Child and Family Services Reviews Aggregate Report Round 3: FYs 2015–2017 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children & Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau Table of Contents Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................................................i Overview of the Child and Family Services Reviews ................................................................................................ii Round 3 CFSR Process ...................................................................................................................................................ii Round 3 Findings.............................................................................................................................................................iii Additional Areas of Exploration ....................................................................................................................................iv Identifcation of Indian Children, Tribal Notifcation ....................................................................................................iv Oversight of Prescription Medications for Mental/Behavioral Health .......................................................................iv Implications of Findings .................................................................................................................................................iv Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................1 History and Purpose of the Child and Family Services Reviews ...........................................................................2 Methodology and Scope of This Report ......................................................................................................................2 CFSR Process and Findings for Round 3 ....................................................................................................................4 The Review Process ........................................................................................................................................................4 Statewide Assessment ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Onsite Review ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Program Improvement Plans .........................................................................................................................................5 Determining Substantial Conformity ...........................................................................................................................7 Performance ......................................................................................................................................................................8 Case-Level Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................8 Data Considerations ........................................................................................................................................................8 Characteristics of Cases Reviewed in the First 2 Years of Round 3 CFSRs .....................................................10 Type of Case ....................................................................................................................................................................10 Race/Ethnicity of Child in Foster Care ....................................................................................................................... 12 Age of Child in Foster Care ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Gender of Child in Foster Care ................................................................................................................................... 13 Reason for Case Opening ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Detailed Findings for Outcomes and Items ............................................................................................................. 15 Safety ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Safety Outcome 1: Children are, frst and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect ........................................... 15 Item 1: Timeliness of Initiating Investigations of Reports of Child Maltreatment .......................................................... 16 Item 2: Services to Family to Protect Child(ren) in the Home and Prevent Removal or Re-Entry Into Foster Care ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 Item 3: Risk and Safety Assessment and Management ............................................................................................... 17 Permanency .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Permanency Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations ...................................... 18 Item 4: Stability of Foster Care Placement ................................................................................................................... 18 Age and Placement Stability ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Item 5: Permanency Goal for Child .............................................................................................................................. 19 Item 6: Achieving Reunifcation, Guardianship, Adoption, or Other Planned Permanent Living Arrangement ............. 20 Permanency Goals ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 Permanency Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children. ...... 22 Item 7: Placement With Siblings ................................................................................................................................... 22 Item 8: Visiting With Parents and Siblings in Foster Care ............................................................................................. 22 Item 9: Preserving Connections ................................................................................................................................... 23 Item 10: Relative Placement ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Item 11: Relationship of Child in Care With Parents ..................................................................................................... 24 Well-Being ....................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Well-Being Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs ................................ 25 Item 12: Needs and Services of Child, Parents, and Foster Parents............................................................................ 26 Item 13: Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning ............................................................................................. 27 Item 14: Caseworker Visits With Child .......................................................................................................................... 27 Item 15: Caseworker Visits With Parents ...................................................................................................................... 27 Comparison by Family Role ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Well-Being Outcome 2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs ............................... 29 Item 16: Educational Needs of the Child ...................................................................................................................... 29 Well-Being Outcome 3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs ........... 29 Item 17: Physical Health of the Child ............................................................................................................................ 29 Item 18: Mental/Behavioral Health of the Child ............................................................................................................ 30 Systemic Factors ........................................................................................................................................................... 30 Determining