an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
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Monitoring for compli<strong>an</strong>ce is ongoing via the E & R Reviews <strong>an</strong>d the QCR process. The appropriateness <strong>of</strong> the pl<strong>an</strong>’s selection, as well as the documentation <strong>of</strong><br />
compelling reasons in both the court order <strong>an</strong>d the child’s case pl<strong>an</strong> is monitored.<br />
The CPRS requires the documentation <strong>of</strong> compelling reasons in a m<strong>an</strong>dated field whenever APPLA is selected.<br />
The Barton Clinic examined Georgia’s laws regarding guardi<strong>an</strong>ship to determine if <strong>an</strong>y ch<strong>an</strong>ges needed to be made for greater compli<strong>an</strong>ce with the perm<strong>an</strong>ency goals<br />
established by ASFA. As a result <strong>of</strong> the 2003 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 236 was enacted to strengthen perm<strong>an</strong>ency options for children in care. One provision<br />
allows the court to gr<strong>an</strong>t a perm<strong>an</strong>ent guardi<strong>an</strong>ship following the termination <strong>of</strong> parental rights. It was the conclusion <strong>of</strong> the Barton Clinic in its written report that the<br />
appointment <strong>of</strong> a legal guardi<strong>an</strong> is more in line with the perm<strong>an</strong>ency goals established under ASFA. Further, there is <strong>an</strong>other provision in Senate Bill 236 that allows the<br />
court, following <strong>an</strong> order <strong>of</strong> non-reunification, to enter <strong>an</strong> order that does not expire <strong>an</strong>d remains in effect until age 18. (Such arr<strong>an</strong>gement also provides a subsidy<br />
payment when a relative is gr<strong>an</strong>ted extended custody.) The Barton Clinic reached the conclusion with respect to this perm<strong>an</strong>ency arr<strong>an</strong>gement that it was not technically<br />
“legal guardi<strong>an</strong>ship” <strong>an</strong>d probably would be more aptly categorized as APPLA. Regardless, this option for perm<strong>an</strong>ency is still considered viable for certain children in<br />
deprivation cases.<br />
Perm<strong>an</strong>ency Outcome 2, The Continuity <strong>of</strong> Family Relationships <strong>an</strong>d Connections Will Be Preserved for Children<br />
Item 12, Placement with Siblings: The continuity <strong>of</strong> family relationships <strong>an</strong>d connections will be preserved for children in care by increasing the number <strong>of</strong> children placed with<br />
their siblings. At the initial review Georgia was 72.2% compli<strong>an</strong>t with sibling placements. The most recent QCR (10/2003 - 09/2004) rated this indicator as a strength in 68 <strong>of</strong> the<br />
relev<strong>an</strong>t cases (89.71%) reviewed. Areas as needing <strong>improvement</strong> pertinent to “placements with siblings” include:<br />
Enh<strong>an</strong>ced efforts toward other perm<strong>an</strong>ent placement options (custody to age 18, guardi<strong>an</strong>ship, em<strong>an</strong>cipation, etc.).<br />
Enh<strong>an</strong>ced use <strong>of</strong> relative care resources to preserve the continuity <strong>of</strong> family ties.<br />
Improved documentation <strong>of</strong> efforts to place siblings together.<br />
Broader efforts to recruit <strong>an</strong>d better train foster parents, especially with regard to special needs populations, including sibling groups.<br />
To bring Georgia’s sibling placements into subst<strong>an</strong>tial conformity, Georgia took the following actions:<br />
Formed a workgroup, whose specific task was to address ch<strong>an</strong>ges needed to improve the Supervisory Review Form <strong>an</strong>d implementation process. The group’s directive<br />
was to assure that supervisory reviews included staff efforts to place siblings together, <strong>an</strong>d to adequately document this information in the case record.<br />
Safe Futures – A Pl<strong>an</strong> for Program Improvement<br />
Georgia <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Hum<strong>an</strong> Resources<br />
November, 2004 Quarter 8 – Table <strong>of</strong> Contents Page x