l:lIl\ 'r\<60C. Cb , ~l 0; \~'V~/\ January 1999 SDM: 32 COUNTIES SURVEY REPORT There was good news and more good news in the report on SDM presented in a week-long the field, you provide good training and you have strong supervisors who are willing to embrace new He cited a 1995 Wisconsin study showing that intensive social work, which includes increased client series of meetings of DFCS things to protect kids." contact, reduced the recidivism rate managers in December. Counties Among the "unique challenges" is and generated more positive are working hard incorporating the the state's high number of counties response from families. new practices. And statistics bear which can make for inconsistency Decreasing the number of fami- out the positive results the system in how policy is applied. For exam- lies who cycle back through the was designed to produce. pIe, it can be hard for many small system is one way Georgia CPS will Terry McHoskey from the counties to set boundaries on the measure its results. In the CRC Children's Research Center was the types of cases they will take, but study, almost 35 percent of the lead presenter at the sessions, SDM gives them a way to do this. families who hacf a case opened reporting on the results of a study SDM's focus on increasing during the study period had been ofGeorgia cases from April 1997 to services to high risk families also investigated at least twice before. September 1998. means that case managers can The manager's sessions gave McHoskey had high praise for the actually do more treatment, or as supervisors and county directors way Georgia has implemented McHoskey calls it, "real social work." the chance to check their progress structured decision-making. using SDM against other counties. "You've made signifi- - r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . For example, the screen cant progress," he said out/referral rate varied at the Atlanta session. widely, from one percent "While you have unique to 26 percent of reports. challenges, you have a While some of the differ- strong state team. David ences in the current data is a leader nationally in can be accounted for by Continued on page 2 In attendance at the Columbus meeting are (L-R) Dottie Henson and June Ward, Ti'oup Couno/i Wanda Hogan, Thomas Couno/i Willie Rutledge, Ti'oup Couno/i and, Linda Harper, Muscogee Couno/. Questions Continued from page 1 th~ how long a county has been USing SDM, McHoskey still advises c?unties to ask themselves why they dIffer from the norm in any area. "The more a jurisdiction looks at its reasons for being 'out of sync' the more as a lack it can address of community risessuoeurs~essuctho refer people to," he says. "If there are few resources in a locality, why not go to the community and ask for help?" McHoskey emphasizes that SDM is a flexible and ever-changing system. For example, the safety assessment grew out of a need seen by workers in Michigan who began asking what should be the first action once a report of abuse was substantiated. "As issues or problems arise, we can address them with new tools or refine the ones we're already using," he said. THE SUGGESTION BOX Managers at the December meetings held brainstorming sessions on ways to improve services using SDM. Here are some of their ideas: 1. Use treatment team meetings as part of collateral contacts. 2. Allow for a policy override of 24 hours reqUired response time for child under age three. 3. Develop a targeted assessment tool for families with substance abuse problems and effective ways to work with them on risk and safety. 4: Inc?rpor~te policy review/reviSlOns In UnIt meetings for staff clarification. 5. Change the policy requiring a certain number of face-to-face contacts from every 30 days to every calendar month to make it easier to meet the requirement and to monitor. 6. Have the state office provide quarterly question and answer formats and fax or e-mail to counties 7. Clarify policy on using PUP funds for drug screens in ongoing cases. 8. PUT COMPUTERS ON EVERY DESK! YOUR SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN HEARD The state CPS unit is working now to address suggestions 2,3,5, and 7. CPS Reports will have a section in each iss~e devoted to answering your pohcy and practice questions as requested in number 6. The newsfetter is published every other month. 2-A policy override will be allowed on children under three if the child is in a safe situation. 3-The unit will develop a targeted assessment tool. 5-The system will go from a 30-day to calendar month cycle. 7-Workers will be able to use PUP funds for an unlimited number of drug screens. REPORT RESULTS Based on data collected from 32 counties between April 1997 and September 1998, SDM is having a positive effect: -Sixty percent of all reports are being investigated. -The substantiation rate is up (34 percent of the investigated ~ases). This is a plus because It shows that CPS is investigating a greater proportion of cases where maltreatment definitely occurred and that more "nonsense" referrals are bring screened out. -The average screen out and referral rate is 10 percent. This indicates that more counties are referring families for brief intervention services using parent aide funds to' pay for them, and avoiding openIng cases where abuse or neglect have not occurred. Note that because the counties began using the new guidelines at different times, the num~er~ an.d percentages are only indIcatIve at this point. WORKLOAD STUDY UPDATE The study ended in December and the data have been sent to the Children's Research Center. Their analysis should be completed by late January and CPS Reports will give you the details in the March issue. LET'S TALK- ABOUT FAMILY "The parent is always the 'honored guest,"' Culpepper says. "And we encourage him or her to plans are made at the meeting for reunifying the family." There are exceptions to every CONFERENCING bring a friend or family member as rule, however. Culpepper cites a a support person." recent case where the child was DeKalb County is using a new method of working with parents whose children are in The guidelines for the meeting are set out at the beginning of the session. Participants are told that going to be removed permanently, but the decision was made to go ahead with a conference. The foster care. It is called family this is not a court session but a mother knew the child was not conferencing and Supervisor time to work together to develop coming home and was able to Glenda Culpepper says, "It's been plans for the family, set goals for thank the foster parents for their wonderful." In fact, she is so enthu- the parent to meet, assign responsi- kindness to her son. ''It was good siastic about it she plans to use it bilities and set deadlines for for the young man to hear his with CPS families as well. meeting the goals. mother says this. Actually, it was DeKalb contracted with an "We try to set at least one goal quite moving," she says. Alabama organization, the Child that can be reached easily so the While parents are usually appre- Welfare and Practice Group, for parent is encouraged to make hensive at first, in Culpepper's training. The group allowed DeKalb further progress," Culpepper experience their fears are soon staff to accompany them to inter- comments. "They leave the session eased when they realize they are views with families and modeled feeling 'this is for me,' this is some- going to be listened to and taken the process so it was simple for thing attainable." seriously. Also having friends or county staff to put into practice. Not all cases are appropriate for family members there who support Culpepper points out that while family conferencing. Not appropri- them helps relieve anxiety. the typical family conference itself ate are cases involving criminal "They truly like being heard and lasts two hours at the most, it is charges or sexual abuse. Culpepper we actually talk instead of them time consuming to arrange. Good explains that DeKalb decides which simply saying what they think we planning includes arranging for a families to meet with based on how want to hear, " Culpepper observes. meeting place on neutral ground, many people (e.g., staff, family, Chatham County is also using for example a library or church, friends) are available to work with family conferencing. Counties inter- deciding who needs to be there and the family and "whether we have ested in finding out more about this arranging for them to participate. something to work with." way of working with families can Participants can indude anyone She adds, "We have to be careful contact Debbie Bennett, social who is involved with the case. This what cases we choose because this services program director in includes the supervisor and case is a chance for the parent and child Chatham or Glenda Culpepper in manager, CASA volunteer, family to confront each other and because DeKalb.1I members and the child, if he is oisldabeonuotu. gh to under-ss_t~a:n~d:w:h:at~i~t _ - - -__--__- - - - - - - - - - - l ker wei Avery get readyfior anotherfamily conference. Glenda culpepper (1) and co-war QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD Q. When are we getting newforms? A. They should be out within the month. Q. When I need help, which consultant do I call in the state CPS unit? A. HELLWIG, David, Unit Manager 404/657-3416 JARVIS, Rebecca, Protective SeNices Data System (PSDS) 404/657-3414 LIBER, D'Anna, Training 404/657-3413 NOLAN, Genie, Child deaths 404/657-3422 PARK, Kathy, PUP/Parent Aide, Homestead 404/657-7730 POINTER, Sandy, Famify seNice workers 404/657-3419 SLATER, Julie, CPSfoster home investigations 404/657-3481 FINAL CALL-1998 DATA The system is behind significantly in data collection this year. It is imperative that information be entered immediately. The final date for entering 1998 CPS data from Form 431 into the information system (PSDS) is Friday, February 5th, 1999. All 1998 data must be keyed in by noon. The system will shut down at noon to allow the 1998 data to be pulled. If you have questions about the system, forms, screens or deadlines, call Rebecca Jarvis at 404-3414. Questions about user 10, accessing the system, having the system accept data, and other technical problems should be directed to Maria Pitts in DOAS. Her number is 404-463-6571. Key it in, folks!. LOOKING AHEAD The first B.LT.E training of 1999 will focus on substance abuse. Mark your calendar for one of five Mondays in March. March 1- Gainesville March 8 - Macon March 15 - Tifton March 22 - Savannah March 29 - Atlanta ill DHR