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Child and Family Services Reviews
Cross-State Participant Responsibilities

Participation in the Child and Family Services Reviews administered by the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Cross-State participant (CSP) review team members will not have time during the onsite review to conduct other work or to consult frequently with their offices; the review schedule is very full, and events may extend into the evening hours, as necessary (for example, to conduct interviews with foster parents who cannot meet during daytime hours and for the team's daily debriefing meetings).

The general responsibilities of CSPs in the reviews include the following:

• Prepare for and participate in a Consultant Reviewer or State Team Training, which are conducted by the Child Welfare Reviews Project.


• In preparation for the onsite review, review the completed Statewide Assessment, Preliminary Assessment, and State policies, which will be provided in the Review Information Package distributed approximately 2 weeks before the onsite review.


• Work cooperatively with the Child Welfare Reviews Project to secure travel arrangements to the review (the Child Welfare Reviews Project books hotel sleeping rooms for CSPs; CSPs are required to secure air and ground transportation).


• Please note that States are responsible for the costs (air and ground travel, hotel, and meals) associated with CSPs' participation in reviews. CSPs should inform the Child Welfare Reviews Project when their travel arrangements are made, including providing the project with a copy of their travel itinerary.
• Participate in any scheduled orientation or training sessions before or during the review.


• Remain present at the review site(s) for the first 4 days of the onsite review, and participate in all scheduled review activities, from the local entrance conference through the local exit conference.


• Conduct all assigned activities associated with the review of case records and interviews, including completing the review instruments.


• Upon request of the Local Site Leaders, participate in focus groups, open forums, or other group meetings scheduled during the onsite review.


• Attend daily debriefings of the local review teams, and present information on cases reviewed.


• Assist in compiling a summary of the team's findings during the onsite review.


• Conduct quality control of and then turn in completed review instruments for assigned cases and interviews before departing the review site at the end of the onsite review.


• Remain available for telephone consultation after the review, if needed, to clarify or supplement information recorded on the instruments.