Minnesota Child WelfareProgram Goals

SafetyPermanencyWell-Being

Contents

Background

Goals defined

23 Outcomes + 1 Supplement

Considerations/Activities

Summary

Background

2001 – Administration of Children and Families (ACF) implemented Child and Family Service Review (CSFR) Outcome based child welfare review process Examines State CW systemic capacities Examines case specific performance on 7 safety,

permanency, and well-being outcomes and 23 associated performance items.

Very high standards = ongoing quality improvement

Safety GoalsDefined

Safety #1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.

Safety #2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.

Safety #1:Item 1: Timeliness of Initiating investigations of reports of

child maltreatment

Defined: Agency initiated a response IAW state policy; face-to-face contact with alleged victim IAW state policy.

Considerations: Nature of the report # of reports received by the agency (including

screened out reports) Initiated within required timeframes (Appendix A =

timeframes) Statute/rule supercedes SDM priority level

assignment Face-to-face early on in the assessment

Safety #1Screening and Assessment Supplement

Defined: Appropriateness of screening decisions and thoroughness of CP assessments

Considerations: Screening based on Intake Criteria & definitions in Minn. Statute Thorough assessments that addressed all allegations; sufficient

contact to assess safety & risk Determination of maltreatment based on preponderance Determination of risk based on assessment of risk Face-to-face SDM tools Agency sent notices of determinations in a timely manner

Safety #1:Item #2: Repeat Maltreatment

Defined: Determined maltreatment during period under review; if so, another determined maltreatment occurred within 6 months of that report

Considerations: Was there a least one cps assessment = maltreatment (Inv.) or

a risk assessment of at least moderate and post-assessment services were provided (FA)

If yes to either, then did, was there one other report resulting in an investigation or family assessment to reduce risk

Involve same offender or same general circumstances

Safety #2:Item #3: Services to Family to Protect Child(ren) in Home

and Prevent Removal

Defined: Reasonable efforts to prevent removal of children from their homes; agency made diligent efforts to provide services, while at the same time ensuring safety

Considerations: Determined reports of maltreatment or risk of harm Did agency provide services to prevent removal What type of services In-home services provided Why were services not provided

Safety #2:Item #4: Risk of Harm to Child(ren)

Defined: Agency made or was making diligent efforts to reduce the risk of harm to the children.

Considerations: Risk of harm = need for services or placement? Nature of risk or harm? Efforts to reduce or remove through specific

intervention Case decisions based on health and safety Any reports of maltreatment requiring a response

during the period being reviewed

Permanency GoalsDefined

Permanency #1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.

Permanency #2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children

Permanency #1:Item #5: Foster Care Re-entrites

Defined: Child’s placement history; specifically discharge followed by return to foster care for same general reasons with 12 months

Considerations: Child in Foster Care Re-enter foster care within 12 months of discharge from another

placement Re-entry due to same reasons Note: “Trial Home Visits” = not a discharge

Permanency #1:Item #6: Stability of Foster Care Placement

Defined: Placement is determined to be free from the risk of unplanned disruption, or a move not directly related to achieving permanency.

Considerations: Foster Care Change in placement # of changes Reasons Efforts to prevent unnecessary moves Agency’s support of the current placement

Permanency #1:Item #7: Permanency Goal for Child

Defined: Established an appropriate permanency goal for the child in a timely manner.

Considerations: Foster Care Most recent permanency goal Factors considered in permanency decision Permanency hearings within required timeframes Other more permanent goals considered/ruled out before LTFC 15 of the last 22 months; abandoned infant; parents committed

felony requiring TPR under ASFA Exception to TPR requirement – basis?

Permanency #1:Item #8: Reunification or Permanent TOC to Relative

Defined: Permanency goal achieved within 12 months of child’s most recent entry into care (14 if voluntary).

Considerations: Permanency goal = reunification or TOC to a relative Most recent permanency goal In care for at least 12 months If child is under 6, permanency hearing within six months Permanency goal changed Goal not achieved; what are the barriers Goal not achieved: what steps is agency taking

Permanency #1:Item #9: Adoption

Defined: Achieving a finalized adoption within 24 months of the child’s most recent entry into foster care; appropriate and timely efforts.

Considerations: Permanency goal = adoption How long in foster care Adoption finalized within 24 months Less than 24 months; but steps in place to finalize Child legally free for adoption Efforts to identify an adoptive family

Permanency #1:Item #10: Permanency Goal of LTFC

Defined: Achievement of a LTFC goal within 12 months (or 14 months on voluntary

Considerations: Permanency goal = LTFC Factors considered in determining goal Reasons goal selected Goal achieved Reasonable efforts to identify LT foster home; ensure

appropriate services provided to the child Planning for independence Ongoing reviews

Permanency #2:Item #11: Proximity of Foster Care Placement

Defined: Location of the child’s placement is close to the child’s parents or relatives.

Considerations: What is the proximity Reason for child’s most recent placement setting If at a distance, how related to child’s case plan/goals Location supports or inhibits achieving case plan/goals Impact of location on maintaining important family and

community connections Out of state placement = child seen within last 12 months

Permanency #2:Item #12: Placement with siblings

Defined: Siblings placed in together or separated because needs only met in separate placements.

Considerations: Placed with all siblings; one or more siblings; apart Efforts by the agency to place together Reasons for not placing together Clear evidence that separation is needed to meet children’s

needs Efforts to reunify siblings in care after needs have been met

apart

Permanency #2:Item 13: Visiting with Parents and Siblings in Foster Care

Defined: Agency is making diligent efforts to facilitate visitation among parents and their children, and between siblings in foster care & frequency is sufficient to meet the children’s needs

Considerations: Typical patterns of visitation between child and mother; & father Typical patterns of visitation between child and sibling placed

apart Forms of contact; Reasons for restrictions or prohibitions on visits Services to encourage more frequent visiting

Permanency #2:Item #14 Preserving Connections

Defined: Agency is making diligent efforts to preserve the child’s primary connections while in foster care.

Considerations: What are the primary connections of the child to: neighborhood,

community, faith, family, and friends. What are the unique characteristics of the family & child:

language, religion, values, beliefs, traditions, background, etc. Are the connections being preserved How does the FC provider support the child’s connections Did the agency comply with Tribal Authorities

Permanency #2:Item #15: Relative Placement

Defined: Agency made diligent efforts to locate and assess relative – maternal & paternal – as potential resources.

Considerations: Child placed with relatives? Both maternal and paternal relatives identified and considered Agency timely in identifying and evaluating relatives Non-custodial parent considered as a placement resource

before relatives? Reason relatives not considered Reason relatives not used for placement

Permanency #2:Item 16: Relationship of Child in Care with Parents

Defined: Agency made diligent efforts to promote and/or maintain the bond between the child and both parents through visitation and provision of services.

Considerations: Evidence of strong emotionally supportive relationship between child

and mother; between child and father Agency made efforts to promote or maintain bond with mother; with

father Factors affecting child/parent relationship Agency’s efforts to support parental participation in activities with the

child; involvement in decision-making What is the quality of visits between child and parents

Well-Being GoalsDefined

Well-Being #1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs

Well-Being #2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs

Well-Being #3: Child receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs

Well-Being #1:Item #17: Needs and Services of Child, Parents, and Foster

Parents

Defined: Agency has adequately assessed needs of child, parents, & foster parents; provided services to meet those needs.

Considerations: Needs of child(ren), mother, father, foster parents adequately

assessed & identified What assessment process or tool was used; adequate in covering

relevant areas Were underlying needs associated with obvious needs identified Needs addressed through services; for child, parent, foster parents Worker available to foster parent

Well-Being #1:Item #18: Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning

Defined: Agency involved child and parents in the case planning process; child and parents actively involved and consideration given to their input.

Considerations: Did the agency actively involve child, mother, & father in case planning

process Is there a current case plan (including a ILS plan for 16+) Was child and parent input considered What was child and parent involvement in identifying needs & services Efforts made to locate and involve absent parents Parents notified of changes in placement, plans, visitation

Well-Being #1:Item #19: Worker Visits with Child

Defined: Worker contact with child is sufficient to ensure adequate monitoring of the child’s safety and well-being.

Considerations: Typical visitation between worker and child Visits focus on issues pertinent to case planning, services, goal

attainment What is the child’s needs for visits What are the factors affecting frequency of visits Reasons for infrequent visitation

Well-Being #1:Item #20: Worker Visits with Parent(s)

Defined: Worker maintained sufficient face-to-face contact with mothers and fathers, to attain the children’s permanency goal & ensure safety & well-being.

Considerations: Typical pattern between worker and mother; and father. What were parent’s needs for contact with worker Frequency of visits with parents consistent with needs of the

child Location of visits Reasons for infrequent visits Did visits focus on pertinent issues: case plans, goals, visitation

Well-Being #2:Item #21: Educational Needs of the Child

Defined: The child’s educational needs were assessed and appropriate services were provided to meet those needs.

Considerations: If in foster care, was the child enrolled in multiple schools because of

placement What were the identified educational needs of the child What services were provided to meet those needs What testing/evaluation were performed to identify needs School records included in the file Attention to educational needs in case plan Educational records provided to foster parents

Well-Being #3:Item #22: Physical Health of the Child

Defined: Physical health needs of the child have been appropriately assessed; services designed to meet those needs have been or are being provided.

Considerations: If the child is/was in Foster Care; was initial health screening provided

within 30 days of entry – or did agency assure health exam within 12 months before entry.

Preventive health/dental care needs addressed Immunizations up to date Did child receive Tx for health/dental needs Agency’s tracking method for medical needs/services Health records provided to foster parents

Well-Being #3:Item #23: Mental Health of the Child

Defined: Agency has appropriately assessed the child’s mental health needs and services designed to meet those needs have been or are being provided.

Considerations: If the child is/was in foster care: was an initial formal health screening or

assessment provided upon most recent entry CMH screening tool completed Agency addressed children’s mental health needs How needs assessed What are the child’s current mental health needs Has the agency addressed mental health needs through Tx Services appropriate for identified needs

Summary

Ongoing examination of the child welfare system

Improve service delivery23 Outcomes + 1 Supplement

Enhance outcomes for children and their families