What are the Child and Family Services Reviews and what is their relationship to system of care development and implementation?

Purpose

The child and family services reviews are an important tool that will enable the Children's Bureau to accomplish the following: (1) ensure conformity with federal child welfare requirements, (2) determine what is actually happening to children and families as they are engaged in child welfare services, and (3) assist states to enhance their capacity to help children and families achieve positive outcomes.

Ultimately, the goal of the reviews is to help states to improve child welfare services and achieve the following outcomes for families and children who receive services:

Safety

• Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.
• Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.

Permanency

• Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
• The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.

Family and Child Well-Being

• Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs.
• Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational, physical health, and mental health needs.

The reviews are structured to help states identify strengths and areas for improvement within their agencies and programs.

The Review Process

Each child and family services review is a two-stage process that comprises a statewide assessment and an onsite review of child and family service outcomes and program systems. Each state completes and submits a review of its own child welfare program prior to the onsite review conducted by a joint federal and state team. The onsite portion of the review includes the following: (1) case record reviews; (2) interviews with children and families engaged in services; and (3) interviews with community stakeholders, such as the courts and community agencies, foster families, and caseworkers and service providers.

At the end of the onsite review, states determined not to have achieved substantial conformity in all the areas assessed will be required to develop and implement Program Improvement Plans addressing the areas of nonconformity. The Children's Bureau will support the States with technical assistance and monitor implementation of their plans. States that do not achieve their required improvements successfully within 2 years will sustain penalties as prescribed in the Federal regulations.

Relationship to your System of Care:

Many of our system of care stakeholders may have most likely been included in the onsite reviews and interviews. Across all of the states, but one, the well-being indicator relating to meeting the mental health needs of children and families has been found to be an area of nonconformity. This finding presents a significant opportunity for our system of care communities to partner with child welfare to address the growing needs of these children and their families. The Children's Bureau Web site lists the states that have been reviewed and have Program Improvement Plans. You can be linked to your own state through the following Web address www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/ .

In addition, the senior child welfare adviser will be available to provide technical assistance as you prepare to collaborate with your local child welfare partners to address the needs of these children and families.