JBS International, Inc.'s Child Welfare Reviews Project assists the Children's Bureau in recruiting and maintaining a national pool of child welfare professionals who meet the established minimum education and experience requirements to serve as Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) reviewers, quality assurance (QA) specialists, or note-taking specialists (collectively referred to as “agile staff”).
Participation in the CFSRs requires a significant commitment of time and effort. The following is a summary of the general responsibilities of agile staff participating in the CFSRs:
- They must be willing and available to participate in multiple reviews and to review and abide by the provisions of their agreement with JBS and a confidentiality provision. (All CFSR agency-related information reviewed or discussed during a CFSR is confidential.)
- They may not participate in the CFSRs of any state to which they provided child welfare services, technical assistance, or consultation within 1 year before the review. They also may not participate in the CFSR of any state against which they were involved in a lawsuit or other legal action, regardless of the period of the legal action. They may not provide compensated technical assistance to a state during the period following a CFSR in which they participated while the state is developing and implementing a Program Improvement Plan associated with the CFSR findings.
Participation Responsibilities
When participating in a CFSR, CFSR reviewers have the following responsibilities:
- In collaboration with a state CFSR review partner, review case records, interview involved parties, and complete the CFSR Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions (OSRI)
- Use professional judgment to make rating decisions based on CFSR instructions and regulations
- Participate in group meetings scheduled during the onsite review, as required
- Attend the final team debriefing and present information on cases reviewed, as required
- Assist in compiling a summary of the team’s findings during the onsite review
- Remain present at the review site for the entire duration of the onsite review and participate in all scheduled review activities (from the entrance conference through the exit conference)
- Remain available for telephone consultation after the review, if needed, to clarify or supplement information recorded on the instruments
A CFSR reviewer may also be trained to perform as a note-taking specialist or QA specialist. These roles are generally reserved for experienced reviewers who have demonstrated a strong understanding of the OSRI and its application. The following is an overview of each position:
- Note-taking specialists take notes regarding relevant information during stakeholder interviews, condense information gathered during interviews, and use this information to complete the CFSR Stakeholder Interview Guide. This work is completed during the onsite review or remotely.
- QA specialists are experts in the CFSR process and work collaboratively with review teams, including state and federal team members; review completed OSRIs to determine compliance with OSRI instructions; interpret state policy as it relates to the OSRI; and assist the federal team leader in managing the onsite review.
Recruitment Flier (Available in Spanish)