1. FIRST PLACEMENT IS THE RIGHT PLACEMENT
Draft Recommendations for Discussion
Governor’s Action Group for Safe Children

2. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Issues of confidentiality should not be allowed to be impediments to helping children.
Placement decisions should be child-focused and family-centered.
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3. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Cross-training is necessary to successful implementation of assessments and the wise use of resources in providing services and programs to children.
Assessment instruments should be free of any cultural bias.
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4. CATEGORIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Timeliness
Content
Process
Collaboration
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5. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
TIMELINESS
Establish a standard window of time (e.g., 24 hours) for collecting a prescribed set of common data elements.
Involve a sufficient number of experienced staff (24/7 – “real time”) as early as possible in the process
(Use as “crisis intervention managers”)
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

6. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
CONTENT
Require all agencies that come into contact with a family or child for out-of-home placement to use a set of common data elements to gather information.
Require Mental Health to use a standardized assessment aligned with those of DFCS and DJJ.
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

7. CRITICAL ELEMENTS FOR FIRST ASSESSMENT
Safety
Risk Factors
Resources (assess strengths)
Family Dynamics
Timeliness
(See handout)
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

8. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
PROCESS
Reduce the redundancy of children’s assessments.
Require agencies that deliver services to children to accept one another’s assessments (DJJ, DFCS, DOE, Mental Health, Community Health).
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

9. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
PROCESS
All common data element information should be
Automated
Transparent
Web-based, and
Populate appropriate agency-specific assessment records.
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10. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
PROCESS
Once a revised assessment and placement system is implemented, there needs to be standard concepts of disengagement for children.
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11. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
PROCESS
Provide appropriate confidentiality safeguards—including an initial family information permission release and electronic signatures —so that the system can offer access to all authorized organizations and individuals.
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

12. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
All decisions regarding statutes, regulations and policies that require collaboration, alignment, and coordination among those primary agencies impacting children’s lives must have all agencies represented in and committed to consensual decision making and implementation.
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13. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
DOE should be an integral part of the system of organizations:
In decision-making
In providing assessment information and appropriate programs and services to children who require them
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

14. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
Provide cross-training to DJJ, DOE, DFCS, Juvenile Court Judges, Community Health, private and non-profit service providers, and MH/MR/SA staff
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15. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
Children in joint custody of DFCS and DJJ need to be “fast-tracked” (given preferential access) in terms of obtaining services such as MATCH.
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16. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
Phase in implementation of any newly developed assessment/placement system:
Use a limited number of counties in the pilot phase
Redeploy assessment resources to the initial phases of contact with a child and family
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

17. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
Provide to any child known to DFCS through CPS comprehensive assessments (including family conferencing) to prevent out-of-home placements.
Track the number of prevented placements & redirect the saved revenue to services for children at risk of out-of-home placements.
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DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT

18. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
COLLABORATION
Provide access for families and staff to appropriate translation services, including sign language, and to culturally appropriate resource staff, especially outside of the metro area.
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19. DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY DRAFT
REMINDER
Once a revised assessment and placement system has been developed, there should be careful analyses of all options considered to prevent any systemic “unintended consequences.”
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