STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES 2018 Alabama Annual Progress and Services Report State of Alabama Department of Human Resources FY 2018 ITEM PAGE NUMBER I. STATE AGENCY ADMINISTERING THE PLAN 4 II. ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE OF THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM 4 III. FEDERAL REVIEWS 14 IV. VISION STATEMENT 15 V. PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION & PRACTICE MODEL 15 VI. ORGANIZATION OF THE APSR AND POINT OF CONTACT 17-18 VII. ANNUAL PROGRESS AND SERVICES REPORT / ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE 19 SAFETY OUTCOME 1 19 SAFETY OUTCOME 2 20 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 1 40 PERMANENCY OUTCOME 2 55 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 1 82 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 2 87 WELL-BEING OUTCOME 3 88 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: STATEWIDE INFORMATION SYSTEM 90 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: CASE REVIEW SYSTEM 93 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: QUALITY ASSURANCE / CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 94 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: TRAINING 101 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: SERVICE ARRAY 105 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: AGENCY RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY 109 SYSTEMIC FACTOR: FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENT LICENSING/RECRUITMENT/RETENTION120 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE POLICY 124 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF CHILD WELFARE ELIGIBILITY 127 YEARLY REPORT: OFFICE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 128 VIII. PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT 129 IX. ASSURANCES 141 X. APPENDICES 142 Appendix 1: Financial Report 143 Appendix 2: Stakeholders 144 Appendix 3: State QA Committee (SQAC) Report 147 Appendix 4: Departmental Response to SQAC Recommendations 152 Appendix 5: AFCARS Improvement Plan 155 Appendix 6: PIP Updates 158 Appendix 7: Three Branch Institute Grant 160 Appendix 8: Tools of Choice Research Synopsis 169 Appendix 9: Family Preservation and Support Services Report 171 Appendix 10: Feedback from State QA Committee and CWCI Team 183 2 ITEM PAGE NUMBER(S) FAMILY PRESERVATION/SUPPORT/PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES 20, 106 CHILD MALTREATMENT DEATHS 25 POPULATIONS AT GREATEST RISK OF MALTREATMENT 27 CAPTA 30 SERVICES FOR CHILDREN < FIVE YEARS OF AGE 44 ESSA 50 INTER-JURISDICTIONAL PLACEMENT 52 CHILDREN ADOPTED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES (INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTIONS) 53 COURT COLLABORATION 65, 110 ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP INCENTIVE PAYMENTS 66 CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM 69 CASEWORKER VISITS WITH CHILD 85 PROGRAM SUPPORT 103 JUVENILE JUSTICE TRANSFERS 107 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN STATES AND TRIBES 114 3 2018 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, and the Deputy Commissioner of Quality Assurance, 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 for 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 2015: Family Preservation 21.4%, Family Support 28.9%, Time-Limited Reunification 28.7%, Adoption Promotion and Support 20.9%. 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 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, 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 Assistant (Office Administrator), the Offices of Data Analysis, and FACTS. Deputy Directors – Family Services One Deputy Director supervises the Managers of the following Offices: Child Protective Services, Office of Child Welfare Policy, Federal Coordination and Reporting, and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. The other 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 Managers of the following Offices: Financial Resource Management, Adoption, and Child Welfare Eligibility. 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. Both Deputy Directors serve as liaisons 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 As of June 1, 2017, the Office of Policy is comprised of one Program Manager, one full-time policy developer and one part- time policy developer. 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 4 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 Record Procedures Code; coordinating the review of state 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 processes 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 to other Program areas as needed for 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 and statewide training to staff in the counties as well as community partners. As of June 1, 2017, the Office of Child Protective Services is comprised of one Program Manager, one Program Supervisor, five Program Specialists, two fulltime Administrative Support Assistants, and one part-time Administrative Support Assistant. 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 Specialists who have extensive knowledge in CPS practice and policy work in partnership with County Administrative Record staff to conduct the Administrative Record Reviews. These staff