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

Stakeholder Input in the Analysis of Service Gaps and Needs: PSSF Stakeholder Survey - In preparation for the FY 2005-2009 Child and Family Services Plan, the
Division of Family and Children Services, through the PSSF Program, sought the input of community-based and county department stakeholders statewide. In March
2004, all current PSSF Network Providers were notified by mail or email and encouraged to participate in an on-line survey. In accordance with ACF guidance, survey
topics included perceptions of the state’s CFSP vision for child welfare, its current relevance and attainability; PSSF’s perceived effectiveness in helping the state realize
the vision; obstacles faced by the state in improving the welfare of children and families; community impact of funded programs and services, barriers to family access,
family needs and the effectiveness of training and technical assistance to child and family service agencies. Participation in the survey was voluntary. In all, 169
stakeholders representing 52 counties completed the online survey. Most of the respondents were executive directors or program coordinators (64%). The balance
included, DFCS county directors, caseworkers, services supervisors other agency administrators, and direct service workers (therapists, case managers, advocates, etc.).
Respondents were given an opportunity to share their input during an open forum held as a pre-conference session at the 7th Annual Safe Families Symposium. Results
of this survey are discussed in detail in the CFSP for 2005-2009, attachment: “Let Your Voice Be Heard”, PSSF Stakeholder Survey 2004
Staff and Provider Assessment Training offered at the 2004 Symposium included:
• Child Abuse and Neglect, delivered by Sheila Lewis. This workshop examined the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect and its implications
for mandated reporting.
• Infant and Toddler Assessment developed and delivered by Laura Johns, Ph.D. This training was designed to facilitate early identification of
developmental delays in young children.
• High Risk Indicators of Serious Child Injury or Child Deaths: Special Investigations Unit Trend Analysis, developed and delivered by Darrell
Green, Special Investigations Unit. This provided an in-depth analysis of documented trends in cases of child deaths and serious injuries. Developed in
conjunction with the State Office Child Fatality and Serious Injury Review Team, this workshop focused on current CPS policy, investigative strategies
and assessment tools to ensure the safety of children residing in the home.
• Special Needs of Children in Substance Abusing Families, developed and presented by E. Douglas Pratt, D.S.W., LMSW of the Child Welfare
Practice and Policy Group, Montgomery, Alabama. This training provided an opportunity to enhance professional interventions for families in
substance abuse recovery. This workshop focused on the impact of adult Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) abuse on children. Its content included the
thirteen psychosocial traits of children from families with AOD problems, identification of underlying needs that drive child behaviors and development
of family teams to balance positive discipline with strategies to meet underlying needs and family coaching strategies.
• When Home is not a Safe Haven, delivered by Claudia Fedarko, MSW and Lisa Ellis, MSW. This workshop explored the dynamics of child sexual
abuse. Participants learned practical strategies for assessing risk, boundaries and family hierarchies, and identified the clear risk factors associated with
sexual abuse and family dynamics where caretaker abuse has occurred.
• The Challenging Behaviors of Children in Care, delivered by Wendy Hanevold, Ph.D. This workshop included training on the assessment and
dynamics of grief and loss for children in foster care. Participants examined how to discriminate between attention deficit disorders and grief and
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 – Table of Contents Page xxi