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

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 provision of health needs being met. 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
of that evaluation has been disseminated and is under review by the newly formed Program Planning and Policy Development Unit of
the Division. The review should be complete prior to the close of this PIP reporting period. An outcome of the States’ review may
help in determining the need to change policy as it relates to improved outcomes for the provision of health services.
8 th Quarter Report: Achieved. Memorandum from the State Social Services Director to Education and Training Services Section
and Managers of Field Operations regarding findings from the QCRs includes factors other than findings from the QCR. In as much
as the state has made significant improvement in providing health services to children and families, the state considers this action step
achieved. The state will continue to monitor and inform training section and field staff about any factors that may negatively impact
the provision of health care services to children and families.
8 th Quarter DOCUMENTATION: November 8, 2004 Memorandum from the DFCS Social Services Director to the Director of
Education and Training regarding training needs indicators based on Qualitative Case Reviews
BARRIERS TO ACHIEVEMENT:
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 – Work Plan N Page 27