{"id":31718,"date":"2020-03-03T17:32:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T17:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caseyfamilyv2.wpengine.com\/initial-calls-icebreakers\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T21:40:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T21:40:34","slug":"llamadas-iniciales-rompehielos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casey.org\/es\/initial-calls-icebreakers\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfC\u00f3mo apoyan las llamadas iniciales y los rompehielos la crianza compartida?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The removal of a child is a traumatic experience for everyone involved. Children may feel isolated and afraid, their sense of identity and belonging deeply affected. Birth parents may experience shock, anger, and a profound sense of loss. Resource parents often feel unprepared to meet a child\u2019s needs, especially if they are given little information about the child, family, and the circumstances that led to the child\u2019s placement. Strategies to build trust and open communication between all involved are critical to ease the difficulty of separation and maintain family connections.<\/p>\n

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For decades, Louisiana\u2019s standard child welfare agency practices discouraged interaction between birth and foster parents, often leading to animosity and false assumptions about intentions. In 2016, Louisiana\u2019s Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) leadership decided to do more to build connections between birth and resource families to provide continuity of relationships, meet the full spectrum of a child\u2019s ongoing needs, and improve the likelihood and timeliness of reunification. The agency began consulting with the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI)<\/span><\/a>, a Youth Law Center<\/span><\/a> strategy to formalize the new path forward. By early 2018, Louisiana become the first state in the nation to adopt QPI statewide.<\/p>\n

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QPI is not a stand-alone program; it is a philosophical approach integrated into all levels of work to improve reunification outcomes for families. It represents a fundamental culture shift from an \u201cus-them\u201d adversarial dichotomy to one of \u201cshared parenting.\u201d This ultimately raises expectations for resource parents, intentionally including biological parents in their children\u2019s lives while they are in care, and improves communication among the children, their caregivers, and the agency.<\/p>\n

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For more information on QPI, please see What is the Quality Parenting Initiative?<\/i><\/span><\/a> and How does the Quality Parenting Initiative support healthy childhoods and co-parenting with birth families?<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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QPI has helped me to grow as a worker\u2026. QPI involves everyone from investigations, to foster care, to clerical staff, and even the security guards. Now that everyone is on board, it is making a huge difference in engaging families.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

— Kayla Auzenne, Child Welfare Specialist 3, Louisiana DCFS<\/cite><\/figcaption>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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Statewide adoption of QPI1<\/sup><\/a><\/h2>\n

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DCFS implemented QPI in stages, beginning in 2017 with two regions before rolling it out to the rest of the state. The QPI approach is designed based on the unique needs of particular communities. To that end, communities hold their own kickoff events to learn about QPI, define \u201cexcellent parenting,\u201d and identify the policy and practice changes necessary to align with that definition. In total, Louisiana brought together over 1,200 birth parents, resource parents, community stakeholders, agency staff, and other partners in regional kickoff meetings across the state.<\/p>\n

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Although each of the regions designed their own strategic approach, the overwhelming majority of participants recognized the need to improve communication and the exchange of information between resource parents and birth parents at the time of placement. As a result, every region adopted two core strategies to facilitate effective shared parenting: initial calls and icebreakers<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Bringing comfort to parents<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Also known as \u201ccomfort calls,\u201d an initial call<\/b><\/span> is the practice of facilitating a conversation between the child\u2019s birth parent and the child\u2019s new resource parent as soon as possible following removal to confirm the safety of the child, introduce caregivers to one another and exchange critical information needed to best meet the immediate needs of the child. The goal is not only to share important details to help everyone navigate this transition, but also to build a positive and trusting co-parenting relationship between birth and foster parents focused on the unique needs of the child.<\/p>\n

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For these calls to be successful, it is important that everyone involved is well prepared. Caseworkers let birth parents know upfront that they will call them as soon as they arrive at the resource home, and emphasize that, although they are understandably upset about the removal, it is critical to establish a positive, shared parenting relationship for the child\u2019s sake. Caseworkers stress that birth parents know their child best, and prepare them to discuss key topics \u2013 such as their child\u2019s favorite foods and bedtime rituals \u2013 to help ensure his or her emotional and physical needs are met.<\/p>\n

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Caseworkers also prepare the resource parent for the call once they arrive at the home. They help resource parents understand the family context, the birth parent\u2019s emotional state, and how this call is intended to alleviate everyone\u2019s concerns and anxieties. For those resource parents worried about how the birth parent will react, caseworkers also convey that they will be there for support and guidance if the phone call is not going smoothly. Resource parents can also use caseworker cell phones for these calls if they have concerns about the birth parent having their phone number. Caseworkers urge foster parents to begin the dialogue with birth parents by providing basic information about themselves, their family, general routines, and home environment.<\/p>\n

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Breaking the ice<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Another practice strategy to build trusting relationships between resource and birth parents are 30- to 45-minute icebreaker meetings facilitated by the caseworker in the resource home. These meetings happen after the initial call, within three to five days of placement, and bring the resource parents, birth parents, and child together for a face-to-face, child-focused meeting. The purpose is twofold: to share important information about the child and continue to build shared parenting relationships between the child\u2019s birth and foster parents. The focus of icebreakers is the child and his or her needs, such as their favorite foods. Icebreakers are not discussions about other matters, such as the reasons for placement, reunification timelines, case planning, or referral for services. If a face-to-face meeting is not feasible, icebreakers are held via Skype or as conference calls.<\/p>\n

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Similar to the initial calls, icebreaker meetings require careful preparation of all three parties \u2014 birth parents, foster parents and the child \u2014 by caseworkers. Caseworkers are trained to reassure birth parents that they are the experts about their child and to emphasize the meeting purpose: to make sure that the resource parents have all the critical information that they need to care for the child properly, and that birth parents aren\u2019t left alone wondering is their child is well-cared for and safe. Caseworkers prompt birth parents to be prepared to discuss a range of topics related to medical conditions, behavioral needs, daily care and routines, and feeding habits\/preferences. They also encourage birth parents to provide family history and identify relatives so the resource parent can help maintain ongoing extended family connections for the child.<\/p>\n

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Resource parents may also have some level of anxiety about the first face-to-face meeting with birth parents in their home, especially if their prior interactions with birth parents have been limited. They may struggle with differences in culture or rules, and may worry about the birth parent\u2019s reaction to seeing the child living in their home. Caseworkers remind resource parents of the purpose and value of these meetings and how important they are to the child in reducing the trauma of placement. Caseworkers also reduce anxieties by assuring resource parents that they will be present throughout the meeting to facilitate discussion and navigate any uncomfortable moments. They encourage the resource parents to ask birth parents about rules, routines, and other questions about the child which may have arisen since the initial call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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QPI is helping in all areas. Children have more stability in placements now because resource parents have the information they need about the child upfront. And birth parents are more engaged and empowered, which is leading to quicker reunifications.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

— Kayla Auzenne, Child Welfare Specialist 3, Louisiana DCFS<\/cite><\/figcaption>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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Benefits<\/h2>\n \n \n \n

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While DCFS is beginning to collect statewide outcome data on the impact of initial calls and icebreakers, surveys of resource and birth parents illustrate that QPI is having the intended impact on the following outcomes:<\/p>\n