Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children 2007 Executive Retreat

GAHSC Executive Director Normer Adams Emerging Trends September 20-21, 2007

GAHSC – Emerging Trends “This is not your father’s child welfare system” Looking to the horizons – “reading the river”

GAHSC – Indicators of Trends Public Policy – The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 – least restrictive environments Medicaid Regulations – Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) – reductions of rehab services to child welfare clients, increased requirements for providers, reduction of funding, “siloing” of services  IMDS – Institutions of Mental Diseases Title XIX of the Social Security Act – Medicaid funding

GAHSC - Indicators Best Practices Home and Community Based Services – “No services provided outside the home” Permanency – “A child should be with their families” Evidence Base Practice – “Social service work should be based on practices that have demonstrated effectiveness.”

GAHSC Funding Federal Maximization is out 4 E Dollars are capped to a look back provision More State Dollars - $24 million to cover Medicaid shortfall

GAHSC Populations Indications - Since 2005 Child Protection Services – 28,000 case to 18,000 cases Child Placement Services – 18,000 to 17,000 cases Recurrence of Abuse – 6% to 3.6% Placement with relatives – 19.2% Georgia ranks about average nationally for the percentage of children in child protective services, in out of home placement, in group homes and

GAHSC – Advocacy Groups “War on Institutions” The “good” is an enemy of the “good.” National Groups Children’s Rights, Inc Casey Foundation Chaplin Hall, Chicago Pew Foundation In their efforts to support families and home services, they often denigrate the good work of residential agencies.

GAHSC – Advocacy Groups Dominance of Community Supported Agencies Privatization will continue % to % Foster Care Special Needs Group Homes Family Preservation and Supports “Policy Makers will come and go, but our community supported agencies will abide.”

GAHSC – Governmental Agencies Agencies will have to determine whether they are governmental agencies or community supported or a hybrid of the two. Community Supported – Take direction from community and wholly funded by them. Governmental – A non profit in service to the community by serving as a govermental agency of services and change. Funding wholly by them.

GAHSC – Reading the River Family Centered Work will be more important more work with families more work in the homes Shared outcomes will drive the work. Better funding but more competition

GAHSC – The Future