Georgia Division of Family and Children Services Take The Leadership Challenge: Be Your BEST! Georgia Division of Family and Children Services DFCS Overview & Data Presenter: Mary P. Havick, MSW Region 5 Director Presented to: College Connections for Student Success Conference Date: March 31, 2015 Director Bobby Cagle

Vision, Mission and Core Values Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia. Mission Strengthen Georgia by providing Individuals and Families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults. Core Values Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians and their families. Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and respect. Manage business operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources across the agency. Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver and programs we administer. Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.

Goals Child Welfare Case Process Overview Significant events in recent history Key data points Better understanding of our system Better service for foster youth

Recent Significant Events High profile child deaths in Fall 2013 New Juvenile Code effective January 2014 Proposed legislation to privatize all DFCS foster care in 2014 Governor creates Child Welfare Reform Council Centralized Intake begins April 2014

Recent Significant Events Governor provides 175 new case manager positions for new fiscal year New DFCS Director in June 2014 Governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year strongest in 10+ years Blueprint for Change

Child Welfare Reform Council Created by Governor Deal after the last legislative session Council modeled after Criminal Justice Reform Council Charged with comprehensive review of DFCS Recommendations became SB 138 https://gov.georgia.gov/

159 County Offices & 15 Regions

Child Welfare Case Process CPS Intake Family Support Services CPS Investigation Family Preservation Foster Care

Case Process – CPS Intake

Assessment of Family Functioning 6 Areas of Family Functioning 1. Extent of Maltreatment 2. Circumstances of the Maltreatment 3. Child Functioning 4. General Parenting 5. Discipline 6. Adult Functioning Continually assessing throughout the case process

Present Danger Safety Threats An immediate, significant, and clearly observable family condition, child condition, individual behavior or action, or family circumstance Occurring now Endangers, or threatens to endanger, a child and requires immediate action to protect

Impending Danger Safety Threats 1. Living Arrangements Seriously Endanger the Physical Health of the Child(ren). 2. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Intend(ed) to Hurt the Child and Show No Remorse. 3. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Cannot or Do Not Explain the Child’s Injuries and/or Conditions. 4. A Child is Extremely Fearful of the Home Situation. 5. A Parent or Caregiver is Violent and No Adult in the Home is Protective of the Child(ren). 6. One or Both Parents/Caregiver’(s) Emotional Stability, Developmental Status, or Cognitive Deficiency Seriously Impairs Their Ability to Supervise, Protect, or Care for the Child(ren). 7. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Cannot Control Their Behavior. 8. The Family Does Not Have Resources to Meet Basic Needs.

Impending Danger Safety Threats 9. No Adult in the Home Will Perform Parental Duties and Responsibilities 10. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Have Extremely Unrealistic Expectations of a Child. 11. One or Both Parents/Caregivers have Extremely Negative Perceptions of a Child. 12. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Fear They Will Maltreat the Child and/or Request Placement. 13. One or Both Parents/Caregivers Lack Parenting Knowledge, Skills, and Motivation That Affects Child Safety 14. Child Has Exceptional Needs That the Parents/Caregivers Cannot or Will Not Meet.

CPS Case Assignment MALTREATMENT+PRESENT DANGER SITUATION= INVESTIGATION/IMMEDIATE RESPONSE MALTREATMENT + IMPENDING DANGER SAFETY THREAT= INVESTIGATION/24 HR RESPONSE MALTREATMENT + NO PRESENT DANGER OR IMPENDING DANGER SAFETY THREAT= FAMILY SUPPORT/5 DAY RESPONSE

Centralized Reporting Process Reports of abuse & neglect received through a centralized call center 24/7 Call center staff screen, accept & assign 1-855-GACHILD Mandated reporters may complete CPS referral forms & submit to the call center Statewide rollout 2014

Before Centralized Reporting Each county office received, screened & assigned CPS reports 159 different phone numbers After-hours callers got voice mail directing them to call law enforcement for emergencies

Impact of Centralized Process Increased community awareness Tremendous growth in number of reports October 2014 vs. October 2013 58% more reports

CPS & FSS Cases

Case Process

Family Support & Investigations Assessment for up to 60 days May interview family together May connect family with local resources Possible Brief Intervention referral Investigations Assessment should conclude by 45 days Closure, Family Preservation or Foster Care

Case Process

Family Preservation Services provided to family Behavior change DFCS CM creates Family/Case Plan Contractors may provide in-home services Family may have in-office services as well Examples: Parenting, therapy, substance abuse Behavior change Children remain in the home Average case open for 6 months

Foster Care Services provided to facilitate behavior change DFCS CM creates Family/Case Plan Contractors may provide in-home services Family may have in-office services as well Examples: Parenting, therapy, substance abuse Court oversight Children placed outside of the home Goal – Reunification in 12 months or adoption in 24 months Many, many formal supports in child’s life

Foster Care Entries & Exits

Total in Care by Region (Children and Youth)

Children in Care by Gender Male – 5364 (52.3%) Female – 4892 (47.7%)

Children in Care by Race 1 – White (NH) – 4594 (44.79%) 3 – White (Hispanic) – 580 (5.66%) 2 – Black (NH) – 4354 (42.45%) 4 – Black/White (NH) – 487 (4.75%)

Age of Children in Care

Placement Type 1 – CPA (FFH) – 2741 (26.73%) 3 – Relative (P&UP) – 1673 (16.31%) 2 – DFCS (FFH) – 2685 (26.18%) 4 – CCI (GH) – 1580 (15.41%)

Greatest Need for Foster Homes

DFCS Foster Home Trend (2009 – 2013)

Comparison Foster Homes Foster Children

Placement with Siblings 1 – N/A – 3433 3 – None – 1873 2 – All – 3206 4 – Some – 845

Months in Care Overview 0 – 11 – 4,966 12 – 24 – 2,592 25+ – 2,698

SY14 Adoptions by County

Emancipation Transitional Roundtables Signing out vs. signing in Informal supports & connections Credit reporting

Caseload Impact

Blueprint for Change Practice Model Robust Workforce Development Plan Public Relations Initiative