Provincial Permanency Data Results for DFNAs and CFSAs Prepared by Service Analysis Branch May 27, 2009

2 22 Overview Introduce the Continuum of Permanency. Present initial data for some of the additional permanency outcomes. Highlight permanency data results that suggest areas for improvement.

3 33 Continuum of Permanency Family Preservation Reunification Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care Adoption/ Private Guardianship FE CP ( Temporary ) Front End CP ( Permanent ) Closure Transition to Adulthood 6

4 44  Child remains in parental care for 1 year following the provision of Brief Services, Community Referral, Family Enhancement services, or Child Protective services where the child remains under parental care. Family Preservation Definition FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Family Preservation

5 55 Family Preservation at 12 Months Post-Service FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Family Preservation

6 66 Reunification “A” Definition o A child is temporarily removed from the family’s home with the opening of a Family Enhancement or Child Protection file and is reunified with the original family prior to a Permanent Guardianship Order. FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Reunification

7 77 Family Reunification “A” for 47% of Cases from a Temporary Legal Authority at 6 and 12 Months FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Reunification

8 88  A child/youth under the permanent care of ACYS (i.e. with PGO status) is reunified with the original family. Reunification “B” Definition FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Reunification

9 99 Family Reunification “B” for 2% of PGO/PGA Cases at 6 and 12 Months FE CP (Temporary) Front End CP (Permanent) Closure Reunification

10 Adoption and Private Guardianship Adoption/ Private Guardianship FE CP ( Temporary ) Front End CP ( Permanent ) Closure

11 Trends in Traditional Permanency 11 55% SFP Income Cap Removed 63%

12 Proportional Preliminary Results Family Preservation Reunification Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care Adoption/ Private Guardianship FE CP ( Temporary ) Front End CP ( Permanent ) Closure Transition to Adulthood 6

13 Continuum of Permanency Family Preservation Reunification Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care Adoption/ Private Guardianship FE CP ( Temporary ) Front End CP ( Permanent ) Closure Transition to Adulthood 6

14 Putting Things in Perspective PGO/PGA Caseload PGO/PGA Caseload with Adoption or Private Guardianship Objective Adoptions Private Guardianships 2006/ / /09

15 Accurate and Reliable Permanency Objectives  Accurate and reliable permanency objectives are the foundation of achieving good permanency outcomes.  Basic compliance items to pay attention to: a)Does every child have a Concurrent Plan or for youth, a Transition to Independence Plan? There were 258 children/youth without a Concurrent or Transition to Independence plan in 2008/09. There were 933 children/youth without a permanency objective in 2008/09. b)Does every child have a permanency objective?

16 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives  Are the Objectives Realistic? Do staff have a good understanding of September 2008 revisions to the permanency policy? For example, 1,369 children have a permanency objective of adoption. In an average year, the Ministry closes about 300 cases to Adoption Orders.

17 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 17 SIL 476 SIL 476 Extended Family/ Kinship 358 Extended Family/ Kinship 358 Foster Care 818 Foster Care 818 Adoption 1,369 Adoption 1,369 Private Guard. 1,363 Private Guard. 1,363 Based on the age of the child, is Adoption still a realistic Permanency Objective? year olds had adoption as an objective in 2008/09. Are adoption closures happening within 24 months of PGO status? 51% of adoptions finalized within 24 months in 2008/09.

18 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 18 Adoption 1,369 Adoption 1, children/youth were in adoption permanency placements for more than 8 mos. in 2008/09. If a child has been placed with potential adoptive parents for more than 8 months without closing (Best Practice Timeline), what are the reasons? Are referrals to the Electronic Matching System increasing? Referrals to the EMS for hard to place children declined by 17% in 2008/09.

19 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 19 Private Guardianship 1,363 Private Guardianship 1,363  Are private guardianship closures happening within 12 months of PGO status? 40% of private guardianships finalized within 12 months in 2008/09.

20 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 20 Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care 1,176 Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care 1,176  Is the Kinship/Foster home the child’s permanent placement? If yes, any indications of placement disruption should be examined in a timely manner to preserve the permanent placement.

21 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 21  How many of your foster homes are being used for continuing foster care? DFNAs and CFSAs need to plan for the placement implications of children being in continuing foster care. Are enough homes available to respond to emergency and temporary care requirements? Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care 1,176 Continuing Kinship/ Foster Care 1,176

22 Accurate and Realistic Permanency Objectives 22 Supported Independent Living (SIL) 476 Supported Independent Living (SIL) 476  Are Transition to Independence plans being implemented early enough to achieve the goals of the plan? Roughly two-thirds of youth reaching their 18 th birthday, sign Support and Financial Assistance Agreements in an effort to meet the goals of their Transition to Independence plans.

23 Next Steps  Initial results analysis indicates that a strong focus on good practice, coupled with good processes, streamlines permanency planning. Permanency Best Practice Event  A Permanency Best Practice Event is scheduled for June 2 to examine how some Regions have been able to successfully implement Family Group Conferencing and other effective practice approaches, within existing resources.