Check each statement that accurately depicts your organization’s current reality.
1. Policy Foundation
Our agency has written vision, mission and guiding principles that endorse Linkages (the coordination of welfare and child welfare) to strengthen families.
Our vision, mission and guiding principles are not only written down, but actively shape the policies, practices and operations that support service coordination between CalWORKs and Child Welfare
Services (CWS).
All levels of agency management, staff and partners demonstrate full commitment to the strategic direction of coordinated services between CalWORKs and CWS.
Agency leaders have identified Linkages as an organizational priority.
It is clear to both CalWORKs and CWS personnel why a Linkages program is being developed and implemented in our county.
Agency leaders consistently champion the strategic direction of CalWORKs/CWS services coordination.
CalWORKs sees itself as promoting child safety and Child Welfare Services views itself as a poverty reduction program.
Our organizational structure supports interprogram collaboration and does not reinforce “working in silos.”
After reviewing our current organizational structure, we have selected and documented the coordinated case planning model to be used in our county.
The target population to receive coordinated services has been specifically identified and agreed upon
(e.g., cross-over families, AB 429 families, etc.).
A decision has been made about which service locations will implement the selected coordinated services model.
The capacity of our current data systems to support client identification, coordinated case planning, and outcome tracking has been evaluated.
2. Practice Protocols
Written protocols guide identification and/or screening of clients in our target population(s).
There is agreement across both CalWORKs and CWS about what constitutes “success” for the Linkages initiative in terms of client outcomes and benefits for staff.
Confidentiality protocols are well-understood and consistently followed in order to respectfully share client-related information for service coordination purposes.
The agency-wide confidentiality policy supports rather than impedes CalWORKs/Child Welfare service coordination.
Work Plan Assessment Tool
Created by Hay Consulting for the CalWORKs/Child Welfare Partnership Project
Page 1
October 2005

Procedures for coordinated case planning between CalWORKs and CWS are documented with written protocols.
Coordinated case planning protocols are well-understood and consistently followed by personnel in both programs.
Decisions have been made how data systems will support protocols for client identification, coordinated case planning, and outcome evaluation.
3. Administrative
A Linkages Coordinator has been identified for our county.
We have formed a Linkages Committee that has representation from both CalWORKs and CWS, with involvement from finance, data management, and human resources, as necessary.
The Linkages Committee actively functions to plan and implement CalWORKs/CWS service coordination.
A work plan guides the development of the policy, operational, and administrative building blocks necessary to implement Linkages.
Client outcomes data and staff feedback are routinely collected and analyzed to guide program improvements.
Resources for CalWORKs/CWS service coordination have been identified through matching or other flexible funding mechanisms.
Data systems are configured and personnel are trained through written protocols to collect information for assessment of Linkages client outcomes.
Basic Orientation training has been delivered to all staff in both CalWORKs and CWS about the fundamental structures, responsibilities, and services of both programs.
New hires in both programs learn the basic philosophy, principles and protocols of CalWORKs/CWS services coordination during new employee orientation.
Linkages has been integrated into our Staff Training Plan to build the desired knowledge, attitudes and skills among CalWORKs and CWS personnel for effective service coordination.
Linkages is institutionalized in our social service agency and no longer considered a “pilot” project.
Our System Improvement Plan (SIP) incorporates Linkages practice and philosophy.
Work Plan Assessment Tool
Created by Hay Consulting for the CalWORKs/Child Welfare Partnership Project
Page 2
October 2005

Your answers to the checklist above indicate the r eadiness of your organization’s leadership, culture, and service environment to move forward with Linkages. The degree of completion of each Linkages Building Block helps you determine the key work planning tasks for your agency to address as described below:
Linkages
Building Blocks
Work Plan
Topics
No Items
Checked
Some Items
Checked
All Items
Checked

Vision, Mission,
Guiding Principles

Target Populations

Coordinated Case
Planning Model

Outcomes
Start with the basics to support Linkages. Begin by establishing a vision, mission and guiding principles. Then address other policy & structural elements to create an environment ready for
CalWORKs/ CWS service integration.
Build on progress made in setting your policy foundation. Focus on completing any
“unchecked” policy or structural components.
For completed policies, consider whether you can begin developing some practice protocols.
It’s time to put policy into practice. Continue to communicate your
Linkages philosophy with key stakeholders.
Focus on operationalizing your policy into concrete protocols & practices.

Client Identification

Information Sharing

Coordinated Case
Planning Protocols
Start with documenting basic protocols and practice expectations.
Develop a clear set of guidelines for confidential information sharing. To stimulate interest, communicate to staff what the “other” program has to offer and why Linkages is important.
Complete areas of practice or operations that need to be fleshed out. Don’t let analysis paralysis take over.
Prepare written practice protocols to test on a small scale.
Continue to have your
Linkages Committee meet to review
Linkages progress.
Modify protocols as needed. Communicate program success to policy makers and community stakeholders.
Linkages Work Plan Assessment Tool
Created by Hay Consulting for CalWORKs/Child Welfare Partnership Project
Page 3
Revised 10/14/05

Linkages
Building Blocks
Work Plan
Topics

Project
Management

Staff Training

Funding

Evaluation
No Items
Checked
Start with completing the fundamentals —form a
Linkages Committee and develop a Work Plan.
Plan Basic Orientation for existing staff and new hires. Also identify opportunities to match or augment funding, how to track results and build the skills people need to be successful.
Some Items
Checked
Consider “unchecked” items that are impeding your Linkages progress and address those items as a high priority.
Continue training staff in both CalWORKs & CWS on new expectations and procedures. Use evaluation feedback from clients, staff, and others to inform what needs to be adjusted for improved or sustained progress.
All Items
Checked
Continue to have your
Linkages Committee champion service coordination. Review client outcomes data, feedback from staff, and other program information. Stay alert for public and private funding opportunities.
Incorporate “success stories” and “lessons learned” into training curriculum, staff bulletins and team meetings to ensure staff keep learning.
Linkages Work Plan Assessment Tool
Created by Hay Consulting for CalWORKs/Child Welfare Partnership Project
Page 4
Revised 10/14/05