The principal tasks that I will be performing in that regard will be: conducting initial interviews in conjunction with assessments of need for services, participating in the team decision-making process to identify the most beneficial interventions, and helping to implement those decisions and facilitate those interventions. In general, my contribution will always be within the conceptual framework of making the most beneficial changes possible for all of the children, families, and communities that I serve and of minimizing any conceivable harm capable of being caused by social work interventions.

3. The Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services believes all families and children should have a voice in the decisions that are made about them. To that end, we utilize the Team Decision-Making approach. Please describe this methodology and its major components.

In principle, the concept of team decision making is designed to increase...

It is a mechanism intended to ensure the quality and consistency of decisions and to improve their outcome compared to decisions made by individuals in isolation. Toward that end, team decision making must always involve the family because the perception of meaningful involvement and genuine contribution to decisions affecting children is essential if families are expected to participate and cooperate with the department.
The family must genuinely believe that decisions are not reached without their input and they must believe that decisions are not being made in their absence. Finally, the other core component of this approach is the refusal to consider any information not capable of being discussed in meetings in front of all participants and beneficiaries. There are no secrets or confidential statements within the decision-making group.