Section I: Safety Outcomes for Children

Safety Outcome 1:
Children Are, First and Foremost, Protected From Abuse and Neglect. (Items 1-2)

Item 1: Timeliness of Initiating Investigations of Reports of Child Maltreatment

Respondents:

Agency Administrator(s), Child and Family Advocate(s), Law Enforcement Representative(s), Local Agency - CPS Staff, Local Child Welfare Agency Administrator(s), Major Tribal Representative(s), Other, State Child Welfare Director(s)

Core Question:

How timely is the agency in initiating investigations of reports of child maltreatment?

Please use these Follow-up Questions as needed to fully explore the Core Question:

• Evaluate the agency's effectiveness in consistently responding to all reports of maltreatment within the timeframes specified in agency policy for reports of a given priority, including at night and on weekends. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in the process.

• Describe how the agency responds to reports of maltreatment of children in foster care and in-home cases that are already open, including the timeliness of the response and whether a new report is generated in its system. Identify strengths and barriers to the agency's response.

• Describe the role of other organizations or agencies (such as law enforcement, contracted case managers, alternative response providers) in responding to reports of child maltreatment. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in their responses, including the timeliness of their responses.

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Item 2: Repeat Maltreatment

Respondents:

Child and Family Advocate(s), Guardian(s) Ad Litem/Legal Representative(s), Law Enforcement Representative(s), Other, Quality Assurance Staff

Core Question:

How effective is the agency in preventing the recurrence of maltreatment?

Please use these Follow-up Questions as needed to fully explore the Core Question:

• Does the agency have in place and use appropriate and effective policies and procedures for preventing the recurrence of maltreatment? Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in the agency's policies and procedures.

• Describe the specific types of cases or situations where recurrence of maltreatment is especially problematic in this location, and evaluate the agency's response to these types of cases or situations.

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Safety Outcome 2:
Children Are Safely Maintained in Their Homes Whenever
Possible and Appropriate. (Items 3-4)

Item 3: Services to Family To Protect Child(ren) in Home and Prevent Removal or Re-Entry into Foster Care

Respondents:

Birth Parents, Domestic Violence Representative(s), Law Enforcement Representative(s), Mental Health Representative(s), Other, Parent Attorney(s), Prevention and/or Reunification Provider(s), State Child Welfare Program Specialist(s), Substance Abuse Representative(s)

Core Question:

How effective is the agency in providing services, when appropriate, to prevent removing children from their homes?

Please use these Follow-up Questions as needed to fully explore the Core Question:

• Evaluate the effectiveness and timeliness of preventive and protective services provided by the agency to children in their own homes. Explain under what circumstances these services are provided, and identify strengths and barriers or gaps in service provision.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of preventive and protective services provided following reunifications of children with their families in order to prevent re-entry into foster care. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in service provision.

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Item 4: Risk Assessment and Safety Management

Respondents:

Birth Parents, Domestic Violence Representative(s), Foster and Adoptive Parent(s), Law Enforcement Representative(s), Licensing Staff, Local Agency - CPS Staff, Other, Parent Attorney(s), State Child Welfare Program Specialist(s), Youth Being Served by the Agency, Youth Being Served by the Local Agency

Core Question:

How effective is the agency in reducing the risk of harm to children, including those in foster care and those who receive services in their own homes?

Please use these Follow-up Questions as needed to fully explore the Core Question:

• Evaluate the agency's effectiveness in identifying and assessing safety and risk of harm issues continually while families receive services. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in ensuring children's safety and freedom from risk in the home.

• Evaluate the agency's effectiveness in identifying and assessing safety and risk of harm issues at key decisionmaking points throughout the case (for example, at the point of reunification or case closure). Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in identifying and assessing these issues.

• Evaluate the agency's effectiveness in monitoring and responding to safety and risk of harm issues, such as during visitation or following a report of maltreatment, and ensuring ongoing compliance with case plans. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in monitoring and responding.

• Does the agency use safety plans after the initial assessment?

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the agency's efforts to ensure that children remain safe after they are placed in foster care. Identify strengths and barriers or gaps in these efforts.

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