an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...

5 th Quarter Report: At least 100 cases will undergo Qualitative Review by the end of September 2004. The initial counties identified
in the 4 th quarter report only represent the first wave of the process. In the first wave of reviews, 25 cases were selected from 12
counties. The first report has been forwarded to the ACF Regional office. Based upon these initial reviews, the Qualitative Review
instrument has undergone a few revisions.
5 th Quarter DOCUMENTATION: Social Services Quarterly Report, Qualitative Case Reviews, October 2003 -- December 2003
6 th Quarter Report: The Evaluation and Reporting Section continues to perform Qualitative Reviews. From January-March 2003,
sixteen county departments and a total of 37 cases were reviewed. A total of 62 cases have been reviewed by Evaluation and
Reporting since the process began.
6 th Quarter DOCUMENTATION: January- March 2003 Social Services Quarterly report (QCR) is attached.
6 th Quarter Federal Response: Continue to report on progress until completion of this item.
I6: Please provide the Regional Office a copy of the revised instrument.
7 th Quarter Report: The Evaluation and Reporting Section continues to perform quarterly Qualitative Reviews. A cumulative
Qualitative Case Review for the 10 month period 10/03 - 06/04 applied the needs and services indicator to 67 records. Fifty-eight
cases (86.57%) received a strength rating. The State notes that the second QCR reported a 10% decrease from the first QCR (90.48%
down to 80.00%). The largest county was included in the second QCR and this may have attributed to the decreased percentage.
7 th Quarter Documentation: (1) Social Services Report - Cumulative Qualitative Case Reviews, October 2003 - June 2004 and (2)
the Revised Qualitative Reviewer Handbook (this is the review instrument)
8 th Quarter Report: Achieved. The Administrative Services Section, formerly the Evaluation and Reporting Section, began case
reviews in October 2003. They have reviewed 113 randomly selected cases from October 2003 through September 2004 (25 cases
Oct-Dec 03; 37 cases Jan-Mar 04; 10 cases Apr-Jun 04; and 41 cases Jul-Sep 04). These reviews were similar to the Federal Child and
Family Services review and assessed the quality of services provided to children and families. Ratings were based upon case record
documentation and interviews with staff, children, birth and foster parents, service providers, and stakeholders. The QCR Summary
Report indicates the needs and services indicator has fluctuated each quarter. While the 3 rd quarter QCR had a 100% strength rating,
the fourth and final quarter had a strength rating of 70.73%. The cumulative (10/2003 - 09/2004) strength rating for this indicator is
76.42%. To some degree, the fact that different counties are reviewed each quarter will impact data results. However, the state is
committed to examining extreme data fluctuations.
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan I Page 8