Expedited Family Reunification Project Arizona Child Welfare Demonstration Project

Overview of Project Description of Project Project Outcomes Program Components

Description of Project Arizona’s project is designed to expedite reunification of children who are placed in out-of-home care through intensive in-home and aftercare services.

Description of Project Target population are children who are: in out-of-home placement for no more than 9 months; in congregate care or licensed foster care settings; for whom reunification is a case goal; and for whom the juvenile court concurs with a case plan of expedited reunification

Description of Project Located in Maricopa County Child Protective Services offices Implementation in two phases Phase 1 began in April 2006 Phase 2 began in January 2008

Project Outcomes Reduce children’s length of stay in congregate and licensed foster care settings. Decrease the likelihood of re-entry into out-of-home care. Prevent the recurrence of child abuse and neglect. Improve family-well being and functioning.

Program Components Child and Family Teams Home Based Strategies and Interventions Flexible Funding Role of the child protection services worker and waiver service provider

Child and Family Teams Provides strength based framework for reunification Team includes everyone involved in the case The team is responsible for all assessment, planning, intervention and aftercare phases of the reunification process

Home Based Strategies and Interventions Array of services provided based on needs identified Minimum of 6 hours per week of face-to-face contact with clients Intensive visitation between parent (s) and children One provider for all services, monitoring and coordination

Flex Funding Flex funds are used to address needs such as: Specialized services Housing/Utilities assistance Transportation Job related expenses

Role of Workers Provider staff (Expedited Reunification Team) Provider of all services to family Lead in facilitating CFTs Coordination of all services

Role of Workers CPS Worker Retains legal responsibility Provide oversight of planning process Not make independent decisions Work with the Expedited Reunification Team

Evaluation Design

Phase I: April 2006 – July 2007

Primary Caregiver Characteristics 94% mothers 85% Caucasian 24% Hispanic or Latina/o 9% African American 2% American Indian 33.8 years of age (avg) 16 to 69 years of age (range)

Target Child Characteristics 55% males  45% females 86% Caucasian 28% Hispanic or Latina/o 13% African American 2% American Indian 7.2 years of age (avg) 1 to 17 years of age (range)

Safety Related Outcomes Is there a reduction in the recurrence of child abuse and neglect?

Permanency Related Outcomes Is the time in out-of-home placement reduced?

Reentry Into Out-of-Home Placement Is there a reduction in subsequent out-of-home placements?

Child and Family Well-Being Is there an increase in overall family well-being and functioning?

Summary and Accomplishments Full implementation of project within nine months of waiver approval Over 100 children from 88 eligible cases received waiver services A higher percentage of waiver cases (43%) reunified than comparison cases (17%) for new cases July 1, 2006 and after Improvements in selected child and family domains for existing waiver families

Lessons Learned Develop strategies to better integrate waiver and substance abuse services Explore strategies for continual training on waiver services and procedures Develop increased management system support Develop quality measures on key waiver service components Provide monthly reports to implementation team on process, outcome, and cost indicators

For additional information: Flora Sotomayor IV-E Waiver Project Director Division of Children, Youth & Families Arizona Department of Economic Security 1789 W. Jefferson Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 364-1346 fsotomayor@azdes.gov