Children's Bureau Website - Child Welfare Monitoring: Summary of Key Findings Fiscal Years 2001

Children's Bureau Child and Family Services Reviews Summary of Key Findings Fiscal Year 2001
The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews assess State performance during a specified period of time with respect to seven child welfare outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being, and with respect to seven systemic factors. Each of the seven outcomes is comprised of individual practices (referred to in the reviews as items), which are determined by the reviewers to be either strengths, areas needing improvement, or not applicable. In the attached chart, each of the practices reviewed is noted and marked with a "X" if the practice was found to be a strength for the State. Based on the findings relating to these practices, the State is determined to be in substantial conformity, partial conformity, or not in conformity with each of the seven outcomes and seven systemic factors. In the attached chart, if the State was found to be in substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review, an "S" is marked in the first column beneath that outcome or factor. With respect to the Federal fiscal year 2001 reviews, please note the following: Under Permanency Outcome 1, the practice referred to as "Independent Living Services" (item 8), was modified following the completion of the fiscal year 2001 reviews. In the later reviews, the focus was on reunification, guardianship, or permanent placement with relatives. The findings related to item 8 in this report, therefore, should not be compared to the findings for item 8 in 2002. Further explanation of each individual practice, outcome, and systemic factor is available in the Child and Family Services Reviews Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions, which is posted on the Children's Bureau Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/onsitefinal.htm.

Children's Bureau
Child and Family Services Reviews
Summary of Key Findings
Fiscal Year 2001

The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews assess State performance during a specified period of time with respect to seven child welfare outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being, and with respect to seven systemic factors.

Each of the seven outcomes is comprised of individual practices (referred to in the reviews as items), which are determined by the reviewers to be either strengths, areas needing improvement, or not applicable. In the attached chart, each of the practices reviewed is noted and marked with a "X" if the practice was found to be a strength for the State.

Based on the findings relating to these practices, the State is determined to be in substantial conformity, partial conformity, or not in conformity with each of the seven outcomes and seven systemic factors. In the attached chart, if the State was found to be in substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review, an "S" is marked in the first column beneath that outcome or factor.

With respect to the Federal fiscal year 2001 reviews, please note the following:

Under Permanency Outcome 1, the practice referred to as "Independent Living Services" (item 8), was modified following the completion of the fiscal year 2001 reviews. In the later reviews, the focus was on reunification, guardianship, or permanent placement with relatives. The findings related to item 8 in this report, therefore, should not be compared to the findings for item 8 in 2002.

Further explanation of each individual practice, outcome, and systemic factor is available in the Child and Family Services Reviews Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions, which is posted on the Children's Bureau Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/onsitefinal.htm.

Children's Bureau Fiscal Year 2001 Child and Family Services Reviews Summary of Key Findings
The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews comprise two phases: (1) the Statewide Assessment, during which the State analyzes its child welfare data and practice, and (2) the onsite review, during which Federal and State teams examine outcomes for children and families by assessing child welfare practices, and assess State systemic issues through stakeholder interviews. The following chart provides a summary of the findings from the final reports of the reviews conducted in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001. An "S" indicates that the State obtained substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review. A "X" indicates that the practice under review was found to be a strength for the State.
I. States' Conformance on Safety Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Children are first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.			Outcome 2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Timely Investigation of Reports of Child Maltreatment	Prevention of Repeat Maltreatment of Children	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Maintaining Child(ren) Safely in Their Homes	Reducing Risk of Harm to Children
Arizona	S	X	X	S	X	X
Arkansas	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Delaware	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
District of Columbia	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Florida	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Georgia	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Indiana	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Kansas	blank cell	X	X	S	X	X
Massachusetts	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Minnesota	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Mexico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X
New York	blank cell	X	blank cell	S	X	X
North Carolina	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
North Dakota	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Oregon	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
South Dakota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Vermont	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X

II. States' Conformance on Permanency Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Preventing Foster Care Re-Entries	Providing Stable Placements for Children in Foster Care	Establishing Appropriate Permanency Goals for Children	Providing Independent Living Services¹	Achieving Adoption	Achieving Permanency Goal of Other Planned Permanent Living Arrangement
Arizona	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
Arkansas	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Delaware	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
District of Columbia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Florida	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Georgia	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Indiana	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Kansas	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Massachusetts	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Minnesota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
New Mexico	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
New York	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
North Carolina	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	X
North Dakota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Oregon	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Dakota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X
Vermont	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X

¹ Please note that this review item was revised for the FY 2002 reviews and additional clarifying language was added for the FY 2003 reviews. In 2002 this item focused on achieving permanency through reunification, guardianship, or permanent placement with relatives. back

II. State's Conformance on Permanency Outcomes (Continued)
States	Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Placing Children in Close Proximity to Their Families	Placing Children With Their Siblings	Facilitating Visitation of Children in Care With Parents and Siblings	Preserving Connections	Placing Children With Relatives	Supporting the Relationship of Children in Care With Parents
Arizona	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	X	X
Arkansas	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Delaware	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	X	X
District of Columbia	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	X	blank cell
Florida	S	X	X	blank cell	X	X	blank cell
Georgia	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X
Indiana	blank cell	X	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Kansas	blank cell	X	X	X	X	X	X
Massachusetts	S	X	X	X	X	X	X
Minnesota	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X
New Mexico	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	X	blank cell
New York	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	X	blank cell
North Carolina	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	X	X
North Dakota	S	X	X	X	X	X	X
Oregon	S	X	X	X	X	X	X
South Dakota	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	X	X
Vermont	blank cell	X	X	X	X	X	blank cell

III. States' Conformance on Child and Family Well-Being Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs.					Outcome 2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.		Outcome 3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Providing Services to Children, Parents, Foster Parents	Involving Children and Parents in Case Planning	Visiting With Children Frequently	Visiting With Parents Frequently	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Meeting Educational Needs of Children	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Meeting Physical Health Needs of Children	Meeting Mental Health Needs of Children
Arizona	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Arkansas	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Delaware	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X
District of Columbia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Florida	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Georgia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Indiana	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Kansas	blank cell	X	X	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X	X
Massachusetts	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Minnesota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Mexico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New York	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
North Carolina	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
North Dakota	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
Oregon	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
South Dakota	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Vermont	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell

IV. States' Conformance on the Systemic Factors
States	Statewide Information System		Case Review System
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Automated Information System²	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Written Case Plans³	Frequent Court Reviews of Case Status⁴	Frequent Permanency Hearings⁵	Timely Termination of Parental Rights⁶	Caretaker and Parent Notification of Hearings⁷
Arizona	S	X	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Arkansas	S	X	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Delaware	S	X	S	X	X	blank cell	X	X
District of Columbia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Florida	S	X	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell
Georgia	blank cell	blank cell	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Indiana	S	X	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Kansas	S	X	S	X	X	blank cell	X	X
Massachusetts	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	X
Minnesota	S	X	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
New Mexico	S	X	S	X	X	X	X	X
New York	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cel	X	blank cel	blank cel	X
North Carolina	S	X	S	X	X	X	X	X
North Dakota	S	X	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Oregon	S	X	lank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	X
South Dakota	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Vermont	S	X	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X

² The statewide automated information system can determine the status, demographics, location, and goals for all children in foster care. back
³ Children in foster care have written case plans and children and parents are consistently involved in case planning. back
⁴ The status of each child is reviewed in court at least every six months. back
⁵ Permanency hearings are held for children in foster care within 12 months of entry into care. back
⁶ Termination of parental rights proceedings occur within the timeframes specified in the Adoption and Safe Families Act. back
⁷ Foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caretakers of children in foster care are routinely notified of and given an opportunity to participate in hearings for children. back

IV. States' Conformance on the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Quality Assurance System			Training
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Quality Standards⁸	Quality Assurance System⁹	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Staff Development and Training Program¹⁰	Ongoing Staff Training¹¹	Training for Foster and Adoptive Parents¹²
Arizona	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Arkansas	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
Delaware	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
District of Columbia	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Florida	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
Georgia	S	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Indiana	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Kansas	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Massachusetts	S	X	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X
Minnesota	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
New Mexico	S	X	X	S	X	X	blank cell
New York	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
North Carolina	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
North Dakota	S	X	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Oregon	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
South Dakota	S	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Vermont	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X

⁸ Standards have been implemented to ensure that children in foster care are provided with quality services to address their needs. back
⁹ The State operates an identifiable quality assurance system that has the capacity to monitor the quality of services, identify strengths and needs of the service delivery system, provide reports, and evaluate program improvement measures. back
¹⁰ The State operates a staff development and training program. back
¹¹ The State provides ongoing training addressing the skills and knowledge needed for staff to perform their duties. back
¹² The State provides training for current and prospective foster and adoptive parents and staff of State-licensed facilities that care for children in foster care. back

IV. States' Conformance on the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Service Array				Agency Responsiveness to the Community
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Array of Services for Children and Families¹³	Services Are Accessible Throughout the State¹⁴	Services are Individualized For Unique Needs¹⁵	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Consultation With Stakeholders¹⁶	Joint Development of Progress Reports¹⁷	Coordination of Services With Federal Programs¹⁸
Arizona	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Arkansas	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Delaware	S	X	X	X	S	X	X	blank cell
District of Columbia	S	blank cell	X	X	S	X	X	blank cell
Florida	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Georgia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	blank cell
Indiana	S	X	X	X	S	X	X	X
Kansas	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Massachusetts	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	X	blank cell
Minnesota	S	X	X	X	S	X	X	X
New Mexico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	blank cell	X
New York	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cel	S	X	blank cel	X
North Carolina	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	blank cell	X
North Dakota	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Oregon	S	blank cell	X	X	S	X	X	X
South Dakota	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Vermont	S	X	X	X	S	X	X	X

¹³ The State offers an array of services to meet the needs of children and families. back
¹⁴ Services are accessible to families and children in all locations of the State. back
¹⁵ Services offered are individualized to the unique needs of children and families. back
¹⁶ The State engages in ongoing consultation with consumers, service providers, courts, and other stakeholders. back
¹⁷ The State jointly develops with its stakeholders annual reports of progress. back
¹⁸ The State's services are coordinated with services or benefits of other Federal programs servicing the same population. back

IV. States' Conformance on the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing, Recruitment, and Retention States
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Standards for Foster and Adoptive Families¹⁹	Uniform Application of Standards²⁰	Criminal Clearances for Foster and Adoptive Families²¹	Recruitment of Diverse Foster and Adoptive Families²²	Utilization of Cross-Jurisdictional Resources²³
Arizona	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Arkansas	S	X	X	X	X	X
Delaware	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
District of Columbia	S	X	X	X	X	X
Florida	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Georgia	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Indiana	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Kansas	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Massachusetts	S	X	X	X	X	X
Minnesota	S	X	X	X	X	X
New Mexico	S	X	X	X	X	X
New York	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
North Carolina	S	X	X	blank cell	X	X
North Dakota	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Oregon	S	X	X	X	X	X
South Dakota	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Vermont	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell

¹⁹ The State has implemented standards for foster and adoptive family homes and child care institutions. back
²⁰ State standards for foster and adoptive family homes are applied uniformly. back
²¹ The State conducts criminal clearances for foster care and adoptive families and operates a case planning process that includes provisions for ensuring children's safety. back
²² The State diligently recruits foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children for whom homes are needed. back
²³ The State utilizes cross-jurisdictional resources to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for children. back