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

3 rd Quarter Report Georgia's Reply: We have analyzed the 1 st quarter in FFY 2003, which was the first time that a comparison of
the two systems could be made. We are requesting an extension to the completion date in order to gather more data and perform a
more thorough analysis.
3 rd Quarter Federal Response: Extension granted with the expectation that by the fourth Qtr. Of the PIP, the State will identify any
accomplishments in this action step.
4 th Quarter Report: The CoStar System, used for reporting financial information, incorporated some changes at the beginning of
FFY 2003. Changes included adding fields with limited biographical information on the children in a placement setting with a
required per diem. This information can be used to identify foster children included in CoStar and AFCARS allowing a comparison
for the stability of foster care placements. The comparisons for the first and second quarters cannot be valid until identifying
information for AFCARS children is in the system and all financial data in the CoStar System is complete.
4 th Quarter Federal Response: Why has there been a delay in collecting all the information? When does the State anticipate that the
information for all necessary fields in 'CoStar' will be collected? Following the collection of information, when will the comparative
analysis be ready?
6 th Quarter Report: All of the data fields have been added to CoStar. The state is now in the process of analyzing the data.
6 th Quarter Federal Response: C5: The State has apparently missed one of the steps which was to have been accomplished prior to
COSTAR modifications – DFCS was to complete several assessments comparing the number of moves shown in COSTAR with those
shown in IDS. Has this comparison been completed and what were the results? What data source did the State use to report Placement
stability in the PIP Annual Evaluation/Renegotiation Report? In the 6 th Quarterly Report the State reports being “in the process of
analyzing the data.” ACF looks forward to the results of the analysis in the next quarterly report which will also include a comparison
of COSTAR placement stability with case records of children in 3 counties. ACF approved the collapse of five additional Action Steps
(C12, C13, C14, and C15) into Action Step C5 increasing the importance of the completion of timely and accurate work.
Furthermore, this step is foundational to the completion of Action Step C18.
7 th Quarter Report: To address the data discrepancy, DFCS has completed a comparison of moves recorded in the financial reporting system
(COSTAR, County Statistical Reporting System) to the number of moves reported in the Internal Data System/AFCARS for children in foster care
in Toombs, Carroll and Fulton County DFCS. The Evaluation and Reporting Section has examined placement moves in conjunction with an onsite
review in Toombs, Carroll and Fulton County DFCS. The following is the process used for the comparison as well as a summary of suggested
follow up to address with county DFCS staff issues surrounding stability of foster care placements. The Report below is also made a part of the
documentation attachments for this report.
Examination of the Correlation Between COSTAR Payees
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan C Page 5