Child Protection Transformation
Overview
October 18, 2012
What is the Child Protection
Transformation Project?
A collaboration between the Department of
Children and Families, Community Based
Care and local public - private partnerships to
create a world class social services
delivery system to Florida’s children.
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What are we trying to solve?

Compliance based practice model

Non-integrated system of work

37% Child Protection Investigator (CPI) turnover

55% Re-investigations

Lack of data integration and access to other sources

Inefficient tools and processes
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Child Protection Transformation Project
Technology
Professionalization
Florida Safety Decision Making
Methodology
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Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology




Need identified by Barahona Case Findings and Recommendations:
 “Re-engineer child protective investigations processes, including
recruitment, training, technology empowerment, collaboration with
CBCs, law enforcement, schools, the medical community and other
professions relied upon to ensure the integrity of the investigative
function.”
Introduces a common methodology for how we interact with families, team
with experts and make critical decisions from initial removal to reunification.
Incorporates safety information standards and constructs into all current
processes:
–Hotline
-Investigations
–Ongoing Case Management
Integration of two national best practice models supported by:
 ACTION for Child Protection www.actionchildprotection.org
 The Children’s Research Center www.nccd-crc.org
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Current State Decision Tree
Risk
Low Risk
No
Services
Prevention
Diversion
“Family
Support”
Moderate
Risk
In-Home
NonJudicial
• Subjective Decision Making
• No Definitions for Risk
Levels
• Lack of Decision
Supports
• Maltreatment Driven
Decisions
High Risk
In-Home
Judicial
Out of
Home
Placement
6
Florida Safety Decision Making
Methodology
Safety
Management
Safety
Decision
Safe
Unsafe
Protective
Actions
Safe
Home
No
Services
• Consistent Decision Making
• Efficient Decision Supports
• Decisions Based on Present
and Impending Danger
• Teaming Model
In Home
Safety Plan
Prevention
Diversion
“Family
Support”
In-Home
NonJudicial
In-Home
Judicial
Out of Home
Safety Plan
Out of
Home
Placement
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‘As- Is’ CPI Time Allocation
12%
Investigation Field Activity
7%
31%
FSFN Data Entry
7%
Documentation outside FSFN
Training and Administration
9%
Pre-commencement activities
Staffings
34%
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Hotline
Current State Process Overlaps
Statutory Criteria for CA/N, Response
Priority, Searching/Linking, Background
Screening
Investigations
Process Overlap
Searching/Linking, Background Screening, Safety
Assessment, Assess Service Needs, Refer for Services
Case
Management
Process Overlap
Family Assessment, Case Plan, Refer for
Services, Case Evaluation
99
Case
Management
Investigations
Hotline
Future State Minimize Process Overlap
Statutory Criteria for CA/N,
Response Priority,
Searching/Linking, Background
Screening
Information Collection, Safety
Determination, Family Functioning
Assessment
Protective Capacity
Assessment, Case Plan, Refer
for Services, Case Evaluation
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Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology
Investigative Process
Intake
Assess
Present
Danger
Information
Collection
Assess
Impending
Danger
Family
Safety
Functioning Disposition
Determination
Assessment
Assess Risk Factors
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Safety Decision Making
Threats of Danger
(Out of Control, Immediate, Observable, Severe Consequences)
+/-
Vulnerable Child
(Lacks ability to self protect)
+/-
Parent Protective Capacities
(Vigilance, preparation and power to protect)
=
Safe or Unsafe
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Safety Planning
The main objective is to control threats,
when there is a vulnerable child and
the parents lack protective capacities
to keep children safe.
Safety Plans include factors for
Present and Impending Dangers.
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Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology
Decision Supports
Methodology
Initial
Removal
Current
Child Safety
Assessment
Florida
Safety Decision
Making
Methodology
Present
Danger
Child Safety
Assessment
Ongoing
Case
Opening
Service
Identificatio
n
Investigation
Family
Assessment
Family
Functioning
Assessment
Protective
Capacity
Family
Assessment
Plan
Evaluation
Ongoing
Assessment
Reunificatio
n
Case Plan
Case Plan
Evaluation
Updated
Family
Assessment
Reunification
Assessment
Home Study
Continuing
Safety
Evaluation
Protective
Capacity
Evaluation
within Case
Plan
Evaluation
Case Plan
Family Case
Plan
Evaluation
Risk Assessment
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Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology
Business Process Efficiencies

Revised documentation protocols

Streamlined and timely Child Protective
Investigative Supervisor and case consultation

Timely investigative closure

Increase coaching support

Focus on household of the allegation

FSFN system enhancements
Increase time with
families!
Decrease reinvestigations!
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Vision for Child Protection Investigations
Current Practice
Transformed Practice

Complete, well-organized packet of
information from hotline including more
information about child and parent risk
factors.

Alternative Methods for Responding to
Situations that do not meet investigation
criteria (Differentiated Response at Hotline)

Standardized statewide processes for CPI’s
Supervisory reviews are primarily reviews of
paperwork; minimal substantive values
reported


“Allegations and “findings” are focus of work


Each investigation has same requirements,
not always appropriate to situation and
child/family needs.

Supervisory reviews are face-to-face
discussions about investigation dynamics at
all phases
Concentrate more on assessing family
dynamics and underlying conditions,
circumstances surrounding the maltreatment
us just the incident of abuse/neglect.
Right investigation work gets done for each
case based on child/family situation/needs

Limited information in reports received from
Hotline.

CPI Investigators respond to all Hotline
reports

High variation in business processes

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(Cont.) Vision for Child Protection
Investigations
Current Practice

Completing forms and routine requirements
drive activities.

(FSFN) System drives practice

CPIs engage in many activities that do not
require their expertise.

Random technology support in field
Transformed Practice

Engaging families, other experts, in
risk assessment and planning safety
interventions will drive activities.

Practice needs will drive FSFN
functionality

Administrative tasks are reduced
and/or off-loaded to others.

All CPI’s have standardized, basic
equipment package.
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Contact Information
Kimberly Williams
SunCoast Region Transformation
(813)337-5933
Shawn Creney
SunCoast Region Transformation
(813)337-5936
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