DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Implementing Best Practice Standards in Permanency Planning James Biesecker, MS Sue Cohick, MSW Mike Kovacevic, MS

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 How long should children wait for permanency? SWAN  History  Mission Assure Permanency for Children

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Building the Permanency Framework SWAN Program Objectives  “systems change”  Collaboration in Decision Making  Best Practices to assist CYS agencies address: ASFA & CFSR Program Outcomes  A Model for Systems Change  Standards for Best Practice: Safety,  Well-being and Timeliness for Children  Permanency for Children

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Outside Influences Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: SWAN Network Systems Change Model: Level I Participants Outside Influences Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: CQI Committee Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Level II Participants Outside Influences Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Oversight Committee Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Level III Participants Outside Influences Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: State/Federal Administrators Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Level IV Participants Outside Influences Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Outside Influences * ASFA *CFSR Outcomes *PIP *Concurrent Planning *State Law *SWAN Bulletin and Help Library Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Level IV: Policy Stakeholders Level III: Administrative Stakeholders Level II: Management Stakeholders Level I: Primary Stakeholders Systems Change Model: Best Practice Outcomes Outside Influences Best Practice Tools and Instruments

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 *ASFA *CFSR Outcomes *PIP *Concurrent Planning *State Law *SWAN Bulletin and Help Library Level IV: State/Federal Administrators Level III: Oversight Committee Level II: CQI Committee Level I: SWAN Network Systems Change Model Best Practice Tools and Instruments

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Affiliate Pilot Project: Goals Assess current practice related to the following units of service: Family Preparation/Profile; Child Profile; Placement; Finalization. Review benchmark data Make recommendations as to how practice could be improved as it relates to the units of service and impacts safety, permanency, and well-being.

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations Significant variances in the process between foster to adopt and “free standing” to adopt Statewide policy has been revised to eliminate the variances

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations Counties and affiliates had conflicting expectations Benchmarks standardize practice so that Counties and affiliates understand their roles

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations The goal change to adoption was a problematic “kick- off” point for service implementation Services can now be initiated prior to the child’s goal change to adoption

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations Counties and affiliates had varying interpretations of terminology The benchmarks define expectations and language. Templates have also been created to provide additional clarity.

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Pilot Project Outcomes and Recommendations There was no standardization to training elements for families The benchmarks define essential components of family preparation

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Outside Influences & Best Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Outside Influences Adoption & Safe Families Act (ASFA) Child and Family Service Review (CFSR) PA State Law PA standards for child welfare practice Concurrent Planning SWAN Bulletin and Help Library

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Adoption & Safe Families Act Key Principles Safety is paramount Substitute care is temporary Permanency planning begins as soon as the child enters substitute care Concurrent Planning Timely decisions within the child serving system Innovative approaches

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Safety is Paramount Bulletin  “Roles of Network Participants: Ensure safety and permanency for children in a timely manner” Permanency Benchmarks  Clearances  References  Home safety checklist  Child safety assessment / Safety Plan  Supervisory visits

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Permanency Planning Bulletin  Permanency includes adoption, kinship care, and Permanent Legal Custodianship.  The SWAN Prime Contractor must work in collaboration with all network participants to remove systemic barriers that impede timely permanency. Permanency Benchmarks  Individualized Adoption Service Plan (IASP)  Child Specific Recruitment Plan  Child preparation plan  Recipes for Success  Post Permanency Services

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Concurrent Planning Bulletin  Legal risk placements  Children without a goal of adoption are eligible for child profile, child specific recruitment, and child preparation services Permanency Benchmarks  Child Preparation Plan

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Timely Decisions Bulletin  “All activities conducted through the network are intended to support the timely permanency of children in the custody of county agencies and to support families.” Permanency Benchmarks  Timelines

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Outside Influences Best Practice Bulletin ASFA

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Child and Family Service Review Strengths Efforts to prevent maltreatment recurrence Ensuring that siblings in foster care are placed together Physical and dental health needs of children are adequately addressed

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Child and Family Service Review Safety items needing improvement per the CFSR Stability of foster care placement Permanency goal for child Reunification, guardianship or permanent placement with relatives Adoption

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Child and Family Services Review Well-being items needing improvement (cont)  Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents Child and family involvement in case planning

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Stability of Foster Care Placement Bulletin  Legal risk placements  The child preparation process must begin at intake, and be in concert with concurrent planning practices.  Realignment of foster/adopt services in the regular permanency services at the same payment rates. Permanency Benchmarks  Disclosure meeting  Review of child information  Child preparation plan

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Permanency Goal for Child Bulletin  Children without a goal of adoption are eligible for services  Legal Services Initiative  County agencies, at a minimum, semi-annually review the child’s permanency plan, determine if a goal change to adoption is needed….. Permanency Benchmarks  Individualized Adoption Service Plan

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Guardianship or Permanent Placement with Relatives Bulletin  Permanency includes adoption, kinship care, and Permanent Legal Custodianship Permanency Benchmarks  Family Preparation  Family Profile

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Adoption Bulletin  When a family is interested in adopting a child in the custody of a county agency, the network can help them to obtain timely permanency services.  Legal Services Initiative Permanency Benchmarks  Timelines  Individualized Adoption Service Plan  Child Specific Recruitment Plan

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Needs and Services of Child, Parents, Foster Parents Bulletin  Work in collaboration with all network participants to remove systemic barriers that impede the timely permanency of waiting children Permanency Benchmarks  Assigned affiliate worker discusses case with County worker  Affiliate worker collaborates with county worker

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning Bulletin  The family profile results have been reviewed with the adoptive applicants  Meet with the child to initiate engagement Permanency Benchmarks  IASP  Lifebooks  Child Preparation Plan

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Outside Influences Best Practice Bulletin ASFA CFSR

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 PA Standards for Child Welfare Practice Assessment Service planning Service delivery Monitoring & Evaluation Management

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Outside Influences Best Practice Bulletin ASFA CFSR PA Standards for Child Welfare Practice

DIAKON Lutheran Social Ministries/Family Design Resources Tools That Work Conference 11/03 Implementing Best Practice Standards in Permanency Planning Summary Questions For more information contact: Mike Kovacevic, Family Design Resources