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

3 rd Quarter Georgia's Reply: No report at this time. See request for change of completion date.
4 th Quarter Report: No report at this time. See request in change for completion date. It is expected that the state will renegotiate this
time
4 th Quarter Federal Response: The State has not addressed RO's question regarding how the effectiveness of policy and training is
being examined. No update is given on these steps.
5 th Quarter Report: See Action Step 12 for response to RO's question. For Federal Fiscal year 2003 an analysis is underway to
extrapolate from the total population of children in foster care those with special needs. The measurements of placement moves will
be taken and comparisons made to determine the characteristics of children that might lead to placement moves.
6 th Quarter Report: The two Qualitative Case Review Reports indicate the following reasons for foster placement disruptions: (1)
requested by foster parents due to child's behavior or changes in the foster parent's living arrangement; (2) child did not adjust to the
placement; (3) foster parent could not effectively handle the child's mental health issues; (4) health issues expressed by the foster
parents; (5) several of the moves involved initial moves into foster care until relative placements could be explored and approved
(once relative were approved, children were placed with relatives); (6) requests made by foster parent due to complaints from the
parent about the foster parent; and (7) temporary placements until a more stable placement was located.
6 th Quarter DOCUMENTATION: Social Services Quarterly Report, Qualitative Case Reviews, January 2004 - March 2004.
6 th Quarter Federal Response: C16: Information provided in the 6 th Quarterly Report lists reasons for disruptions, it is not an
analysis which identifies “characteristics of children and resource families that might lead to disruptions.” The State may want to
consider engaging the help of an NRC to assist them with conducting such an analysis using data obtained from the QCR’s.
7 th Quarter Report: The State will consider soliciting the help of NRC for a true analysis. It is doubtful that this action step will be
completed by the end of the Pip reporting period.
8 th Quarter Report: Achieved. The following is an analysis to identify characteristics of children and resource families that might
lead to placement disruption. (Completed with the assistance of an in-house researcher who was not available prior to the initiation of
this action step).
Executive Summary
Child and Family Services Review
Item 6: Stability of Foster Care Placements
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan C Page 14