1. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 1 THE STEP PROGRAM Supervisory Training to Enhance Practice

2. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 2 The STEP Program: Four Key Areas to Reach Results Supervisor as:  Master Practitioner and Clinical Guide  Teacher and Team Builder  Systems Manager  Leader

3. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 3 What we tracked…  Do supervisors demonstrate increased confidence in their knowledge, skills, and attitude in the four STEP key areas of master practitioner and clinical guide, teacher/team builder, systems manager and leader in relation to Family- centered, Trauma-informed, Strength-based (FTS) and agency preferred practices?  Do agency leaders see improvement in the supervisor’s ability to demonstrate an increased capacity to adopt, implement, apply, and sustain FTS in the agency’s practice enhancement areas?  Are the practices adopted by the Department being implemented into supervisory oversight of casework and investigative practice with fidelity?

4. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 4 How we tracked it…  Program Level 1. Development of standardized tools to ensure fidelity 2. Engagement Satisfaction Survey  Initial Engagement  Supervisor Self Reflection Tool  Supervisor Support Plan  Quarterly Focus Meeting 3. STEP Impact Evaluation Questionnaire

5. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 5 Engagement Survey  Leadership Survey  n=72  Response rate – 25%  High Satisfaction –71%  Supervisor Survey  n=229  Response rate – 16%  High satisfaction – 89%  Survey Feedback  Timeliness of survey in relation to the completion of the initial engagement  More follow-up communication with administration needed  Engagement process  Survey development  Group discussion topics

6. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 6 Practice Enhancement Area Trends Requests for Skill Building Support from the Field  Engagement  Assessment  Critical Thinking  Clinical Guidance  Facilitation of CFTM  Use of Data to Impact Outcome  Understanding & Applying Rule & Procedure  Integration of New Initiatives Requests for Case Practice Support from the Field  Supervision Notes & General Documentation  Linking Integrated Assessment, CANS & Service Integration and Appropriate Referral  Enhanced Safety Model  SACWIS 5.0  Child & Family Team Meetings  Shared Parenting  Substantive Case Contacts & Visitation  Court Reports  Resources Identification Trend data collected from 120 agency engagement summaries

7. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 7 Impact Evaluation Questionnaire  Questionnaire Feedback  Increase self awareness  Focused more on parent's strengths  Addressed specific issues with team  Gained knowledge in an area of challenge.  Began to look at selves and practice  Development of Practice Enhancement Guide for Cook County  Service Plans emphasized trauma and strengths.  Staff more in-tune with families  Better service provision  Adopted goal of caseworker as change agent  Mindful of trauma exacted upon children in care  Better communication Leadership Survey n=51 Response rate – 40%

8. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 8 Future Service Feedback Rate of Satisfaction –62%

9. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 9 What we learned… Program Strengths:  Multi-layered engagement yielded positive results and is instrumental in achieving buy-in at all levels  Practice Enhancement trends fell into 4 major areas: Supervision, Engagement, Assessment and Critical Thinking which mirror the Child and Family Service Review data  Casework and investigative process trend were incorporated into topics for individual and group focus  Agency leadership was able to see a discernable impact in awareness and implementation of strategies to improve supervisory and line staff FTS practice (77%) even though the majority of agencies were still in the initial engagement or completion of the support plan (73%)  Creation of processes that reflect structured flexibility  The intentional use of self-reflection as a means to behavioral change  Guided framework for field support specialist for engagement and ongoing services  Use of standardized tools for self-reflection and the support plan

10. Illinois Department of Children & Family Service/Chicago State University STEP Program - NHSTES May 2013 10 Data will be collected on multiple layers of administration and supervisors and incorporate the feedback to make necessary program modifications. To vary and increase the opportunity for a greater response on the feedback requested, STEP management will follow the survey up with phone calls and/or focus groups. Survey will be developed and distributed and the data collected will be analyzed and compared to previously collected feedback. Monitor to see if the use of the structured frameworks yields a more practice focused experience for the recipient following the engagement process. Trends management decisions for the field support specialist’s continued skill building and professional development. As the Department clarifies specific outcomes and indicators, STEP management will align the programmatic focus to support the practice. Conclusion and Recommendations: