California Department
of Social Services
Program Improvement Plan 2009
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Background
• The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is
implemented by the Children's Bureau of
Administration for Children & Families (ACF)
within the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
Services.
• Reviews help states improve Child Welfare
Services (CWS) programs and outcomes for
families & children; they also identify states’
strengths & needs.
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• In 2002, California’s had it’s 1st CFSR & is
currently undergoing a 2nd CFSR.
• The review process includes:
1. A statewide assessment (December 2007)
2. Onsite review of 65 cases
(February 2008 in Fresno, L.A. and Santa Clara Counties)
3. Stakeholder interviews (state & county level)
4. State Data Profile
• Based on findings from these 4 items, states
must develop a Program Improvement Plan
(PIP) to address areas of concern.
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Findings
• The State did not achieve substantial
conformity for safety, permanency, and wellbeing outcomes
• The State did achieve substantial conformity
for three of the seven systemic factors
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Results from 2008 CFSR
Safety & Permanency Outcomes
Safety Outcome 1:
Children are first and foremost, protected from
abuse and neglect
Safety Outcome 2:
Children are safely maintained in their homes when
possible and appropriate
Permanency Outcome 1:
Children have permanency and stability in their
living situations
Permanency Outcome 2:
The continuity of family relationships and
connections is preserved
Substantial
Conformity
NO
NO
NO
NO
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Child & Family
Well-Being Outcomes
Substantial
Conformity
Well Being Outcome 1:
Families have enhanced capacity to provide for
children’s needs
NO
Well Being Outcome 2:
Children receive services to meet their educational
needs
NO
Well Being Outcome 3:
Children receive services to meet their physical and
mental health needs
NO
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Systemic Factors
Substantial
Conformity
Statewide Information System
(to identify status, location & goals for children in FC)
YES
Case Review System
(completion of periodic reviews, timely permanency hearings)
NO
Quality Assurance System
(developed standards to ensure safety & health of children)
YES
Training
(staff development & training for caseworkers, parents, caregivers)
Service Array
(services in place to assess strengths & needs of families, and
accessibility of services)
NO
NO
Agency Responsiveness to Community
(engagement w/ community stakeholders, provision of reports &
coordination w/ federal programs)
YES
Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing,
Recruitment, and Retention (equally applied
standards for foster homes, and diligent efforts to recruit foster families)
NO
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Action Plan
• Six broad strategies were developed to cover
multiple areas of concern and improve
outcomes for children & families.
• Guided by evidence-based practices
• Focused on building & maintaining
momentum of successful initiatives and
programs currently being utilized
• CDSS and CFSR Steering Committee
collaborated with child welfare stakeholders
statewide to develop these strategies
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Strategies
Strategy I. Expand use of participatory
case planning strategies.
Action Steps
 Update curricula/advance training; include topics on
father engagement
 Incorporate family engagement into Linkages Project
 Expand utilization of Permanency Protocols
 Examine fiscal implications
 Training/TA for courts on tribal engagement
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Strategy II. Sustain and enhance permanency
efforts across the life of the case.
Action Steps
 Protocols on finding families
 Legislative proposal on trial home visits
 Modify PQCR to assess concurrent planning
 Caregiver Advisory Group
 Publish EBP re: post-permanency services
 Court training on reunification
 Resource Family Approval Pilot (AB340)
 Residentially Based Services Reform Project (AB1453)
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Strategy III. Enhance and expand caregiver
recruitment, retention, training, and support
efforts.
Action Steps
 Publish/training on evidence-based practices
 Campaign for caregiver recruiting & retention
 Caregiver Advisory Group
 MTFC program outcomes, rate structure & oversight
 Test "Better Together”
 Communication network for caregiver advocates
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Strategy IV. Expand options and create
flexibility for services and supports to meet
the needs of children and families.
Action Steps
 CalWORKS/Child Welfare collaboration
 OCAP 3-yr plan into Outcomes & Accountability
 Expand Wraparound (SB163 and MHSA)
 SIT (mental health, substance abuse, education)
 Explore expansion of Differential Response
 Federal TA/substance abuse and child welfare
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Strategy V. Sustain and expand staff and
supervisor training.
Action Steps
 Probation training on child welfare
 Implement SW training regulations
 Concurrent planning training
 Distance learning for courts/probation/CW staff on
domestic violence and mental health
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Strategy VI. Strengthen Implementation of
the Statewide Safety Assessment System.
Action Steps
Timeliness to investigation
Strengthen implementation of safety, risks, strengths and
needs assessment.
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PIP Submission
• PIP submitted to ACF Region IX
September 2008; second draft submitted
April 2009
• Anticipate PIP 1st quarter implementation
July 2009
• Additional information available at
www.childsworld.ca.gov/cfsweb/PG1520.htm
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