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

Item 9, Adoption:
Georgia’s Program Improvement Plan identified 27 action steps to be taken in an effort to achieve the goal of 19.1% of children being adopted in 24 months or less from their last
foster care entry. For FFY 2004, quarter 4 the percentage was 19.67. Although this is the first time the rate has reached its goal level, there are other indicators related to length of
time to achieve adoption finalization that look promising. We are also pleased to note that the number of finalized adoptions for SFY 2004 increased by 24% from the previous
year and represents an all time high (1,246) for Georgia. The QCR rated this indicator as 65.69% compliant.
There are two other measures the state was reviewing:
Reduce time from TPR to registration of child’s life history from average (FFY 2000) of 10.17 months to six months by June 2004. The FFY 2004 average was 5.77
months.
Reduce time from child’s adoptive placement to finalization from the average of 7.56 months to six months by June 2004. The FFY 2004 average was 4.42 months.
We established the following goals to increase the percent of children adopted within 24 months of their last entry into care:
1. Reduce lengthy time period to file TPR (Termination of Parental Rights).
2. Reduce lengthy time periods to finalize adoptions.
3. Expedite movement of children from foster care to adoption finalization.
4. Determine if court delays are impacting length of time to achieve adoption.
5. Inform foster parents of service options available to them if they adopt.
GOAL: REDUCE LENGTHY TIME PERIOD TO FILE TPR (Action Steps E-1 to E-8)
According to the Trend Analysis Report for SFY 2003, in 71% of the cases reviewed, the agency filed timely to terminate parental rights or documented compelling reasons why
TPR was not in the best interest of the child. The quarterly Qualitative Case Reviews have identified an area that continues to need improvement--delays in filing the petition to
terminate rights. Other areas needing improvement are court hearings being continued and issues related to case managers (staff vacancies and changes/turnover.).
The following strategies were developed and implemented to improve accountability and compliance with policies and procedures related to the filing of TPR:
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 – Table of Contents Page vi