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Introduction

The Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) are a Federal-State collaborative effort designed to help ensure that quality services are provided to children and families through State child welfare systems. The reviews identify strengths and areas needing improvement in State programs and systems, focusing on outcomes for children and families in the areas of safety, permanency, and child and family well-being. Following a review, States develop and implement Program Improvement Plans (PIPs), as needed. The Children's Bureau; Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF); Administration for Children and Families (ACF); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers the reviews.

The Child and Family Services Reviews Procedures Manual was developed to offer an overview of the purpose and structure of the reviews. The manual is designed to assist Children's Bureau staff and State child welfare agencies in planning for, and participating in, a CFSR.

State agency administrators are strongly encouraged to share the manual with agency staff who will plan for, or participate in, the State's CFSR. The Children's Bureau Central and Regional Office staff provide additional guidance to State child welfare agency staff through review planning conference calls and training about the onsite review process for State Review Team members. The Children's Bureau Regional Office liaison for each review also coordinates the provision of technical assistance to States by the Children's Bureau-funded National Resource Centers during the review process.

The manual is divided into seven chapters and nine appendices. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the CFSRs; subsequent chapters address key components of the reviews. While each chapter is designed to stand alone, the review components are interrelated. The sections containing information relevant to another chapter, therefore, are cross-referenced for ease of use.

The following are the contents of each chapter:

• Chapter 1 offers an overview of the purpose, principles, and structure of the reviews, and the steps in the review process.
  
  
• Chapter 2 provides information on the composition and functions of the Statewide Assessment Team, Onsite Review Team, and PIP Development Team.
  
  
• Chapter 3 explains the steps involved in conducting the Statewide Assessment, including preparing data profiles, analyzing data indicators, using the Statewide Assessment to structure the onsite review, and completing interim and subsequent Statewide Assessments. It also provides guidance for Children's Bureau staff on completing the Preliminary Assessment.
  
  
• Chapter 4 offers information about the onsite review, including planning, case selection and review, State and local stakeholder interviews, and team debriefings. It also briefly discusses the instruments used to conduct the onsite review.
  
  
• Chapter 5 provides guidance on the process used to determine substantial conformity with the outcomes and systemic factors, and the process for resolving discrepancies between the results of the Statewide Assessment and the onsite review.
  
  
• Chapter 6 provides information on the Final Report, which is developed following each State's review, including the format, content, and preparation and distribution procedures.
  
  
• Chapter 7 covers the PIP content and format, strategies and the timeframe for developing the PIP, and PIP approval, reporting, evaluation, and renegotiation procedures.

The manual, and the review instruments and planning tools referenced in the manual, are available on the Children's Bureau Web site. Specific Web site addresses are provided in Appendix A, Web Site Addresses for Documents Referenced in the CFSR Procedures Manual. These addresses are current as of the publication date. Because specific Web addresses can change, the Children's Bureau Web site home page address (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb) is provided throughout the text wherever the review instruments and planning tools are referenced. Moreover, the Children's Bureau continually refines and enhances the instruments and planning tools used in the CFSRs. While some of these instruments and tools are included in the manual for the reader's convenience, please check the Children's Bureau Web site for the most recent version of each.

Contact information for key Federal staff responsible for administering the CFSRs and for Federal contractors referenced in this manual is available on the "CFSR Key Children's Bureau and Federal Contractor Staff" page on the Children's Bureau Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb.

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