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Executive Summary of the

2012-2015 Strategic Planand Proposed Action Steps

January 2013

Healthy, Safe, Smart and StrongHealthy, Safe, Smart and Strong

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The DCF Mission…

In partnership with families and communities, we will advance the health, safety and learning

of the children we serve, both in and out of school, identify and support their special talents,

and provide opportunities for them

to give back to their communities and to leave the Department with

an enduring connection to a family.

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DCF Cross-Cutting Themes

Implement strength-based family policy, practice and programs Apply the neuroscience of child, adolescent and adult 

development with an emphasis on the role of toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences on the early and later development of cognitive , social, emotional and physical health

Expand trauma-informed practice and culture Build new community and agency partnerships Improve leadership, management, supervision and

accountability Become a learning organization.

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If we are successful, children will be…44

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For children to succeed,context and partnerships matter…

Time Matters…. Especially for children

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How will we get there?6

Healthy, Safe, Smart and Strong

Structure of the Proposed Plan

Part I: Setting the Context

Part II: Anchoring the Strategic Plan in RBA

Part III: Fitting the Pieces Together

Part IV: Proposed 2012-2015 DCF Strategies

Part V: What would success look like? (to be added)

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Proposed action items8

Strategy #1. Invest in prevention, health promotion, early intervention and educational success1.1 Develop and implement DCF Health Framework1.2 Implement DCF Education Framework1.3 Implement DCF Early Childhood Framework1.4 Increase agency work and investment in prevention

Strategy #2. Apply strength-based, family-centered policy, practice and programs agency-wide2.1 Fully implement Child and Family Teaming2.2 Support and evaluate the DCF Family Assessment Response 2.3 Assure sibling connections2.4 Expand and support kinship foster family care2.5 Expand the DCF Fatherhood Initiative2.6 Ensure that clinically appropriate case plans are developed with child,

family, and others per Juan F. Consent Decree case planning requirements

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Proposed action items

Strategy #3. Develop and increasingly invest in regional networks of in-home and community services

3.1 Build out the DCF regional structure3.2 Expand regional service system development3.3 Expand family and community services3.4 Increase family foster care recruitment and support3.5 Implement federal trauma and housing grant awards3.6 Implement DCF Health Framework to address children’s medical, dental,

mental health, and other needs per Juan F. Consent Decree Outcome measure 15

Strategy #4. Continue congregate rightsizing and redesign4.1 Redesign services at the Albert J. Solnit Children's Center, North & South4.2 Redesign services at the DCF CT Juvenile Training School 4.3 Better utilize Behavioral Health Partnership data re: service needs and

delivery4.4 Continue private sector congregate redesign and rightsizing

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Proposed action items10

Strategy #5. Focus on identified populations of children and families 5.1 Develop permanency plans with family connections for DCF youth without them5.2 Assure that DCF youth transition to adult services offered by other state or

community agencies in a timely and effective manner5.3 Assist families with multi-generation and/or chronic substance abuse, domestic

violence or mental health problems and/or have an incarcerated parent to improve their ability to care for, support and protect their children in DCF care

5.4 Improve well-being for young children (B-6) in the care of young parents, grandparents or families in 5.3

Strategy #6. Support collaborative partnerships with communities and other state agencies

6.1 Expand interagency agreements as needed6.2 Implement interagency real time data exchange6.3 Link with community collaboratives6.4 Link with early childhood community partnerships6.5 Participate in national initiatives

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Proposed action items

Strategy #7. Support the public and private sector workforce 7.1 Expand DCF Worker Support teams7.2 Continue DCF staff leadership development through coaching and mentoring7.3 Expand DCF Provider Academy training partnerships and courses7.4 Support public-private sector training in family-centered and trauma informed

practice, and the neuroscience of development7.5 Establish a Continuum of Care Partnership Training Structure

Strategy #8. Increase the operational capacity of the Department to effectively manage both change and ongoing operations

8.1 Revise policies and practice guidance8.2 Improve management practices, including implementation of Results Based

Accountability and performance contracting8.3 Expand internal DCF data systems8.4 Expand the use of evidence-based and promising program models8.5 Utilize DCF Change Management and Communities of Practice8.6 Improve strategic communications8.7 Expand workforce development and training (see Strategy 7)

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Proposed action items

Strategy #9. Develop revenue maximization and reinvestment priorities and methods

9.1 Continue fiscal planning based on the Strategic Plan9.2 Continue fiscal reallocation to family and community services9.3 Expand federal revenue maximization9.4 Create fiscal partnerships for Social Impact or Social Entrepreneurship 9.5 Expand philanthropic partnerships and support, especially related to

innovation

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On any given day, there areat least 25,000 reasons to get this right…

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1414For more information…

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Go to http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=516538