Transcript Document

North Dakota
Children and Family Services
Review
Paul Ronningen, Division Director
Don Snyder, Permanency Unit
Manager
1
Vision Statement
To provide quality,efficient and
effective Child Welfare Services to
ensure positive outcomes for children
and families in North Dakota.
2
Goal
 To meet Federal Outcome Standards
for Children and Families in the areas
of Safety, Permanency and Well-Being

To achieve and maintain an average of
97% in case file reviews state wide.
3
History of the N.D. CFSR
• The North Dakota Children and Family
Services Federal Review was completed
in 2001
• North Dakota’s Program Improvement
Plan consisted of two major components
– To replicate the Federal CFSR Process
within the state
– To implement the Wrap Around
Process utilizing the Single Plan of
Care.
4
The Development of the North
Dakota CFSR
Plans were made to replicate the
Federal CFSR process within the 8
Regions of the State. The following
processes were developed and
implemented.
5
The State Review Team
•This
team consists of Department of
Human Services/Children and Family
Services Division serves as quality assurance
and site leaders.
•Roles
include coordinating the review
process within the region; conducting
entrance, exit, and stakeholder interviews;
providing leadership, quality assurance and
debriefing; developing and releasing final
reports; and coordinating program
improvement efforts.
6
The Case File Review Team
•
50 child welfare staff were recruited and
trained. Each reviewer must be culturally
competent and knowledgeable of Tribal
differences and customs.
•
There is Native American Representation
on each Review Team.
•
Using Child Welfare Staff as reviewers
serves a dual purpose. Following the
review, workers are able to implement
areas of best practice within their own
counties and tribes.
7
The Case File Draw Process
•8
files per region are randomly chosen.
Typically 4 of these files are foster care cases,
while the other 4 files involve the child
receiving child welfare services while
remaining in the home.
•These
files represent Counties, Native
Americans, and the Division of Juvenile
Services.
•The
Single Plan of Care Process is also
reviewed, using a modified Instrument.
8
The Stakeholder Interview Process
The Interview Schedule:
Tuesday:
9 a.m. – Caseworkers
12 noon - Legal/Court
3:30 p.m. - School/ Education
6:30 p.m. - Foster Parents
Wednesday: 10 a.m - Community Service Providers
2 p.m. – Administrators
Legislative
Members and County Commissioners were
recruited to attend these groups. The Supreme Court staff
are a permanent member and attends all reviews.
9
The Case File Review Process
There
are a total of four teams with at least two
experienced members and one trainee. Each team is
responsible for reviewing one file per day, for a total of two
files per review. The Schedule is as follows:
Tues/Wed: 8 a.m. – Entrance Interview
8:30 – Staffing
9 a.m. – Review of Case Files
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Interviews
4 p.m. – Completion of Review Instrument
5 p.m. – Debriefing
Thursday:
8 a.m. – Debriefing
2 p.m – Exit Interview
The
Review Instrument has been computerized and lap
top computers are utilized by the Reviewers.
10
The Quality Assurance Process
A member of the State Review Team is
available to assist the Case File Reviewers
throughout each day.
The State Review Team reviews each of the
completed instruments. A Regional
Supervisor is also in attendance. Comments
and recommendations are provided.
The instrument is returned to the Case File
Review Team who makes any necessary
changes, and prepares for the debriefing
process.
11
The Debriefing Process
•The
State Team and the Review Teams meet at:
•Tuesday
@ 5:00 p.m.
•Wednesday
@ 8:00 a.m.
•The
Review Team provides background information, a
case history, a list of who was interviewed, and the
individual ratings for all items and outcomes on the
review instrument for their individual case
•An
open discussion is held and decisions are made
regarding specific ratings
•Challenges
and strengths regarding the Child Welfare
System and/or Individual Files are noted
12
The Final Reporting Process
• Copies of the Review Instruments, Rating
Scales, and Stakeholder Comments are
forwarded to the Regional Supervisor and
County Directors.
• The County is responsible for submitting
a Program Improvement Plan to address
any Items or Outcomes not rated as
Strengths or Substantially Achieved.
• Stakeholders are also sent Stakeholder
Comments and Rating Scales.
13
The Definition and Philosophy of the
North Dakota Wrap Around Process
Wraparound is a process, not a program.
The process maintains that the family is the “expert” to their own
family.
The Child and Family Team is integral to the process.
The Single Plan of Care is the computerized treatment/service
plan that supports the Wraparound Process.
Planning efforts revolve around the individualized strengths and
needs of the child and family.
14
The Implementation of the
Wraparound Process in North Dakota
A decision was made for the wraparound process
to be utilized within those agencies providing
child welfare services throughout the state.
Coordination among agencies led to the
implementation of a training team.
County, Division of Juvenile Justice, PATH, Public
School, and Partnership Employees were trained.
The Single Plan of Care Document was
developed and implemented.
Training and Implementation efforts continue.
15
THE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM
The team consists of the child and family, and
those persons most pertinent in the life of the child
and family.
The team develops a plan to prevent the removal
of a child from the home, or to promote
reunification of those children currently in foster
care
The team meets on a regular basis to provide
ongoing support and to update the plan
The team “wraps” services and supports around
the family to ensure their safety, permanency and
well-being
16
THE SINGLE PLAN OF CARE
(SPOC)
A computerized treatment/service plan that
supports the Wraparound Process
Incorporates a comprehensive assessment of the
strengths and needs of a child and family in all life
domains
Developed based on the specific strengths and
needs of the child and family
Developed by the child and family, with assistance
from the team
Consists of specific tasks and measurable
outcomes
Promotes the use of formal and natural
supports/resources
17
Safety Outcomes
Item
National ND
Standard Review
2001
ND
Review
2003
ND
Review
2004
1
2
3
4
92
90
83
90
86.4
88.5
75
81.3
87.5
88.4
94.7
92.7
92
89.3
93
78.0
18
Permanency Outcomes
Item
Nat. Standard
ND 2001 ND 2003 ND 2004
5
92
84.7
83.3
81.8
6
87
86.2
92
96.7
7
90
90
92
96.7
8
83
83
93.3
89.5
9
32
44
50
100
10
85
90
100
85.7
11
89
89
100
100
12
90
90
100
100
13
85
91
100
88.9
14
90
92
92
89.7
15
90
91
85
88
16
87
87.5
90.9
89.3
19
Well-Being Outcomes
Item
Nat.
Standards
ND
2001
ND
2003
ND
2004
17
90
50
76.2
81.7
18
80
80
85.7
90
19
90
78
78.6
91.5
20
82
82
75.6
86.2
21
90
91
92.3
96.1
22
90
91
80
87.5
23
90
80
62.9
88.9
83
83.7
90.1
Overall
20
Recommendations
 The inclusion of State Legislators and County
Commissioners.
 The Supreme Court Representatives are
permanent members of the Stakeholder staff.
 The majority of reviewers should consist of
County Social Service staff.
 Promoting the content, location, and
frequency of worker/child and worker/parent
visits are paramount.
21
Recommendations (cont.)
Ongoing
in-depth reviews of those cases
involving children in care for over 18
months
The
implementation of the Wrap Around
Process utilizing the Single Plan of Care
In-depth reviews of those cases involving
repeat maltreatment
Develop and implement two special Native
American project to meet the deficiencies
of a shortage of Native American
foster/adopt homes.
22
Action Items
– Continuation of Actions identified on the State
Program Improvement Plan
– Continued implementation of the Wrap Around
Process
– Continuation of State CFSR Process
– Expanding Cultural Competency within North
Dakota’s Child Welfare System
– Collaboration with Tribes to tie in Safety,
Permanency, and Well-Being with Native
American cultural components such as the
Medicine Wheel
– Expand our final reporting process to include
updates to tribes that were a part of the
review process.
23
ACTION ITEMS (cont.)
A
sub-group of the review team will make
follow up site visits to those regions where
challenges were identified with in 120 days.
Expanding
our efforts to improve Foster Care
Re-Entry Outcomes
NRC
will be conducting a Review of ReEntries into Foster care in North Dakota
24
2005 Update on Case Ratings
• 4 of North Dakota’s 8 regions have been
reviewed to date.
• Out of these 4 regions, a total of 32
cases have been reviewed.
• Overall Ratings are 95%, 100%, 97.2%
and 99.1% For an overall of 97.8%
• Great Work North Dakota!
25