questions such as, “Are there behaviors and actions the parents need to change? If so, do they understand what those actions and behaviors are?” Without that lens, sending a parent to a parenting class before they are ready to make changes, for example, may not have the desired positive impact we believe it will. We also need to think about the supports and resources the parents might need to achieve understanding.
Another consideration is that many parents involved with CPS are likely experiencing grief over the potential loss of their children and the disruption of their family life. Each stage of grief – including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – affects the extent to which a parent can engage in services. And yet, the progression through these stages (and support from social workers during this grief) is critical for effective engagement.
A parent’s own trauma history will impact their ability to trust and engage in services; trauma such as childhood maltreatment, racial trauma, domestic violence, historical trauma, and other forms. Mental health challenges and/or substance use disorders may also be present. These experiences reduce their ability to trust, form relationships, make decisions, problem solve, and parent effectively – and we have to engage parents with a strong understanding of these factors.
Knowing that CPS-involved parents are complex individuals who often face multiple challenges affecting their ability to engage in services, simply focusing on their readiness for change will not be sufficient support. Social workers should assess their needs as a whole and begin with:
- Understanding the parent’s readiness for change in conjunction with their potential trauma histories, mental health challenges, grief, and substance use.
- Adjusting the intervention strategy to meet the parent where they are. Make referrals when the parent is both ready and able to engage in services. Offer support and encouragement in the meantime.
- Recognizing that healing and readiness are not linear, but rather cyclical. A parent who stops engaging doesn’t necessarily mean they have given up. What else might be happening for this parent?
By understanding these dynamics and responding appropriately, social workers can better support parents involved with CPS in making the necessary changes to reunite with their children. Each parent's journey is unique, requiring a personalized approach that respects their readiness, addresses their challenges, and promotes their growth.