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

3 rd Quarter Response: Qualitative Case Review reporting will assist in meeting this goal. First qualitative review report is due
January 2004. In addition, the CPRS will help to identify factors that may contribute to needs and services of children and families not
being met while in foster care.
4 th Quarter Report: We will be better able to determine this information after several of the Qualitative Review reports are received.
The first report is scheduled for January 2004.
4 th Quarter Federal Response: See comments under Step I6 related to QA.
5 th Quarter Report: At least 100 cases will undergo Qualitative Review by the end of September 2004. Reports from the reviews will
be available beginning January 2004. See documentation under Action Step I-16.
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: Social Services Quarterly Report Qualitative Case Reviews January 2004 - March 2004
6 th Quarter Federal Response: I17: Reporting is inconsistent with the goal.
7 th Quarter Report: The Social Services Quarterly Qualitative Case Review is referenced in this item because it is used to determine
compliance with standards/policy/quality. As a result, factors that contribute to needs of families and children not being met can be
identified.
The implication for additional training is evident. As the QCR process continues, unchanged and declining areas will be targeted for
training (and policy changes if applicable).
There has been a steady increase in the number of children entering the foster care system, which also increases the case manager to
client ratio. This may have a negative impact on the needs and services indicator. Additionally, the State has an abundance of new
case managers and supervisors. The Division is working with all nine urban counties of the State to identify solution focused plans to
help decrease the number of children who may needlessly be coming into the foster care system rather than receiving in-home
services. It is anticipated that the plans will help the Division to know what works and what doesn’t work before moving into any
statewide implementation of change.
The Division’s restructure created Regional Specialists positions (former State Office employees) to assist in local case consultation
and training. Results of the QCRs will be shared with the Regional Specialist to reinforce policy, new worker training and other state
training initiatives. A vendor has been contracted to review, assess and evaluate all of the States’ child welfare policy. The first draft
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan I Page 19