Child and Family Service Child and Family Service ReviewReview

CFSR 101CFSR 101

Child and Family Service ReviewChild and Family Service Review

CFSR stands for the Child and Family Service Review. CFSR stands for the Child and Family Service Review.

It is the federal government’s review of state It is the federal government’s review of state child welfare systems. The CFSR examines child welfare systems. The CFSR examines the delivery of all child welfare services the delivery of all child welfare services including child protective services, foster care, including child protective services, foster care, adoption, family preservation and family adoption, family preservation and family support, and independent living. support, and independent living.

Child and Family Service ReviewChild and Family Service Review

The CFSR looks at the outcomes for children, The CFSR looks at the outcomes for children, youth, and families in three main areas:youth, and families in three main areas:

SafetySafety PermanencyPermanency Child and family well-beingChild and family well-being

The CFSR also looks at how each state supports and The CFSR also looks at how each state supports and could improve the delivery of child welfare services could improve the delivery of child welfare services

with things like,with things like,

Staff trainingStaff training Computer systemComputer system Policy changesPolicy changes Practice changesPractice changes RecruitmentRecruitment Training of foster parentsTraining of foster parents

The CFSR determines if The CFSR determines if the states are complying the states are complying with federal laws and with federal laws and provides state the chance provides state the chance to improve the quality to improve the quality

of of the services and the services and programs for children, programs for children, youth and families.youth and families.

What happens during the What happens during the Child and Family Service Child and Family Service

ReviewReview

CFSRCFSR

STEP 1STEP 1Statewide Self-assessment.Statewide Self-assessment.

During the Self-During the Self-assessment, each assessment, each state completes a self state completes a self analysis of it’s child analysis of it’s child protective services, protective services, foster care and foster care and adoption programs. adoption programs.

A state does this by A state does this by looking at data about looking at data about children, youth and children, youth and families being served, families being served, evaluating the state evaluating the state agencies strengths and agencies strengths and weaknesses, and asking weaknesses, and asking key stakeholders for key stakeholders for feedback about services feedback about services and programs. and programs.

STEP 2STEP 2On-site ReviewOn-site Review

The On-site Review of the state child welfare The On-site Review of the state child welfare program is conducted by a federal-state team.program is conducted by a federal-state team.This team evaluates the state’s performance by:This team evaluates the state’s performance by: Reviewing case recordsReviewing case records Interviewing children, youth, and families engaged in Interviewing children, youth, and families engaged in

services.services. Interviewing the courts, community agencies, foster Interviewing the courts, community agencies, foster

families, caseworkers, service providers, and families, caseworkers, service providers, and supervisors. supervisors.

Step 3Step 3Program Implementation PlanProgram Implementation Plan

(PIP)(PIP)

If a state does not meet the requirements for If a state does not meet the requirements for any areas of the CFSR, it has to develop a plan any areas of the CFSR, it has to develop a plan to improve those areas. This plan is called The to improve those areas. This plan is called The Program Improvement Plan or PIP.Program Improvement Plan or PIP.

Step 4Step 4Monitoring the implementation Monitoring the implementation

of the PIPof the PIP

After development of the (PIP), the state has After development of the (PIP), the state has two years to complete PIP activities and two years to complete PIP activities and improve practice in those areas where the improve practice in those areas where the requirements were not met. All activities requirements were not met. All activities related to improvement must be completed related to improvement must be completed within two years; however, the state has an within two years; however, the state has an additional year for its data to show if the state additional year for its data to show if the state has met it goals for improvement. has met it goals for improvement.

What happens if the state receives a What happens if the state receives a failing grade ? (F-) failing grade ? (F-)

If a state does not complete its agreed If a state does not complete its agreed upon activities or achieve its goals of upon activities or achieve its goals of improvement for areas addressed in improvement for areas addressed in the PIP, there will be financial the PIP, there will be financial penalties.penalties.

Who are the Stakeholders?Who are the Stakeholders?YOU ARE!YOU ARE!

Youth served by the child welfare Youth served by the child welfare agency have expert knowledge about agency have expert knowledge about the child welfare system in their state. the child welfare system in their state.

Other Stakeholders include;Other Stakeholders include;

State agency directorState agency director State agency social workers and supervisorsState agency social workers and supervisors Public agencies such as mental health, physical Public agencies such as mental health, physical

health, and educationhealth, and education Foster and adoptive parentsFoster and adoptive parents Birth parentsBirth parents Court representatives such as judges, Court Court representatives such as judges, Court

Improvement Program, and guardian ad litemsImprovement Program, and guardian ad litems Members of administrative review boardMembers of administrative review board