State of Alabama Department of Human Resources
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STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES 2016 Alabama Annual Progress and Services Report State of Alabama Department of Human Resources FY 2016 1 ITEM PAGE NUMBER I. STATE AGENCY ADMINISTERING THE PLAN 4 II. ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE OF THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM 4 III. FEDERAL REVIEWS 12 IV. VISION STATEMENT 13 V. PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION & PRACTICE MODEL 13 VI. ORGANIZATION OF THE APSR AND POINT OF CONTACT 15 VII. ANNUAL PROGRESS AND SERVICES REPORT / ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE 16 SAFETY OUTCOME 1 16 SAFETY OUTCOME 2 16 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 1 34 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 2 44 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 1 68 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 2 73 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 3 74 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: STATEWIDE INFORMATION SYSTEM 76 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: CASE REVIEW SYSTEM 78 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: QUALITY ASSURANCE / CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 80 SYSTEM FACTOR: TRAINING 87 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: SERVICE ARRAY 90 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: AGENCY RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY 95 SYSTEM FACTOR: FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENT LICENSING/RECRUITMENT/RETENTION 104 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE POLICY 108 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE ELIGIBILITY 110 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 110 VIII. PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT 111 IX. ASSURANCES 119 X. APPENDICES 120 Appendix I: Financial Report 121 Appendix II: Stakeholders 122 Appendix III: State QA Committee Report & Departmental Response 125 Appendix IV: AFCARS Improvement Plan 142 2 ITEM PAGE NUMBER(S) FAMILY PRESERVATION/SUPPORT/PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES 17, 91 CHILD MALTREATMENT DEATHS 21 POPULATIONS AT GREATEST RISK OF MALTREATMENT 23 CAPTA 26 SERVICES FOR CHILDREN < FIVE YEARS OF AGE 36 INTER-JURISDICTIONAL PLACEMENT 42 CHILDREN ADOPTED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES (INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTIONS) 42 COURT COLLABORATION 53, 96 ADOPTION INCENTIVE FUNDS 54 ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP INCENTIVE PAYMENTS 55 CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM 56 PL 113-183 – IMPLEMENTATION SYNOPSIS 67 CASEWORKER VISITS WITH CHILD 69 PROGRAM SUPPORT 89 JUVENILE JUSTICE TRANSFERS 92 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN STATES AND TRIBES 99 3 2016 Annual Progress and Services Report I. GENERAL INFORMATION STATE AGENCY The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) is designated by the Governor as the agency to administer the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX), Title IV-B and Title IV-E Programs. DHR administers the IV-B, subpart two, Promoting Safe and Stable Families plan and supervises services provided by the Department and purchased through community service providers. The Family Services Division (FSD), with oversight from the Deputy Commissioner for Children and Family Services, has primary responsibility for the social service components of the Title IV-E plan and programs that include: A) Independent Living Services, B) the Title IV-B plan and programs for children and their families funded through the Social Services Block Grant, and C) the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). There is additional involvement from other key offices within the Department. Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner, Fiscal and Administrative Record Services, the Office of Resource Management is responsible for regulatory and residential licensure functions, procuring/contracting services for the child welfare continuum, utilization review, and family preservation/support services. Alabama meets the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement of $1,016,682 through the State Family Options program and does not supplant any state funds. The Substantial Portion of Funds requirement for Promoting Safe and Stable Families is met with the following allocation of funds for FY 2013: Family Preservation 30.7%, Family Support 22.6%, Time-Limited Reunification 26.5%, Adoption Promotion and Support 20.2%. II. ORGANIZATION/STRUCTURE OF THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM–FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION Director – Family Services The Director* is responsible for the overall administration of the Division with support from three Deputy Directors. A number of specific child welfare programs and initiatives are managed within the Division. In addition, there are other offices or units within the Division that provide an infrastructure to support the overall child welfare mission. The Director’s scope of responsibility includes oversight for the provision of a range of Administrative Record supports to county Departments in the areas of policy development, program training, foster and adoptive home recruitment and approval, consultation and technical assistance, budgeting, data analysis, quality assurance, and also direct client services to children and families. The Director is responsible for ensuring an infrastructure that supports service delivery and the capacity for ongoing sustainability of these systemic improvements across all 67 county Departments. Coordination with the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, the Legal Office, other Division Directors, and County Directors takes place on a regular basis. The Director represents the Division with other state and federal agencies, advisory groups, legislators, Governor’s Office, and advocacy groups. Direct supervision is provided to the Deputy Directors, the Director’s Administrative Record Specialist and the Office of Adoption. *Please note that, as of June 16, 2015, Family Services Director Paul J. Butler was promoted within State D.H.R. to Deputy Commissioner for Field Administration. Interviews for replacement will begin soon, but it is uncertain whether the appointment will occur before APSR is submitted. Deputy Directors One Deputy Director supervises the Managers and Program Supervisors of the following Offices: Child Protective Services, Policy, Child Welfare Consultation, and Federal Coordination and Reporting. The Deputy Director further serves as a liaison to represent the Family Services Division in internal agency meetings involving the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and the State Legal Office, and in extra-agency training, task forces, work committees, and other groups. One Deputy Director supervises the FACTS unit and the Managers of the following Offices: Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, Child Welfare Eligibility, Quality Assurance, Data Analysis, and Child Welfare Training. This Deputy Director also serves as a liaison to represent the Family Services Division in internal agency meetings involving the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and the State Legal Office, and in extra-agency training, task forces, work committees, and other groups. One Deputy Director supervises the Office of Foster Care and Independent Living, which includes policy development and management of work with the initiatives supported by Casey Family Programs. This Deputy also supervises the Manager of the Office of Financial Resource Management. Recruitment activities, liaison work with child care providers, and strengthening collaboration with foster and adoptive parents and other partners are among this Deputy's responsibilities. Office of Child Welfare Policy The Office of Child Welfare Policy (OCWP) is responsible for developing child welfare policy required by state and federal legislation, and developing and revising all other policies as directed by each child welfare program, (e.g., CPS, Foster 4 Care). The Office of Policy is responsible for coordinating revisions to the Minimum Standards for Foster Family Homes incorporating best practice goals and principles into policy; amending the Administrative Record Procedures Code; coordinating the review of legislation pertinent to services for children and families; developing and submission of the title IV-E State Plan; and publishing policy interpretations. Policy development and revision process include: Assessing policy needs and issues. Planning approaches to policy development. Completing state of the art literature research. Collaborating with experts and professional resources. Writing policy drafts. Involving relevant stakeholders (e.g., county staff, County Director’s Policy Advisory Committee, and other appropriate individuals and groups in the draft review process. Managing the review, comment, and final drafting process through the Department and external stakeholders. Securing administration’s approval of the proposed final draft. In addition, the Office of Policy responds to county, other state partners, and national requests for information about policy; makes referrals that need case-specific consultation; and serves as back-up to Child Welfare Intake. The Office of Policy also supports QSR work in the counties, proxy work for high-level Administration, and support for ongoing initiatives/needs throughout Family Services. Office of Child Protective Services The Office of Child Protective Services (CPS) is responsible for statewide program development in child protective services. Working in conjunction with county offices, the Office of CPS provides consultation and local training to County Departments with identified needs. The Office of Child Protective currently is comprised of one Program Manager; six Program Specialist s; one fulltime Administrative Record Support Specialist and one part-time Administrative Record Support Specialist . The Office continues to have responsibility for the following: The Basic Child Abuse Grant Working in conjunction with the Children’s Justice Task Force on the Children’s Justice Grant. Managing and conducting Administrative Record Reviews when persons allegedly responsible for child abuse and neglect do not agree with a substantiated finding. Program Specialist