Children's Bureau Website - Child Welfare Monitoring: Summary of Key Findings Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004

Children's Bureau Child and Family Services Reviews Summary of Key Findings Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004
The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews assess State performance during a specified period of time with respect to seven child welfare outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being, and with respect to seven systemic factors. Each of the seven outcomes is comprised of individual practices (referred to in the reviews as items), which are determined by the reviewers to be either strengths, areas needing improvement, or not applicable. In the attached chart, each of the practices reviewed is noted and marked with a "X" if it was found to be a strength for the State. Based on the findings relating to these practices, the State is determined to be in substantial conformity, partial conformity, or not in conformity with each of the seven outcomes and seven systemic factors. In the attached chart, if the State was found to be in substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review, an "S" is marked in the first column beneath that outcome or factor. With respect to the Federal fiscal year 2003 and 2004 reviews, please note the following: Under Permanency Outcome 1, the practice referred to as "Reunification, Guardianship, or Permanent Placement With Relatives" (item 8), was modified following the completion of the fiscal year 2001 reviews. In those reviews, the focus of this item was on the provision of independent living services by the State. The findings related to item 8 in this report, therefore, should not be compared to the findings for item 8 in 2001. Further explanation of each individual practice, outcome, and systemic factor is available in the Child and Family Services Reviews Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions, which is posted on the Children's Bureau Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/index.htm.

Children's Bureau
Child and Family Services Reviews
Summary of Key Findings
Fiscal Years 2003 and 2004

The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews assess State performance during a specified period of time with respect to seven child welfare outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being, and with respect to seven systemic factors.

Each of the seven outcomes is comprised of individual practices (referred to in the reviews as items), which are determined by the reviewers to be either strengths, areas needing improvement, or not applicable. In the attached chart, each of the practices reviewed is noted and marked with a "X" if it was found to be a strength for the State.

Based on the findings relating to these practices, the State is determined to be in substantial conformity, partial conformity, or not in conformity with each of the seven outcomes and seven systemic factors. In the attached chart, if the State was found to be in substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review, an "S" is marked in the first column beneath that outcome or factor.

With respect to the Federal fiscal year 2003 and 2004 reviews, please note the following:

Under Permanency Outcome 1, the practice referred to as "Reunification, Guardianship, or Permanent Placement With Relatives" (item 8), was modified following the completion of the fiscal year 2001 reviews. In those reviews, the focus of this item was on the provision of independent living services by the State. The findings related to item 8 in this report, therefore, should not be compared to the findings for item 8 in 2001.

Further explanation of each individual practice, outcome, and systemic factor is available in the Child and Family Services Reviews Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions, which is posted on the Children's Bureau Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/index.htm.

Children's Bureau Fiscal Year 2003 and 2004 Child and Family Services Reviews Summary of Key Findings
The Children's Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families administer the State child and family services reviews. The reviews comprise two phases: (1) the Statewide Assessment, during which the State analyzes its child welfare data and practice, and (2) the onsite review, during which Federal and State teams examine outcomes for children and families by assessing child welfare practices, and assess State systemic issues through stakeholder interviews. The following chart provides a summary of the findings from the final reports of the reviews conducted in fiscal years (FY) 2003 and 2004. An "S" indicates that the State obtained substantial conformity with the outcome or systemic factor under review. A "X" indicates that the practice under review was found to be a strength for the State.
I. States' Conformance With the Safety Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Children are first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.			Outcome 2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Timely Investigation of Reports of Child Maltreatment	Prevention of Repeat Maltreatment of Children	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Maintaining Child(ren) Safely in Their Homes	Reducing Risk of Harm to Children
Hawaii	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Idaho	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Illinois	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Iowa	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X
Kentucky	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Louisiana	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Maine	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Maryland	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Mississippi	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Nevada	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Hampshire	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X
New Jersey	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Puerto Rico	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Rhode Island	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Utah	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X
Virginia	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
Washington	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X

II. States' Conformance With the Permanency Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Preventing Foster Care Re-Entries	Providing Stable Placements for Children in Foster Care	Establishing Appropriate Permanency Goals for Children	Achieving Permanency Through Reunification, Guardianship, or Permanent Placement With Relatives²	Achieving Adoption	Achieving Permanency Goal of Other Planned Permanent Living Arrangement
Hawaii	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Idaho	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Illinois	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Iowa	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Kentucky	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Louisiana	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Maine	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Maryland	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Mississippi	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Nevada	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Hampshire	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Jersey	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Puerto Rico	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Rhode Island	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Utah	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Virginia	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Washington	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell

² Please note that this review item was revised for the FY 2002 reviews and additional clarifying language was added for the FY 2003 reviews. In 2001, this item focused on independent living services. back

II. State's Conformance With the Permanency Outcomes (Continued)
States	Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Placing Children in Close Proximity to Their Families	Placing Children With Their Siblings	Facilitating Visitation of Children in Care With Parents and Siblings	Preserving Connections	Placing Children With Relatives	Supporting the Relationship of Children in Care With Parents
Hawaii	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Idaho	S	X	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Illinois	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Iowa	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Kentucky	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Louisiana	S	X	X	X	X	X	X
Maine	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Maryland	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Mississippi	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Nevada	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Hampshire	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
New Jersey	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Puerto Rico	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Rhode Island	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Utah	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	X
Virginia	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Washington	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell

III. States' Conformance With the Child and Family Well-Being Outcomes
States	Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs.					Outcome 2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.		Outcome 3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.
States	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Providing Services to Children, Parents, Foster Parents	Involving Children and Parents in Case Planning	Visiting With Children Frequently	Visiting With Parents Frequently	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Meeting Educational Needs of Children	Substantial Conformity With Outcome	Meeting Physical Health Needs of Children	Meeting Mental Health Needs of Children
Hawaii	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Idaho	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Illinois	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Iowa	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	X
Kentucky	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
Louisiana	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Maine	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
Maryland	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Mississippi	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Nevada	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
New Hampshire	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
New Jersey	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Puerto Rico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Rhode Island	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Utah	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	X
Virginia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X	blank cell
Washington	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell

IV. States' Conformance With the Systemic Factors
States	Statewide Information System		Case Review System
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Automated Information System³	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Written Case Plans⁴	Frequent Court Reviews of Case Status⁵	Frequent Permanency Hearings⁶	Timely Termination of Parental Rights⁷	Caretaker and Parent Notification of Hearings⁸
Hawaii	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell
Idaho	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell
Illinois	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X
Iowa	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell
Kentucky	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Louisiana	S	X	S	blank cell	X	X	X	X
Maine	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Maryland	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Mississippi	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Nevada	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell
New Hampshire	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X
New Jersey	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Puerto Rico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Rhode Island	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
South Carolina	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Utah	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	X
Virginia	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Washington	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	S	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	X	blank cell	blank cell

³ The statewide automated information system can determine the status, demographics, location, and goals for all children in foster care. back
⁴ Children in foster care have written case plans and children and parents are consistently involved in case planning. back
⁵ The status of each child is reviewed in court at least every 6 months. back
⁶ Permanency hearings are held for children in foster care within 12 months of entry into care. back
⁷ Termination of parental rights proceedings occur within the timeframes specified in the Adoption and Safe Families Act. back
⁸ Foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caretakers of children in foster care are routinely notified of and given an opportunity to participate in hearings for children. back

IV. States' Conformance With the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Quality Assurance System			Training
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Quality Standards⁹	Quality Assurance System¹⁰	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Staff Development and Training Program¹¹	Ongoing Staff Training¹²	Training for Foster and Adoptive Parents¹³
Hawaii	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Idaho	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell
Illinois	S	X	X	S	blank cell	X	X
Iowa	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Kentucky	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
Louisiana	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
Maine	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	blank cell	X	X
Maryland	blank cell	X	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Mississippi	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Missouri	S	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Nevada	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X
New Hampshire	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
New Jersey	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Puerto Rico	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Rhode Island	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	S	X	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Utah	S	X	X	S	X	X	X
Virginia	S	X	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
Washington	S	X	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell
Wisconsin	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell

⁹ Standards have been implemented to ensure that children in foster care are provided with quality services to address their needs. back
¹⁰ The State operates an identifiable quality assurance system that has the capacity to monitor the quality of services, identify strengths and needs of the service delivery system, provide reports, and evaluate program improvement measures. back
¹¹ The State operates a staff development and training program. back
¹² The State provides ongoing training addressing the skills and knowledge needed for staff to perform their duties. back
¹³ The State provides training for current and prospective foster and adoptive parents and staff of State-licensed facilities that care for children in foster care. back

IV. States' Conformance With the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Service Array				Agency Responsiveness to the Community
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Array of Services for Children and Families¹⁴	Services Are Accessible Throughout the State¹⁵	Services are Individualized For Unique Needs¹⁶	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Consultation With Stakeholders¹⁷	Joint Development of Progress Reports¹⁸	Coordination of Services With Federal Programs¹⁹
Hawaii	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	blank cell
Idaho	blank cell	X	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Illinois	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Iowa	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Kentucky	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Louisiana	S	X	blank cell	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Maine	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	blank cell	X
Maryland	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Mississippi	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Missouri	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
Nevada	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	X	X
New Hampshire	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	blank cell	X	X
New Jersey	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X
Puerto Rico	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X
Rhode Island	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Utah	S	X	blank cell	X	S	blank cell	X	X
Virginia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	X	X	X
Washington	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	S	X	blank cell	X
Wisconsin	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	S	blank cell	X	X

¹⁴ The State offers an array of services to meet the needs of children and families. back
¹⁵ Services are accessible to families and children in all locations of the State. back
¹⁶ Services offered are individualized to the unique needs of children and families. back
¹⁷ The State engages in ongoing consultation with consumers, service providers, courts, and other stakeholders. back
¹⁸ The State jointly develops with its stakeholders annual reports of progress. back
¹⁹ The State's services are coordinated with services or benefits of other Federal programs servicing the same population. back

IV. States' Conformance With the Systemic Factors (Continued)
States	Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing, Recruitment, and Retention
States	Substantial Conformity With Factor	Standards for Foster and Adoptive Families²⁰	Uniform Application of Standards²¹	Criminal Clearances for Foster and Adoptive Families²²	Recruitment of Diverse Foster and Adoptive Families²³	Utilization of Cross-Jurisdictional Resources²⁴
Hawaii	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
Idaho	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Illinois	S	X	X	X	X	X
Iowa	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Kentucky	S	X	blank cell	X	X	X
Louisiana	S	X	X	X	X	X
Maine	S	X	X	X	X	X
Maryland	S	X	X	X	X	blank cell
Mississippi	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Missouri	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Nevada	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
New Hampshire	S	X	X	X	X	X
New Jersey	blank cell	X	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
Puerto Rico	S	X	X	X	X	X
Rhode Island	blank cell	X	X	X	blank cell	blank cell
South Carolina	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Utah	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Virginia	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	X	blank cell	X
Washington	S	X	X	X	blank cell	X
Wisconsin	S	X	X	X	X	blank cell

²⁰ The State has implemented standards for foster and adoptive family homes and child care institutions. back
²¹ State standards for foster and adoptive family homes are applied uniformly. back
²² The State conducts criminal clearances for foster care and adoptive families and operates a case planning process that includes provisions for ensuring children's safety. back
²³ The State diligently recruits foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children for whom homes are needed. back
²⁴ The State utilizes cross-jurisdictional resources to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for children. back