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Appendix A

National Survey of Child and
Adolescent Well-Being

Local Agency Director Survey

 

 

Agency Name: _________________________________ Respondent Name:______________________________ Respondent Title:_______________________________

Field Rep ID: Interview Date:____/____/____

START TIME:

Local Agency Directors Interview

Introduction

This survey is about the general characteristics of your agency, your service delivery system, training provided to agency staff and caregivers, and policies that govern your agency’s operations. The interview will take approximately 30 minutes.

Agency Structure

1. My first questions are about the general characteristics of your agency. Who is responsible for appointing the director of local child welfare administrative units, such as the county director or administrative district director?
   
   

   STATE ADMINISTRATOR	1
   COUNTY EXECUTIVE	2
   COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR BOARD (ELECTED)	3
   COUNTY CHILDREN’S SERVICES BOARD (APPOINTED)	4
   OTHER (SPECIFY: __________________________________________)	5

   
   
2. To what extent does county government make decisions about how money for child welfare services is spent? Does county government have...
   
   

   Almost complete control,	1
   Substantial control, or	2
   Very little or no control?	3

   
   
3. How would you describe your agency? Are you...
   
   

   A free-standing entity, or	1 [SKIP TO Q5]
   A unit within a larger agency?	2

   
   
4. Which of the following are also part of the larger agency?
   
   

   	YES	NO
   a. Substance abuse treatment?	1	2
   b. Mental health?	1	2
   c. Public health?	1	2
   d. Income maintenance/TANF?	1	2
   e. Juvenile justice services?	1	2

Service Delivery

5. The next questions are about your service delivery system.

   In the past 12 months, has your agency developed any specialized units, blended teams, or community-based satellite offices?
   
   

   YES	1
   NO	2 [SKIP TO Q7]

6. Please tell me whether your agency has used the following practices for service delivery and, if so, the month and year these practices were adopted.

1. Is your child welfare system integrated into an omnibus human services agency?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

   
   
2. Does your agency have regionalized services?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

   
   
3. Does your agency assign only one caseworker to a case from the beginning to the end of the case?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

   
   
4. Does your agency offer neighborhood services or have satellite offices?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

   
   
5. Does your agency have specialized service units?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

   
   
6. Does your agency have multi-disciplinary or agency teams with TANF?
   
   

   YES	1	When did you start this practice?
   NO	2		M  M /  Y  Y  Y  Y

7. Has your agency implemented or begun to implement concurrent planning?
   
   

   YES, IMPLEMENTED	1
   YES, HAVE BEGUN BUT NOT COMPLETED	2
   NO 3

8. Does your agency use a structured decision-making or risk assessment?
   [IF YES, REQUEST COPY OF PROTOCOL AND RETURN WITH COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE.]
   
   

   YES	1
   NO	2 [SKIP TO Q12]

9. Which of the following risk assessment approaches do you use?
   
   

   An approach such as structured decision making that results in point totals which can be used to help determine decision-making,	1
   Guidelines that indicate which issues should be addressed in the investigation/assessment,	2
   A combination of the point totals and guidelines approaches, or	3
   Some other approach (SPECIFY: _________________________ __________________________________________________)	4

   
   
10. At what point in a child welfare case is this risk assessment approach used? Is it used...
    
    

    	YES	NO
    When deciding to investigate?	1	2
    When deciding whether or not the case is substantiated?	1	2
    When deciding what services to provide?	1	2
    When deciding about whether or not to close an in-home services case?	1	2
    When deciding about whether or not to reunify a child?	1	2
    At other times? (SPECIFY: _________________________ (_________________________________________________)	1	2

11. Is the risk assessment data entered into the SACWIS or MIS program?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

    
    
12. Are your case records automated? (CODE “YES” IF ANY PORTION AUTOMATED.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q14]

    
    
    
13. Did you automate them in the past 12 months?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

Training

14. My next questions are about educational requirements and training for agency staff and caregivers.
    
    Is a college degree required for workers who do investigations?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q16]

15. Which degrees are required? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
    
    

    BACHELORS IN SOCIAL WORK	1
    MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK	2
    OTHER BACHELORS DEGREE	3
    OTHER MASTERS DEGREE	4

    
    
16. Is a college degree required for in-home service workers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q18]

    
    
    
17. Which degrees are required? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
    

    BACHELORS IN SOCIAL WORK	1
    MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK	2
    OTHER BACHELORS DEGREE	3
    OTHER MASTERS DEGREE	4

    
    
    
18. Is a college degree required for foster care workers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q20]

    
    
    
19. Which degrees are required? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
    

    BACHELORS IN SOCIAL WORK	1
    MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK	2
    OTHER BACHELORS DEGREE	3
    OTHER MASTERS DEGREE	4

    
    
    
20. Is a college degree required for adoption workers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q22]

    
    
    
21. Which degrees are required? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
    

    BACHELORS IN SOCIAL WORK	1
    MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK	2
    OTHER BACHELORS DEGREE	3
    OTHER MASTERS DEGREE	4

22. Is pre-service training required for new workers? (Training can be at the state, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q24]

[USE SHOW CARD 2]

23. Please look at Card 2. How much pre-service training is required?
    
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q25]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
24. Even though it is not required, is pre-service training offered to new workers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q26]

    
    
    
25. Please look at Card 2. How much pre-service training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
26. Is pre-service training required for licensed or approved kinship caregivers? can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q28]

    
    
    
27. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q29]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
28. Even though it is not required, is pre-service training offered to licensed or approved kinship caregivers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q30]

    
    
    
29. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
30. Is pre-service training required for non-licensed or unapproved kinship caregivers?
    (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q32]

    
    
    
31. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q33]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    

32. Even though it is not required, is pre-service training offered to non-licensed or unapproved kinship caregivers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q34]

    
    
    
33. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
34. Is pre-service training required for foster parents? (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q36]

    
    
    
35. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q37]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
36. Even though it is not required, is pre-service training offered to foster parents?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q38]

    
    
    
37. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
38. Is pre-service training required for adoptive parents? (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q40]

    
    
    
39. (Please look at Card 2. ) How much pre-service training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q41]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
40. Even though it is not required, is pre-service training offered to adoptive parents?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q42]

    
    
    
41. (Please look at Card 2.) How much pre-service training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
42. Is annual training required for caseworkers? (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q44]

    
    
    
43. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q45]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
44. Even though it is not required, is annual training offered to caseworkers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q46]

    
    
    
45. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
46. Is annual training required for licensed or approved kinship caregivers? (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q48]

    
    
    
47. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q54]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
48. Even though it is not required, is annual training offered to licensed or approved kinship caregivers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q50]

    
    
    
49. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
50. Is annual training required for non-licensed or unapproved kinship caregivers?
    (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q52]

    
    
    
51. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q53]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    

52. Even though it is not required, is annual training offered to non-licensed or unapproved kinship caregivers?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q54]

    
    
    
53. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
    
54. Is annual training required for foster parents? (Training can be at the state, regional, or local level.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q56]

    
    
    
55. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is required?
    

    NONE	1		[SKIP TO Q57]
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

    
    
56. Even though it is not required, is annual training offered to foster parents?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q58]

    
    
    
57. (Please look at Card 2.) How much annual training is provided?
    

    NONE	1
    LESS THAN 1 DAY	2
    1-3 DAYS	3
    4-10 DAYS	4
    11-15 DAYS	5
    MORE THAN 15 DAYS	6

 

Policy Environment

58. The next questions concern the policies under which your agency operates and their impact on service delivery.
    
    Is your agency currently operating under one or more active consent decrees? (A “consent decree” refers to a class action suit or court order related to child welfare.)
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

    
    
    
59. Does your agency participate in any Federal IV-E waiver demonstration projects related to child welfare?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

    
    
    
60. Does your agency participate in any other demonstration projects funded by foundation, state, or federally-supported grants or initiatives?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

    
    

61. In which of the following does your agency participate?
    
    

    	YES	NO
    a. Foundation-supported initiatives?	1	2
    b. Federally-supported grants or initiatives?	1	2
    c. State-supported grants or initiatives?	1	2

[USE SHOW CARD 3]

62. For the next questions, I would like you to tell me whether state funding in the past 12 months has changed or not for various services. Please use the response categories shown on Card 3 to answer.
    
    

    	Decreased a lot	Decreased a little	Remained unchanged	Increased a little	Increased a lot
    a. In the past 12 months, has state funding changed for child abuse prevention services?	1	2	3	4	5
    b. Child protective services?	1	2	3	4	5
    c. In-home services?	1	2	3	4	5
    d. Placement services?	1	2	3	4	5
    e. Adoption services?	1	2	3	4	5

    
    
63. In the past 12 months, has the agency’s flexibility in using state funds for services...
    
    

    Increased,	1
    Decreased, or	2
    Remained the same?	3

64. Is your agency engaged in any special initiatives designed to increase collaboration with other agencies providing services to children, youth, and families?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q66]

[USE SHOW CARD 4]

65. like to ask about the nature of your agency’s collaboration, if any, with other For each agency that I ask you about, please tell me all the types of collaboration Card 4 that apply.
    
    

    1. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with mental health service
       providers? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

       
       
    2. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with drug/alcohol
       providers? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

    3. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with police?
       (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

       
       
       
    4. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with juvenile justice?
       (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

    5. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with education?
       (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

       
       
       
    6. Which types of collaboration does your agency have with the local planning body?
       (MARK ALL THAT APPLY.)
       
       

       DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING	1
       DEVELOPMENT OF INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS AND    MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING	2
       CROSS-TRAINING OF STAFF	3
       JOINT PLANNING/POLICY FORMULATION FOR SERVICE DELIVERY	4
       WORKING WITH THE AGENCY ON CHILD WELFARE CASES	5
       JOINT BUDGETING OR RESOURCE ALLOCATION	6
       NONE OF THE ABOVE	7

       
       
66. Is your agency accredited?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q69]

67. By whom?

    ______________________________________________________________________

68. Does the state require your agency to be accredited?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

Agency Policy

69. Does your agency have written protocols the situations in which family reunification services are not required?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

70. Does your agency have written protocols for providing aftercare services following reunification?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q75]

71. On average, for how many months does your agency supervise cases after reunification?

    MONTHS

72. In general, are aftercare services following reunification...
    

    Mandated,	1
    Recommended, or	2
    Not stipulated in the protocol?	3 [SKIP TO Q75]

73. Are aftercare services in residential cases...
    

    Mandated,	1
    Recommended, or	2
    Not specifically stipulated in the protocol?	3

74. Are aftercare services in foster care cases...
    

    Mandated,	1
    Recommended, or	2
    Not specifically stipulated in the protocol?	3

75. Does your agency have a written protocol on the placement of a foster child’s siblings into foster care?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q77]

76. How would you describe your protocol for the placement of children together? Is this placement...
    

    Mandatory,	1
    Mandatory, except with written approval,	2
    Recommended, or	3
    Stipulated in some other way? (SPECIFY _________________________ __________________________________________________)	4

77. Does your agency have a written protocol on the investigation of families with drug-affected infants?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2 [SKIP TO Q83]

78. Does this protocol require case opening for infants with positive toxicology results at birth?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

79. Is there automatic referral to health or public health services?
    

    YES	1
    NO	2

80. Are there circumstances under which reunification services are not required by this protocol?
    

    YES	1