an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...
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Goal Achieved.<br />
A report was completed in J<strong>an</strong>uary 2003 <strong>an</strong>d is posted on the CIP website:<br />
http://www.state.ga.us/courts/supreme/cpp/<br />
4 th Quarter Federal Response: Noted as achieved but State did not respond to RO's question about what they will do about the<br />
barriers identified in the CIP report. The goal for this <strong>an</strong>d subsequent steps is: 'Determine if court delays are impacting length <strong>of</strong> time<br />
to achieve adoption.'<br />
5 th Quarter Report: At this time, the CIP does not have definitive knowledge <strong>of</strong> whether court delays alone are impacting length <strong>of</strong><br />
time to achieve adoption. There are <strong>of</strong> course courts that do cause delays, but there are also delays because <strong>of</strong> appeals, delays in<br />
getting orders done, delays in attorneys <strong>an</strong>d caseworkers filing paperwork <strong>an</strong>d high caseloads. The CIP staff will continue to strive to<br />
find specific perform<strong>an</strong>ce measures to discover what causes delays for children whose perm<strong>an</strong>ency goal is adoption.<br />
6 th Quarter Report: We have begun some collection <strong>of</strong> information that will help identify cases in which delays are occurring after<br />
filing <strong>of</strong> TPR. Refer to E-6 <strong>an</strong>d to the Monthly Termination Legal Progress Report. If we determine from these reports that there are<br />
delays between filing <strong>of</strong> petition <strong>an</strong>d hearing/disposition date, we will begin conducting interviews with the judges <strong>an</strong>d court staff to<br />
determine causes <strong>of</strong> the delays <strong>an</strong>d court’s perception <strong>of</strong> the problem. These interviews will begin in May 2004.<br />
In addition we have been successful in the passage <strong>of</strong> statute ch<strong>an</strong>ges that will impact the court’s involvement with adoption<br />
timeliness. HB 1322, passed in the 2004 legislative session, requires a judicial review every six months after TPR to review the<br />
agency’s progress in adoption pl<strong>an</strong>ning for a child. Prior to the passage <strong>of</strong> this bill, the court review was on <strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>nual basis. (Refer to<br />
E-10). In the 2003 legislative session, we were successful in the passage <strong>of</strong> a bill which allows <strong>an</strong> agency adoption hearing be<br />
conducted immediately after filing the adoption petition. Prior to the passage <strong>of</strong> that law it was required that the hearing had to be<br />
held at least 60 days after the filing <strong>of</strong> the petitions. (Refer to E-9).<br />
6 th Quarter Federal Response: E22: see comments on E6 <strong>an</strong>d E10<br />
7 th Quarter Report: In reviewing ACF response, we don’t underst<strong>an</strong>d the reference to E-10 in this action step. E-10 refers to the review <strong>of</strong><br />
cases after TPR to determine progress in the agency placing the child for adoption.<br />
Further clarity is needed in order to address the relationship between E-10 <strong>an</strong>d E-22.<br />
The measurable benchmark in this action step is to identify barriers <strong>an</strong>d needs <strong>an</strong>d to complete a report <strong>of</strong> findings <strong>an</strong>d recommendations.<br />
The report has been completed <strong>an</strong>d referenced in 4 th quarter report that provided the web site for the report. We are attaching a copy <strong>of</strong> the<br />
report. On Page 7 <strong>of</strong> the report there is key information in terms <strong>of</strong> findings <strong>an</strong>d recommendations. Below each finding are recommendations<br />
Safe Futures – A Pl<strong>an</strong> for Program Improvement<br />
Georgia <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Hum<strong>an</strong> Resources<br />
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Pl<strong>an</strong> E Page 15