DCS’ Practice Model is a blend of skills and values that support the agency’s mission, vision and purpose.
It is represented in the above image by a house. The DCS mission statement is printed on the foundation: "We champion Indiana’s future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination." The words "hope" and "joy" appear on the windows. This stands for the DCS purpose statement: "Ignite hope. Cultivate joy." On a cloud in the sky above the house is the DCS vision statement: "Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home." Off to one side in the foreground is a seated child who recites the agency's core values: "Safety. Permanency. Empathy. Accountability. Knowledge." The first letter of each value is highlighted to spell out "SPEAK."
Practice Model Skills
- Engaging:
Engaging involves open and honest dialogue in an encouraging, empowering and compassionate way to inspire others to share experiences and stories. Engaging is rooted in empathy, trusting relationships and personal connections leading to meaningful collaboration. This ongoing process is our foundational skill, vital to a family-centered practice and central to achieving outcomes related to child safety, permanency, stability, well-being and long-term view. - Assessing:
Assessing is the continuing process of gathering and synthesizing critical information related to the child(ren) and family’s story, strengths, needs, protective factors and culture to identify underlying needs, resources and essential connections to develop plans for safety, stability, permanency, well-being and long-term view. - Teaming:
Teaming means bringing people together with the child(ren) and family to share ideas, find solutions and make plans to achieve goals related to safety, permanency, stability, well-being and long-term view. Teaming champions the voice of the family through collaboration with DCS, essential connections and key partners to identify and establish safety networks, safety plans and pathways to permanency. - Planning:
Planning involves leveraging the partnerships created through engaging, assessing and teaming to create meaningful action steps to address the identified safety concerns, risks and needs of the child(ren) and family. It establishes shared accountability for the development of safety plans, case plans and permanency plans which, where possible, include the role and voice of the child(ren) and family. - Intervening:
Intervening is the implementation of activities identified during the planning phase. Quality intervention ensures that service referrals, identified supports and resources are individualized and specific to the child(ren) and family, support desired outcomes and goals, and address underlying needs while mitigating barriers to child safety, permanency, stability, well-being and long-term view. Interventions should motivate commitment to change, ignite hope, and cultivate joy and a promising outlook for lasting change.
Core Values: SPEAK
- Safety:
We endeavor to create and ensure spaces free from maltreatment for all children. - Permanency:
We strive to connect children to secure and lifelong relationships and forever homes with supportive caregivers. - Empathy:
We demonstrate compassion, care and concern in each interaction with each other and those we serve. - Accountability:
We are accountable to best practice and a higher standard of service to children and families by following through and honoring commitments. - Knowledge:
We equip, train and develop team members to provide quality service to children, families and communities.