PCCYFS Children’s Services Policy Day PCCYFS Children’s Services Policy Day Office of Children, Youth and Families Richard J. Gold, Deputy Secretary October 18, 2010

Fostering Connections Proximity and Appropriateness Proximity and Appropriateness Ensure Same School Ensure Same School Immediate Enrollment Immediate Enrollment Enrollment and Attendance Enrollment and Attendance

Proximity and Appropriateness The child’s case plan must include “assurances that the placement of a child in foster are takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.” The child’s case plan must include “assurances that the placement of a child in foster are takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.”

School Stability The child’s case plan must include assurances that the local child welfare agency has coordinated with appropriate local education agencies (schools) to ensure that the child remains enrolled in the school in which the child was enrolled prior to placement unless moving is in the child's best interest. The child’s case plan must include assurances that the local child welfare agency has coordinated with appropriate local education agencies (schools) to ensure that the child remains enrolled in the school in which the child was enrolled prior to placement unless moving is in the child's best interest.

Enrollment If remaining in the same school is not in the child’s best interest, the child’s case plan must include assurances by the child welfare agency and local education agency provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school. If remaining in the same school is not in the child’s best interest, the child’s case plan must include assurances by the child welfare agency and local education agency provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school.

Transportation Permissible to use IV-E funds to pay for transportation costs which includes “reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child was enrolled at the time of placement.” Permissible to use IV-E funds to pay for transportation costs which includes “reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child was enrolled at the time of placement.”

Fostering Connections Older Youth Transition Planning Transition Planning Educational Training Grants Educational Training Grants Extension of Care for Extension of Care for Stakeholder workgroup convened by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and Juvenile Law Center Stakeholder workgroup convened by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and Juvenile Law Center Facilitated by Finance Project Facilitated by Finance Project Charged with completion of fiscal analysis and recommendations Charged with completion of fiscal analysis and recommendations

Out of Home Care Safety Assessment Applies ONLY to resource homes and informal arrangements, NOT congregate care settings Applies ONLY to resource homes and informal arrangements, NOT congregate care settings County safety lead (CSL) training occurs from September – October County safety lead (CSL) training occurs from September – October Training on Content and Development of Trainers from October – November 2010 Training on Content and Development of Trainers from October – November 2010 CSLs train their staff from February–June 30, 2011 CSLs train their staff from February–June 30, 2011 Counties must begin using the tool July 1, 2011 with one full year to become fully implemented and operational Counties must begin using the tool July 1, 2011 with one full year to become fully implemented and operational

Out of Home Care Safety Letter will be sent to Legal Entity Administrator with details and request for designated “safety leads” to become a Trainer-of-Trainer Letter will be sent to Legal Entity Administrator with details and request for designated “safety leads” to become a Trainer-of-Trainer Helps ensure in-house expertise Helps ensure in-house expertise Private provider safety lead would attend training on the tool, training on content and development of trainer through February 2011 Private provider safety lead would attend training on the tool, training on content and development of trainer through February 2011 Private provider safety lead would train their own agency staff on the tool through June 30, 2011 in order to be ready for July 1, 2011 implementation Private provider safety lead would train their own agency staff on the tool through June 30, 2011 in order to be ready for July 1, 2011 implementation

Out of Home Care Safety Responsibility for completion of the tool rests with the county children and youth agency Responsibility for completion of the tool rests with the county children and youth agency Private providers should be providing information related to the 10 Indicators and other relevant safety areas to help inform and assist the county in completion of the formal tool Private providers should be providing information related to the 10 Indicators and other relevant safety areas to help inform and assist the county in completion of the formal tool Private providers can use the standard tool to ensure consistency, but this is not required Private providers can use the standard tool to ensure consistency, but this is not required

Out of Home Care Safety Present Danger Assessment Tool Present Danger Assessment Tool Additional tool to assist counties in determining if a home in which the child is being placed is safe Additional tool to assist counties in determining if a home in which the child is being placed is safe Must be done prior to the child being placed in the home for all homes, including those already approved Must be done prior to the child being placed in the home for all homes, including those already approved Can be done by the private provider on behalf of the county agency Can be done by the private provider on behalf of the county agency

“Proposed” Private Provider Training Dates – Western Region 204 Assessing Safety in Out-of-Home Care Training 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: December 7, 2010 Date: December 7, 2010 Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Date: December 14, 2010 Date: December 14, 2010 Location: Meadville Regional Training Room Location: Meadville Regional Training Room Date: January 21, 2011 Date: January 21, 2011 Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Training on Content 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: December 21, 2010 Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Date: January 20, 2011 Date: January 20, 2011 Location: Meadville Regional Training Room Location: Meadville Regional Training Room Date: February 7, 2011 Date: February 7, 2011 Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room Location: Monroeville Regional Training Room

“Proposed” Private Provider Training Dates – Central Region 204 Assessing Safety in Out-of-Home Care Training 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: December 9, 2010 Date: December 9, 2010 Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Date: December 16, 2010 Date: December 16, 2010 Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Date January 13, 2011 Date January 13, 2011 Location: Williamsport Regional Training Room Location: Williamsport Regional Training Room Training on Content 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: January 11, 2011 Date: January 11, 2011 Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Date: January 12, 2011 Date: January 12, 2011 Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Location: PA Child Welfare Training Program Date: February 1, 2011 Date: February 1, 2011 Location: Williamsport Regional Training Room Location: Williamsport Regional Training Room

“Proposed” Private Provider Training Dates – Northeast Region 204 Assessing Safety in Out-of-Home Care Training 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: January 25, 2011 Date: January 25, 2011 Location: Mayfield Training Room Location: Mayfield Training Room Training on Content 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: February 11, 2011 Date: February 11, 2011 Location: Mayfield Regional Training Room Location: Mayfield Regional Training Room

“Proposed” Private Provider Training Dates – Southeast Region 204 Assessing Safety in Out-of-Home Care Training 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: January 19, 2011 Date: January 19, 2011 Location: Montgomery County Human Services Center Location: Montgomery County Human Services Center Training on Content 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: February 3, 2011 Location: Montgomery County Human Services Center Location: Montgomery County Human Services Center

“Proposed” Private Provider Training Dates – Philadelphia 204 Assessing Safety in Out-of-Home Care Training 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Date: December 10, 2010 Date: December 10, 2010 Location: Temple University Center City Campus Location: Temple University Center City Campus Date: December 21, 2010 Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Temple University Center City Campus Location: Temple University Center City Campus Training on Content 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Date: January 10, 2011 Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Temple University Center City Campus Location: Temple University Center City Campus Date: January 26, 2011 Date: January 26, 2011 Location: Temple University Center City Campus Location: Temple University Center City Campus

Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Update PA’s PIP was approved by ACF effective PA’s PIP was approved by ACF effective June 30, 2010 PIP matrix and narrative have been posted to DPW website at: PIP matrix and narrative have been posted to DPW website at: ReportsPoliciesPlans/ htm ReportsPoliciesPlans/ htm PIP implementation period is 2 years from date of PIP approval (6/30/10 – 6/30/12) PIP implementation period is 2 years from date of PIP approval (6/30/10 – 6/30/12)

Child, Youth & Family Engagement Child, Youth & Family Engagement Enhancing Assessments Enhancing Assessments Timely Permanence Timely Permanence Collaboration Collaboration Quality Practice Quality Practice Sustaining Change Sustaining Change 18

Timely response to GPS referrals Timely response to GPS referrals Enhancing child/youth/family assessments to identify underlying issues Enhancing child/youth/family assessments to identify underlying issues Safety Assessment and Management Process Safety Assessment and Management Process 19

Concurrent Planning and Action Concurrent Planning and Action Establishing and achieving timely and appropriate goals Establishing and achieving timely and appropriate goals Increased use of SWAN LSI and unit of service, Increased use of SWAN LSI and unit of service, Expedited review hearings and TPR appeals, Expedited review hearings and TPR appeals, GAL trainings, GAL trainings, Examining and addressing barriers to timely permanence, Examining and addressing barriers to timely permanence, Transition planning for older youth. Transition planning for older youth. 20

Increased use of child, youth and family engagement strategies Increased use of child, youth and family engagement strategies Attempts to locate kin at all stages of the case process Attempts to locate kin at all stages of the case process Increased frequency and quality of worker visits with the child/youth/family Increased frequency and quality of worker visits with the child/youth/family 21

Phased in approach to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Phased in approach to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Long term statewide information technology solution Long term statewide information technology solution 22

A closer look at Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) CQI – What it isn’t and what it is CQI is not a time limited project or initiative. It is the ongoing process by which an agency makes decisions and evaluates its progress. “A framework for implementation” Casey Family Programs & NRCOI

Phases of CQI

Technical Assistance Collaboration Building relationships by learning and understanding more about one another Building relationships by learning and understanding more about one another Taking a collaborative approach to our work with counties Taking a collaborative approach to our work with counties Identifying approaches to streamline processes and reducing unnecessary duplicity by connecting/focusing efforts Identifying approaches to streamline processes and reducing unnecessary duplicity by connecting/focusing efforts Identifying any gaps that are discovered and planning together how best to fill them Identifying any gaps that are discovered and planning together how best to fill them

A Closer Look at Monitoring: Quality Service Reviews History and background History and background Differences from round one QSR Differences from round one QSR County experience County experience

CQI Implementation: Next Steps Revisions to PA QSR tool, training, and process Jan – Oct 2010 Revisions to PA QSR tool, training, and process Jan – Oct 2010 Phased implementation of CQI across the Commonwealth beginning October 2010 (approximately 6-8 counties per phase) Phased implementation of CQI across the Commonwealth beginning October 2010 (approximately 6-8 counties per phase) Phase One includes: Allegheny, Butler, Lackawanna, Philadelphia, Venango, and York counties. Phase One includes: Allegheny, Butler, Lackawanna, Philadelphia, Venango, and York counties. Upon completion of phase, each county will internally drive all 4 phases of CQI, including an internally lead QSR each year Upon completion of phase, each county will internally drive all 4 phases of CQI, including an internally lead QSR each year

For more information or to get involved, please contact: Stephanie Maldonado Stephanie Maldonado Jeanne Schott Jeanne Schott 28

Bulletins –Recently Issued Act 45 of 2010 Act 45 of 2010 Educational Stability and Continuity and Use of Education Screen Educational Stability and Continuity and Use of Education Screen Developmental Evaluation and Early Intervention Referral Policy Developmental Evaluation and Early Intervention Referral Policy Clean Indoor Air Act Clean Indoor Air Act Educational Portions of Non-Educational Residential Placements Educational Portions of Non-Educational Residential Placements Shared Case Responsibility Shared Case Responsibility

Bulletins – Drafts Issued for Comment Independent Living Services Independent Living Services Safe Haven Program Safe Haven Program

Bulletins – Under Development Safety Assessment and Management Process Safety Assessment and Management Process Child Fatality and Near Fatality Reviews Child Fatality and Near Fatality Reviews Disaster Planning Disaster Planning Concurrent Planning Concurrent Planning Resource Family Home Approval Resource Family Home Approval Master Client Index Master Client Index Voter Registration Voter Registration Permanent Legal Custodianship Permanent Legal Custodianship

Pending Legislation Senate Bill 1360 Senate Bill 1360 Voluntary post adoption contact Voluntary post adoption contact DPW, AOPC and JCJC to develop procedures DPW, AOPC and JCJC to develop procedures Exchange of medical information Exchange of medical information Effective in 180 days Effective in 180 days House Bill 2338 House Bill 2338 The Children in Foster Care Act The Children in Foster Care Act Provides basic protections to children in foster care Provides basic protections to children in foster care Effective in 120 days Effective in 120 days

Safely Reducing Number of Children in Placement Where we were Where we were Where we are now Where we are now , , , , , , , , , ,920

Rate per thousand for children and youth entering care – – – – – – – –

A closer look at re-entry within 12 months Children discharged to parent or relative Children discharged to parent or relative – % – % – % – % – % – %

Safely Reducing Number of Children in Placement Looking back over the past 2.5 years ( – ) Looking back over the past 2.5 years ( – ) Statewide – 24% fewer children in care Statewide – 24% fewer children in care 54 counties have seen a decrease 54 counties have seen a decrease 26% fewer children in care 26% fewer children in care 13 counties have seen an increase 13 counties have seen an increase 7% more children in care 7% more children in care

NGA/Casey Family Programs Initiative to Safely Reduce the Number of Children in Care County Plans and trends County Plans and trends County specific interventions County specific interventions Sustainability planning Sustainability planning Effective In-home service Models Effective In-home service Models

OCYF’s Special Grant Initiatives In State Fiscal Year (SFY) OCYF budgeted $43,454,429 for 252 Special Grant Initiatives (SGI) in 67 counties

SGI Categories 1. Evidence-Based Programs (EBP) 2. Pennsylvania Promising Practices (PaPP) 3. Alternatives to Truancy Programs (ATP) 4. Housing

EBP Categories 1. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) 2. Functional Family Therapy (FFT) 3. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) 4. Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) 5. Family Finding (FF) 6. Family Development Credentialing (FDC) 7. High Fidelity Wrap Around (HFWA)

EBP Funding 1. MST - $5,030,751 in 43 counties 2. FFT - $544,361 in 9 counties 3. MTFC - $805,599 in 9 counties 4. FGDM - $13,708,546 in 59 counties 5. FF - $453,131 in 3 counties 6. FDC - $909,761 in 11 counties 7. HFWA was unfunded due to budget cut backs in SFY

EPISCenter The Evidence-Based Prevention and Intervention Support Center (EPISCenter) supports MST, FFT and MTFC through technical assistance to the provider sites delivering these services. The Evidence-Based Prevention and Intervention Support Center (EPISCenter) supports MST, FFT and MTFC through technical assistance to the provider sites delivering these services. Quarterly standardized performance measure data is collected from program providers through the Inspire System. Quarterly standardized performance measure data is collected from program providers through the Inspire System.

Youth Served in Pennsylvania (January 1 – June 30, 2010) MST – 1,502 MST – 1,502 FFT – 1,005 FFT – 1,005 MTFC - 35 MTFC - 35

EBP Funding Continued Family Group Decision Making Family Group Decision Making 711 conferences were held by county and private providers in the first six months of Federal Fiscal Year 2010 (October 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010) 711 conferences were held by county and private providers in the first six months of Federal Fiscal Year 2010 (October 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010) Family Development Credentialing Family Development Credentialing Family Finding Family Finding

SGI Categories Continued Pennsylvania Promising Practices: PaPP Dependent - $6,267,017 in 44 counties PaPP Dependent - $6,267,017 in 44 counties PaPP Delinquent - $10,459,957 in 28 counties PaPP Delinquent - $10,459,957 in 28 counties

SGI Categories Continued ATP – not funded in SFY , begins in SFY with $954,060 in 11 counties ATP – not funded in SFY , begins in SFY with $954,060 in 11 counties Housing - $4,321,246 in 35 counties Housing - $4,321,246 in 35 counties

Frequency and Tracking of Visitation for Youth in Care Visitation percentages have risen consistently over the past three years Visitation percentages have risen consistently over the past three years Measure 1: 79% Measure 1: 79% Measure 2: 94% Measure 2: 94% Measure 1: 81% Measure 1: 81% Measure 2: 97% Measure 2: 97% Measure 1: 92% Measure 1: 92% Measure 2: 97% Measure 2: 97%

Caseworker Visitation Tracking spreadsheets do not require input of qualifying worker distinction Tracking spreadsheets do not require input of qualifying worker distinction Through discussions: Through discussions: Private providers appear to be conducting a majority of visits on behalf of the county agency Private providers appear to be conducting a majority of visits on behalf of the county agency More focus should be placed on providing consistent reporting of monthly visits (i.e. not waiting until the tracking spreadsheets are due to collect visitation data) More focus should be placed on providing consistent reporting of monthly visits (i.e. not waiting until the tracking spreadsheets are due to collect visitation data)

Title IV-E and Act 148 Maximum Allowable Rates

Budget Projections

General Updates DPW/OCYF Priorities