STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES 2014 FINAL REPORT State of Alabama Department of Human Resources FY 2014 2014 Final Report I. STATE AGENCY ADMINISTERING THE PLAN II. ORGANIZATION/STRUCTURE OF THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM III. FEDERAL REVIEWS (CFSR, AFCARS, IV-E ) IV. VISION STATEMENT V. PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION & PRACTICE MODEL VI. ORGANIZATION / POSTING / POINT OF CONTACT OF / FOR FINAL REPORT VII. FINAL REPORT 2014 SAFETY OUTCOME 1 SAFETY OUTCOME 2 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 1 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 2 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 1 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 2 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 3 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: STATEWIDE INFORMATION SYSTEM SYSTEMIC FACTOR: CASE REVIEW SYSTEM SYSTEMIC FACTOR: QUALITY ASSURANCE / CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEMIC FACTOR: TRAINING SYSTEMIC FACTOR: SERVICE ARRAY SYSTEMIC FACTOR: AGENCY RESPONSIVENESS TO COMMUNITY SYSTEMIC FACTOR: FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENT LICENSING/RECRUITMENT/RETENTION YEARLY REPORT – OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE POLICY YEARLY REPORT – OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE ELIGIBILITY YEARLY REPORT – OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCE MGMT VIII. ASSURANCES IX. FINANCIAL REPORT CFS 101 X. APPENDICES I. 2014 Stakeholder Participants II. Training Summary III. State QA Committee Report / Departmental Response IV. Health Care Services Plan V. Technical Assistance Synopsis VI. AFCARS Improvement Plan 2 Areas Not Highlighted on page 2: CAPTA 35 CFCIP 58 Children at Risk of Maltreatment 29 Child Maltreatment Deaths 24 Family Preservation/Support/Promoting Safe 23, 27, 95 and Stable Families Services for Children < 5 years of Age 75 Inter-jurisdictional Placements 49 Court Collaboration 55, 98 Inter-country Adoptions 49 Adoption Incentive Funds 56 Caseworker Visits 79 Juvenile Justice Transfers 95 Indian Child Welfare Act 100 Disaster Plans 105 3 INTRODUCTION I. 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 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 2012: Family Preservation 24.2%, Family Support 28.4%, Time-Limited Reunification 24.2%, Adoption Promotion and Support 23.2%. 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 two 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 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 some direct client services to children and families. The Director sets the vision for the Division in establishing an infrastructure to support 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 Specialist and the Office of Adoption. Deputy Directors One Deputy Director supervises the Managers and Program Supervisors of the following Offices: Child Protective Services, Foster Care and Independent Living, 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, Child Welfare Training and Financial Resource Management. This Deputy Director will also serve 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. 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 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 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. 4 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 to County Departments with identified needs. The Office of Child Protective currently is comprised of one Program Manager; six Program Specialists; one fulltime Administrative Support Specialist and one part time Administrative 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 The Office of Child Protective Services is responsible for managing and conducting administrative record reviews when persons allegedly responsible for child abuse and neglect do not agree with a substantiated finding. Program Specialists who have extensive knowledge in CPS work in partnership with County administrative staff to conduct the Administrative Record Reviews. Each reviewer is responsible for reviewing all information that was used by the county offices in their determination of an indicated/substantiated report of maltreatment occurred. Alleged perpetrators requesting the Administrative Review also have the opportunity to submit any information they would like the Reviewers to consider. It is the responsibility of the State and County Reviewers to determine if there is sufficient evidence to support an indicated (i.e., substantiated) finding of abuse or neglect and whether or not the assessment and documentation of the information gathered supports, by a preponderance of evidence, that maltreatment occurred. Upon completion of the Administrative Record Reviews it is the responsibility of the State Administrative Record Reviewers to provide feedback to county staff on the basis of their work in administrative record reviews. The Office is also