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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Used the results obtained from the Child Placement Services Evaluation <strong>an</strong>d Reporting (E & R) Social Services Reviews, thereby achieving the PIP requirement for<br />
documenting efforts to place siblings together.<br />
Assured that all Basic <strong>an</strong>d Adv<strong>an</strong>ced Case Pl<strong>an</strong> Reporting System (CPRS) Training was provided to staff in all 159 counties <strong>an</strong>d that it include specific references to<br />
placing siblings together. In SFY 2003, 1,200 supervisors <strong>an</strong>d case m<strong>an</strong>agers attended either Basic or Adv<strong>an</strong>ced CPRS training. In SFY 2004, <strong>an</strong> additional 377 staff<br />
were trained. Staff was trained on how to input <strong>an</strong>d retrieve data. As a result <strong>of</strong> these efforts, Georgia achieved this goal.<br />
Documented efforts to place siblings together in 91.30% <strong>of</strong> cases reviewed for the quarter, J<strong>an</strong>uary 2004-March 2004. Of 37 cases reviewed, 23 were relev<strong>an</strong>t to sibling<br />
placements.<br />
Provided training opportunities for foster parents to learn skills in m<strong>an</strong>aging sibling groups. Foster parents chose whether they preferred to receive the training locally, at<br />
the Annual Staff <strong>an</strong>d Foster Parent Institutes or during the Adoptive <strong>an</strong>d Foster Parent Association <strong>of</strong> Georgia’s Annual Conference. The import<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> placing siblings<br />
together was emphasized at all training <strong>program</strong>s.<br />
Increased the number <strong>of</strong> recruited foster homes willing to accept sibling groups. The most recent available data (from the Foster Care <strong>an</strong>d Adoption Recruitment<br />
Quarterly Reports for April 2004-June 2004) shows that 1,284 <strong>of</strong> 3,020 approved <strong>an</strong>d active foster homes indicated a willingness to accept sibling placements. This data<br />
shows a stable correlation with the first two QCR data in that 1,289 <strong>of</strong> 2,382 approved foster homes in the 2 nd quarter <strong>an</strong>d 1,440 <strong>of</strong> 2,693 approved <strong>an</strong>d active homes in the<br />
1 st quarter were documented as willing to accept siblings. This represents 54% <strong>of</strong> the total population for each <strong>of</strong> these quarters. Georgia continues to develop strategies<br />
to identify the number <strong>of</strong> new homes committed to accepting sibling groups. NOTE: The system we currently use to collect data does not have a field, which separates<br />
out newly approved homes. Also, it should be noted that during m<strong>an</strong>y <strong>of</strong> the reporting periods, some <strong>of</strong> the counties had not yet reported, which would adversely affect<br />
the totals shown. The state is committed to working on both <strong>of</strong> these limitations.<br />
Committed to develop a signific<strong>an</strong>t number <strong>of</strong> homes accepting sibling placements. As a me<strong>an</strong>s to measure progress towards fulfilling this commitment, Georgia<br />
developed <strong>an</strong>d implemented a survey <strong>of</strong> all 159 county departments to determine the number <strong>of</strong> new foster homes recruited during the past year, <strong>an</strong>d <strong>of</strong> those new homes,<br />
the number willing to accept sibling placements. All <strong>of</strong> the counties responded to the survey. The results <strong>of</strong> the survey indicated that 1,251 new homes were approved<br />
during the period. Of that total, 919 homes were willing to accept sibling placements. This represents 73.46% <strong>of</strong> the newly approved homes.<br />
Initiated a survey <strong>of</strong> caregivers to determine the impact <strong>of</strong> respite care services provided on behalf <strong>of</strong> children/youth in foster care. The survey required contacting the<br />
foster care resource families directly. The survey was designed to evaluate the effectiveness <strong>of</strong> respite care services as a strategy to prevent placement disruptions. Three<br />
Georgia counties, Bartow, Fulton <strong>an</strong>d Harris, were chosen as the sites to interview twenty (20) foster parents about respite care services. The interviews included families<br />
that both had <strong>an</strong>d had not used respite care services. The study findings indicated that 70% <strong>of</strong> the total sample had used respite services in the past. In Bartow County,<br />
100% <strong>of</strong> those sampled had used respite, whereas 60% <strong>of</strong> those sampled in Harris had never used respite. A total <strong>of</strong> 57% <strong>of</strong> those sampled in Fulton had used respite care<br />
services. Particip<strong>an</strong>ts cited various reasons they chose to use respite care services including, illness, vacation, attending a conference, family/personal or business<br />
obligation or the need for a break/relief. Particip<strong>an</strong>ts were asked how they thought respite care services could be improved. Their feedback indicated four primary areas<br />
<strong>of</strong> concern: (1) more respite care time; (2) more respite care providers; (3) more ease in making arr<strong>an</strong>gements; <strong>an</strong>d (4) more timely payments. Georgia will continue to<br />
consider ways respite care services c<strong>an</strong> be used to enh<strong>an</strong>ce services to children <strong>an</strong>d their caregivers.<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 xi