implementing best practice standards in permanency planning
DESCRIPTION
Implementing Best Practice Standards in Permanency Planning. James Biesecker, MS Sue Cohick, MSW Mike Kovacevic, MS. How long should children wait for permanency?. SWAN History 1992-2000 2000-2003 Mission Assure Permanency for Children. Building the Permanency Framework. SWAN - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Implementing Best Practice Standards in Permanency Planning
James Biesecker, MSSue Cohick, MSWMike Kovacevic, MS
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
How long should children wait for permanency?
SWAN History
1992-20002000-2003
MissionAssure
Permanency for Children
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Building the Permanency Framework
SWAN Program Objectives
“systems change” Collaboration in Decision Making Best Practices to assist CYS agencies address:
ASFA & CFSR Program Outcomes
A Model for Systems Change Standards for Best Practice: Safety,
Well-being and Timeliness for Children Permanency for Children
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:
OutsideInfluences
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: SWAN Network
Systems Change Model:Level I Participants
OutsideInfluences
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: CQI Committee
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:Level II Participants
OutsideInfluences
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Oversight Committee
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:Level III Participants
OutsideInfluences
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: State/Federal Administrators
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:Level IV Participants
OutsideInfluences
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:Outside Influences
*ASFA*CFSROutcomes*PIP*ConcurrentPlanning*State Law*SWAN Bulletin andHelp Library
BestPractice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Level IV: Policy Stakeholders
Level III: Administrative Stakeholders
Level II: Management Stakeholders
Level I: Primary Stakeholders
Systems Change Model:Best Practice Outcomes
OutsideInfluences
Best PracticeTools and Instruments
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
*ASFA*CFSROutcomes*PIP*ConcurrentPlanning*State Law*SWAN Bulletin and Help Library
Level IV: State/Federal Administrators
Level III: Oversight Committee
Level II: CQI Committee
Level I: SWAN Network
Systems Change Model
Best PracticeTools and Instruments
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Affiliate Pilot Project:Goals
Assess current practice related to the following units of service: Family Preparation/Profile; Child Profile; Placement; Finalization.
Review benchmark data Make recommendations as to how practice
could be improved as it relates to the units of service and impacts safety, permanency, and well-being.
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations
Significant variances in the process between foster to adopt and “free standing” to adopt
Statewide policy has been revised to eliminate the variances
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations
Counties and affiliates had conflicting expectations
Benchmarks standardize practice so that Counties and affiliates understand their roles
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations
The goal change to adoption was a problematic “kick-off” point for service implementation
Services can now be initiated prior to the child’s goal change to adoption
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations
Counties and affiliates had varying interpretations of terminology
The benchmarks define expectations and language. Templates have also been created to provide additional clarity.
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations
There was no standardization to training elements for families
The benchmarks define essential components of family preparation
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Outside Influences & Best Practice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Outside Influences
Adoption & Safe Families Act (ASFA) Child and Family Service Review (CFSR) PA State Law PA standards for child welfare practice Concurrent Planning SWAN Bulletin and Help Library
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Adoption & Safe Families Act
Key Principles
Safety is paramount Substitute care is
temporary Permanency planning
begins as soon as the child enters substitute care
Concurrent Planning Timely decisions
within the child serving system
Innovative approaches
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Safety is Paramount
Bulletin
“Roles of Network Participants: Ensure safety and permanency for children in a timely manner”
Permanency Benchmarks Clearances References Home safety
checklist Child safety
assessment / Safety Plan
Supervisory visits
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Permanency Planning
Bulletin
Permanency includes adoption, kinship care, and Permanent Legal Custodianship.
The SWAN Prime Contractor must work in collaboration with all network participants to remove systemic barriers that impede timely permanency.
Permanency Benchmarks
Individualized Adoption Service Plan (IASP)
Child Specific Recruitment Plan
Child preparation plan Recipes for Success Post Permanency
Services
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Concurrent Planning
Bulletin
Legal risk placements
Children without a goal of adoption are eligible for child profile, child specific recruitment, and child preparation services
Permanency Benchmarks Child Preparation
Plan
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Timely Decisions
Bulletin
“All activities conducted through the network are intended to support the timely permanency of children in the custody of county agencies and to support families.”
Permanency Benchmarks
Timelines
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Outside Influences
Best Practice
Bulletin
ASFA
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Child and Family Service Review
Strengths
Efforts to prevent maltreatment recurrence
Ensuring that siblings in foster care are placed together
Physical and dental health needs of children are adequately addressed
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Child and Family Service Review
Safety items needing improvement per the CFSR
Stability of foster care placement
Permanency goal for child
Reunification, guardianship or permanent placement with relatives
Adoption
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Child and Family Services Review
Well-being items needing improvement (cont)
Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents
Child and family involvement in case planning
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Stability of Foster Care Placement
Bulletin Legal risk placements The child preparation
process must begin at intake, and be in concert with concurrent planning practices.
Realignment of foster/adopt services in the regular permanency services at the same payment rates.
Permanency Benchmarks
Disclosure meeting Review of child
information Child preparation plan
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Permanency Goal for Child
Bulletin Children without a goal
of adoption are eligible for services
Legal Services Initiative County agencies, at a
minimum, semi-annually review the child’s permanency plan, determine if a goal change to adoption is needed…..
Permanency Benchmarks
Individualized Adoption Service Plan
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Guardianship or Permanent Placement with Relatives
Bulletin
Permanency includes adoption, kinship care, and Permanent Legal Custodianship
Permanency Benchmarks
Family Preparation Family Profile
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Adoption
Bulletin When a family is
interested in adopting a child in the custody of a county agency, the network can help them to obtain timely permanency services.
Legal Services Initiative
Permanency Benchmarks
Timelines Individualized
Adoption Service Plan
Child Specific Recruitment Plan
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Needs and Services of Child, Parents, Foster Parents
Bulletin
Work in collaboration with all network participants to remove systemic barriers that impede the timely permanency of waiting children
Permanency Benchmarks Assigned affiliate
worker discusses case with County worker
Affiliate worker collaborates with county worker
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning
Bulletin
The family profile results have been reviewed with the adoptive applicants
Meet with the child to initiate engagement
Permanency Benchmarks
IASP Lifebooks Child Preparation
Plan
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Outside Influences
Best Practice
Bulletin
ASFA
CFSR
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
PA Standards for Child Welfare Practice
Assessment Service planning Service delivery Monitoring & Evaluation Management
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Outside Influences
Best Practice
Bulletin
ASFA
CFSR
PA Standards for Child Welfare Practice
DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03
Implementing Best Practice Standards in
Permanency Planning
Summary Questions
For more information contact:Mike Kovacevic, Family Design Resources