Minnesota Child Welfare Program Goals

1. Minnesota Child WelfareProgram Goals Safety Permanency Well-Being

2. Contents Background Goals defined 23 Outcomes + 1 Supplement Considerations/Activities Summary

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Summary Ongoing examination of the child welfare system Improve service delivery 23 Outcomes + 1 Supplement Enhance outcomes for children and their families