1 Lessons Learned about the Service Array from the First Round of Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) The Service Array Process National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement A Service of the Children’s Bureau, U.S.D.H.H.S. April 28, 2008

2 What Is the CFSR? A periodic review by the Federal Government in partnership with the State Child Welfare System. Seven child welfare outcomes in the areas of Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being, seven systemic factors, and 45 items/indicators are evaluated. Areas needing improvement need to be addressed in a Program Improvement Plan (PIP). Meant to be a continuous quality improvement process. Best hope for an accountable child welfare system that continuously improves the achievement of good outcomes for children and families in child welfare.

3 The Seven CFSR Outcomes in Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being Safety Outcome #1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect. Safety Outcome #2: Children are safely maintained in their own homes whenever 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 for children. Well-Being Outcome #1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs. Well-Being Outcome #2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs. Well-Being Outcome #3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.

4 The Seven Systemic Factors: Infrastructure Needed in Child Welfare Information System Capacity Case Review System Quality Assurance System Training System Service Array Agency Responsiveness to the Community Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing, Recruitment, and Retention

5 The CFSR Requirements about the Service Array Item 35: The State has in place an array of services that assess the strengths and needs of children and families and determine other service needs, address the needs of families in addition to individual children in order to create a safe home environment, enable children to remain safe with their parents when reasonable, and to help children in foster and adoptive placement achieve permanency.

6 The CFSR Requirements about the Service Array (cont’d) Item 36: The services in item 35 are accessible to families and children in all political jurisdictions covered in the State’s Child and Family Services Plan. Item 37: The services in item 35 can be individualized to meet the unique needs of children and families served by the agency.

7

8