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Participation in the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) administered by the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Consultants typically will not have time during the onsite review to conduct other work or to consult frequently with their offices; the review schedule is very full and events may extend into the evening hours, as necessary (for example, focus groups with foster parents who cannot meet during daytime hours and the team's daily briefing meetings). The general responsibilities of consultants participating in the reviews include, but are not limited to, the following:
Substantive Preparation and Participation Responsibilities
Review the Preliminary Assessment in preparation for the onsite review.
Work cooperatively with the Child Welfare Review Project to secure travel arrangements.
Participate in any scheduled orientation or training sessions before or during the onsite review.
Remain present at the review site(s) for the four days of the local onsite review and participate in all scheduled review activities, from the local entrance conference through the local exit conference.
Conduct all assigned activities associated with the review of case records and interviews, including completion of the review instruments.
Participate in focus groups, open forums, or other group meetings scheduled during the onsite review.
Attend daily briefings of the local review teams and present information on cases reviewed or stakeholders interviewed.
Assist in compiling a summary of the team's findings during the onsite review.
Submit completed review instruments on assigned cases and interviews before departing the review site at the end of the onsite review.
Remain available for telephone consultation after the review, if needed, to clarify or supplement information recorded on the instruments.
Logistical and Planning Responsibilities:
Stay in touch with the Child Welfare Review Projects Review Coordinator supporting your participation in a training or a review. Please contact the Review Coordinator if you experience any of the following:
The need to cancel your participation in a review or training. Please provide at least 3 weeks notice of cancellations (except, of course, in the event of an emergency) to help facilitate the selection and confirmation of a replacement trainee or reviewer.
Changes to the mailing or e-mail address to which you requested that the project send training or review-related materials.
Training or review-related materials not arriving at your designated address by the date anticipated.
Problems making air travel or hotel reservations; all hotel and air travel reservations must be made before the deadline provided to consultants by the project.
Arrange to obtain the signature of the Local Site Leader for a review on the "Authorization To Pay Consultant Reviewers Form" and return the completed form to the Child Welfare Review Projects with your expense voucher.
Determine in advance of agreeing to serve as a consultant reviewer, and in conjunction with your current employer, your ability to accept an honorarium.
Consultant Compensation
The Children's Bureau will pay consultants a $350 honorarium for each day spent on site (4 days) and a $150 honorarium for the time spent preparing to participate in a review (travel and per diem will be covered for those traveling more than 50 miles one way; Federal regulations prohibit paying a per diem to individuals who travel less than 50 miles one way to participate in a training or other meeting).
Consultant also will receive a $150 honorarium for participating in the 1 1/2–day Consultant Reviewer Training (travel and per diem also will be covered), which is required before participation in a review.
Further Considerations
Consultants also should consider the following before applying to serve as a consultant reviewer:
Consultants should be willing and available to participate in multiple reviews and to review and abide by provisions of the Consultant Agreement Form, especially the nondisclosure of information provision; all State-related information obtained during a child and family services review is to be held confidential.
Consultants may not participate in the CFSR of a State child welfare agency if they have provided technical assistance or consultation to the State during a period of 1 year before the review or have participated in a lawsuit or other legal action against the State. Consultants also may not provide technical assistance to a State during the period following a review in which they participated when the State is developing and implementing a Program Improvement Plan associated with the review findings.
Consultant reviewers' performance during a review will be evaluated by their Local Site Leader and Team Leader.
Consultant Selection for Participation in a Review
The Children's Bureau Central and Regional Office staff select consultants to participate in the CFSRs from the consultant pool managed by the Child Welfare Review Projects. If you are selected to participate in a training or a review, the Child Welfare Review Projects will contact you to determine your availability and to provide you with further information on the training or review.
