Division of Family & Children Services
(DFCS):
Overview of Foster Care in Georgia
Presenters:
•Sharon L. Hill, PhD, DFCS Division Director
•Clifford O’Connor, Deputy Director, Fiscal
•Carol Hall, Kenny A Project Director
Date: December 12, 2013
Georgia Department of Human Services
Child Welfare Caseloads and Case Managers:
2008 to present
SFY
Average Cases Per
Month
Average Number of
Case Managers
2008
30,303
2,375
2009
29,359
2,228
2010
24,784
2,001
2011
20,845
1,927
2012
22,026
1,712
2013
23,603
1,619
Note: Average number of cases include both Child Protective Services (investigations,
family support and family preservations) as well as children in foster care and other
placement cases (ICPC, Extended Youth Supportive Services and relative placements).
Children in Legal Custody of DFCS
The chart reflects the number of children who were in DFCS custody at
any time during the month.
DFCS Placement Responsibility (October 2013)
Note: Placement cases include those in DFCS legal custody, Extended Youth
Supportive Services, Relative Placements, and Interstate Compact for the Placement
of Children (ICPC) cases.
Placement Type for Children in Care (N=7,768)
Placement Type
Percentage of Total
in DFCS Custody
DFCS Foster Home
Child Placing Agency (CPA)
Foster Home
32.2%
Child Caring Institution (CCI)
17.8%
Relative Placement
16.5%
Adoptive Home
3.0%
Other
Less than 1%
30.4%
Note: 48% of children in
foster care are placed with
private providers (CPA and
CCI). Other placements
include DJJ, ICPC, other
resources, etc.
Source: SHINES; based on the number of children in DFCS
custody on December 9, 2013.
Georgia In Care Rates (FY13a)
Georgia as a state has a lower in care rate than the National Average
City of
Atlanta
Data source: AFCARS public files, and Claritas Population Projections
Georgia Entry Rates (FY12)
Georgia statewide has a higher entry rate than the National Average
City of
Atlanta
Data source: AFCARS public files, available from NDACAN
Extended Youth Supportive Services (Youth 18-21)
Note: Chart reflects the number of youth 18 to 21 who remain in care.
Children Entering and Exiting Care by Month
More children entered care in nine of the 12 months than exited.
Federal Outcomes Comparison:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas and
Tennessee
Timeliness of Reunification: FFY2008-FFY2011
Exits to reunification in less than 12 months: Of all children discharged from
foster care to reunification in the year shown, who had been in foster care for 8
days or longer, what percent was reunified in less than 12 months from the date
of the latest removal from home?
National median = 69.9%
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Tennessee
FFY2008
63.1
69.7
60.5
69.5
73.0
FFY2009
61.2
69.5
58.2
63.2
72.6
FFY2010
64
72.3
66.4
67.2
78.2
FFY2011
67.1
73.9
70.6
67.8
77.0
Change
(FFY08-FFY11)
4.0
4.2
10.1
-1.7
4.0
Source: FY08-FY11 Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data (12/21/2012)
Timeliness of Reunification: FFY2008-FFY2011
Exits to reunification, median stay: Of all children discharged from foster care
to reunification in the year shown, who had been in FC for 8 days or longer, what
was the median length of stay (in months) from the date of the latest removal
from home until the date of discharge to reunification?
National median = 6.5 months (lower score is preferable in this measure)
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Tennessee
FFY2008
9.0
8.1
10.3
8.2
7.1
FFY2009 FFY2010
9.1
8.3
8.0
7.9
10.7
9.0
9.0
8.8
7.4
6.5
Change
FFY2011 (FFY08-FFY11)
8.1
-0.9
7.9
-0.2
7.4
-2.9
9.0
0.8
6.8
-0.3
Source: FY08-FY11 Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data (12/21/2012)
Timeliness of Reunification FFY2008-FFY2011
Re-entries to foster care in less than 12 months: Of all children discharged
from foster care to reunification in the 12-month period prior to the year shown,
what percent re-entered foster care in less than 12 months from the date of
discharge?
National median = 15.0% (lower score is preferable in this measure)
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Tennessee
FFY2008
10.6
13.2
7.9
8.1
13.4
FFY2009
8.6
15.1
3.5
7.4
13.0
FFY2010
7.8
14.1
6.1
8.8
13.5
FFY2011
10.1
15.4
8.9
8.4
11.8
Change
(FFY08-FFY11)
-0.5
2.2
1.0
0.3
-1.6
Source: FY08-FY11 Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data (12/21/2012)
Timeliness of Adoption: FFY2008-FFY2011
Children in care 17+ months, adopted by the end of the year: Of all children
in foster care (FC) on the first day of the year shown who were in FC for 17
continuous months or longer, what percent was discharged from FC to a finalized
adoption by the last day of the year shown?
National median = 20.2%
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Tennessee
FFY2008
14.0
29.1
23.2
25.2
36.6
FFY2009
21.0
30.9
27.4
27.4
36.0
FFY2010
18.1
33.1
30.5
25.2
37.1
Change
FFY2011 (FFY08-FFY11)
16.1
2.1
31.7
2.6
31.1
7.9
31.1
5.9
31.8
-4.8
Source: FY08-FY11 Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data (12/21/2012)
Achieving Permanency for Children in Foster Care for
Long Periods of Time
Exits to permanency for children with TPR (termination of parental rights):
Of all children who were discharged from foster care in the year shown, and who
were legally free for adoption at the time of discharge , what percent was
discharged to a permanent home prior to their 18th birthday? A permanent home is
defined as having a discharge reason of adoption, guardianship, or reunification
(including living with relative) .
National median 96.8%
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kansas
Tennessee
FFY2008
94.6
92.5
91.5
88.3
92.0
FFY2009
96.9
90.7
92.5
89.0
91.5
FFY2010
92.9
91.9
92.6
87.1
91.1
Change
FFY2011 (FFY08-FFY11)
89.1
-5.5
91.0
-1.5
94.9
3.4
89.4
1.1
91.7
-0.3
Source: FY08-FY11 Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data (12/21/2012)
Overview of Recent Improvements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Child Death Staffings
Permanency Roundtables
Educational Programming
Performance-Based Placements
Georgia Composites
Every Child Every Month
SHINES Lenses
Centralized Intake
Focus on Psychotropic Med Reduction/DHS Medical Director
National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)
Teen Works
Data Integrity Unit (SHINES)
Child Death Staffings
•
•
•
•
DFCS began Child Death Staffings in
January 2012.
Child deaths where there are
unknown or suspicious circumstances
and/or the death has elements of
neglect or abuse; AND DFCS had
prior Child Protective Services (CPS)
history within the last 5 years.
•
The purpose of the staffing is to provide front
line staff support, consultation and direction
while assessing these types of cases.
By staffing these cases at a time when the
case is active and unfolding we have the
potential to improve case practice, enhance
case manager awareness, increase child
safety and ensure agency accountability
while providing child protective services to
the community we serve.
Another purpose is to gain as much
information as possible about the
circumstances surrounding a serious injury or
child death and to provide a link between
county staff and upper management so that
pertinent information is available in a timely
manner.
Manner of Child Deaths for Calendar Year 2013 (N=86)
Manner of Child Deaths
Undetermined
16%
Pending
5%
Accident
27%
Homicide/Suicide
12%
Natural
40%
*Note: Data reflects January-June 2013.
Sleep-related deaths account for the most ascribed as accidental.
Strategies to Improve Outcomes for Children
• Working with Department of Public Health to enhance data collection, tracking,
information sharing and reporting of child death cases in Georgia.
• Developing a template to use in conducting live learning with county DFCS
offices on serious injury and child death cases in order to improve decisionmaking and assessment of child safety.
• Providing consultation and support for counties on cases of child death and
serious injury, frequently including the medical experts from Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta.
• Working with Georgia Bureau of Investigation to increase partnership in
gathering child death information and utilizing their agency’s resources.
• Partnering with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in developing more in depth
analysis of medically related deaths.
Every Child Every Month
• Ensures every child in foster care in Georgia receives a quality, servicefocused visit every month from their case manager.
• Percent of children seen by a case manager each month they are in care
has steadily increased from 51% in FFY 2007 to 99% in FFY 2012
(Federal Target is 90%).
Case managers record contacts with
children and families – those receiving inhome and out-of-home services. All
contacts are recorded on the Contact
Detail page. To track performance and
monitor timeliness, supervisors and
county/regional leadership use LENSES,
an Oracle reporting application.
ECEM – Every Child Every Month – meet the
federal standards for ECEM reporting.
Caseworker Visitation
Compliance report
allows managers to
monitor performance
over a six month
reporting period.
LENSES users can click
on the Month hyperlink
or graph bar to view
regional performance.
LENSES allows users to
drill down to the
caseworker view.
At any point, users can
click on the View
Visitation Details
hyperlink to view
additional reporting
details.
CRCT Outcomes for Children in Foster Care
(2009-2010 School Year)
The beginning of a laser-focus on the educational outcomes of children in foster
care.
Advanced/Exceeds
Standards
Proficient/Meets
Standards
Does Not Meet
Standards
Reading
English Language
Arts
15.2%
66.0%
18.7%
11.9%
63.1%
25.0%
Mathematics
11.0%
50.8%
38.2%
Science
9.8%
43.4%
46.8%
Social Studies
6.2%
40.7%
53.1%
All Subjects
11.1%
54.1%
34.7%
Note: Based on information received from Georgia Department of
Education and reflects all grade levels taking the CRCT.
Educational Programming, Assessment, and
Consultation
• The EPAC Unit provides comprehensive academic support
services focusing on improving educational outcomes and the
academic achievement of children and youth, ages 5 to 17 in
the custody of Georgia Division of Family and Children
Services.
• EPAC services are supported through TANF funding and are
initiated through case manager or CPS referrals.
• Upon initial placement into foster care, children and youth are
referred to EPAC for a comprehensive diagnostic educational
assessment and subsequently, are monitored for ensuring
adequate academic progress.
In FFY 2013 there were 5,013 School-Aged Foster Youth (K-12) in foster care;
EPAC has provided services to 87% of them. EPAC works with
approximately 230 tutors across the State.
Statewide Longitudinal Data System (Department of Education)
What is the primary purpose of the Georgia SHINES and SLDS connection?
• To expediently attend to educational needs
• To improve educational stability
• To help prepare a brighter future for our children
What are the benefits?
• Access to historical education information
• Indicator for SWD (student with disability)
• Academic performance trends — student specific
• Historical attendance data
• Access to standardized test scores
• Access to the unofficial transcript
• Assist with case planning
Examples of SLDS Information
Our staff are able to view attendance
trend for each child in foster care.
Example of SLDS Information
Example of SLDS Information
Future Enhancements
• Transition of Foster Children to Care Managed
Organization (CMO) / Amerigroup
• Safety Panels
• External Review Teams
• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Protocol for Medically Fragile Youth Aging Out of
Care
•Kenny A. Consent Decree
Overview:
•
Duration of Decree
•
How Are We Doing?
•
Exit Strategies
Kenny A. Consent Decree
Page 42 Section 19-A
With respect to the State Defendants, this
Consent Decree shall remain in effect until:
(1) State Defendants are in substantial compliance with the
final measures on all Outcome Measures in Section 15
of this Consent Decree simultaneously for three
consecutive reporting periods; and,
(2) A motion to terminate jurisdiction over this Consent
Decree is approved by the Court.
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
01) 95% of all investigations of foster
children shall be commenced within 24
hours
95%
91%
87%
85%
86%
90%
97%
97%
97%
99%
100%
93%
94%
93%
91%
02) 95% of all investigations of foster
children shall be completed within 30
days
95%
83%
78%
72%
72%
76%
84%
90%
66%
55%
77%
82%
81%
75%
73%
03) 99% of all investigations of foster
children shall include timely face-toface, private contact with the alleged
victim
99%
85%
87%
83%
83%
88%
97%
97%
97%
99%
99%
93%
93%
91%
88%
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
9.3%
9.6%
9.2%
9.1%
6.5%
4.8%
9.7%
11.1%
9.6%
8.6%
8.7%
9.7%
9.4%
0.81%
0.92%
1.01%
0.90%
0.55%
1.06%
1.17%
0.63%
0.42%
0.41%
0.58%
0.58%
0.74%
98%
100%
100%
100%
100%
99%
100%
100%
100%
100%
99%
98%
99%
100%
95%
73%
04) No more than 8.6% of all foster
children entering custody shall have
re-entered care
<8.6%
05) No more than 1.27% (1st), .94%
(2nd), .57% (4th) of all children in
foster care shall be the victim of
substantiated maltreatment
<0.57%
06) 90% (2nd), 98% (4th) of all
foster homes will not have an
incident of corporal punishment
07) At least 70% (2nd), 95% (4th) of
all foster children entering care shall
have had a diligent search
0.54%
93%
80%
94%
95%
96%
TBD
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
45%
45%
48%
49%
51%
50%
53%
55%
54%
54%
55%
55%
56%
50%
53%
56%
56%
59%
62%
62%
61%
62%
62%
63%
08a) 40% of children entering custody
shall have positive permanency within
12 months
40%
08b) 74% of children entering (1) shall
have met 8(a) or have had adoption,
permanent legal custody or
guardianship within 24 months
74%
09) 40% of "up to 24 month backlog
pool," shall have positive permanency
within 12 months
40%
49%
20%
20%
19%
21%
19%
19%
24%
24%
27%
9%
17%
32%
10) 35% of "over 24 month backlog
pool," shall have positive permanency
within 12 months
35%
36%
9%
9%
14%
15%
10%
16%
18%
23%
9%
6%
11%
17%
11) By 2nd RP, all children with a final
TPR, 80% shall have adoptions
finalized within 12 months
80%
74%
70%
69%
70%
69%
68%
50%
54%
59%
67%
84%
84%
55%
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
14) No more than 5% of adoptions shall
disrupt within 12 months of finalization
<5%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
15) 80% (2nd), 95% (4th) of all foster
children 15/22 months, shall have had
either (1) TPR filed; (2) compelling
reasons in the child's case record
95%
84%
86%
86%
92%
95%
95%
96%
100%
98%
100%
98%
96%
96%
16) 70% (2nd), 80% (4th) of all foster
children shall be placed with all of their
siblings
80%
73%
72%
84%
69%
79%
81%
79%
81%
94%
74%
74%
81%
66%
17) 86.7% (2nd), 95% (4th) of all children
shall have had 2 or fewer moves during
the prior 12 months
95%
90%
84%
91%
92%
91%
89%
87%
92%
94%
90%
93%
93%
93%
18) 90% (2nd) of all children shall have
had 2 or fewer DFCS placement case
managers during the prior year in custody
90%
84%
91%
92%
90%
91%
91%
92%
85%
84%
88%
92%
89%
87%
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
19) 70% (2nd), 80% (3rd),
90% (4th) of all children
placed in removal county
or within a 50 mile radius
20a) 96.25% in-placement
visit combined
20b) 96.25% child visits
private, face-to-face
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
90%
88%
88%
97%
98%
97%
99%
98%
95%
99%
99%
98%
97%
95%
96.25%
16%
15%
14%
36%
48%
51%
64%
64%
97.8%
97.8%
97.5%
99%
98.1%
98.3%
99.1%
98.1%
99.4%
99.1%
96.25%
21) 85% parent-child visits
when goal is reunification
85%
25%
47%
76%
81%
90%
90%
87%
88%
87%
86%
90%
95%
22) 90% (2nd) workercaregiver visits
90%
39%
45%
52%
60%
68%
75%
82%
80%
98%
98%
97%
99%
98%
80%
19%
21%
24%
39%
34%
50%
56%
52%
92%
95%
94%
95%
95%
23) 80% (2nd) visits
between siblings
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
24) Rate of children discharged age
18 or order with educational
achievement
(Revised Baseline = 36%)[P14]
56%
34%
25) 85% (1st), 95% (2nd), 98% (4th)
in placements that are in full
approval and/or licensure status
98%
86%
86%
88%
96%
97%
99%
98%
98%
98%
98%
99%
99%
99%
26) 85% (2nd), 95% (4th) shall have
applicable language in court orders
to assess Title IV-E qualifications
95%
55%
42%
69%
64%
65%
71%
69%
80%
85%
90%
91%
90%
90%
27) 80% (2nd), 85% (3rd), 95% (4th)
shall have 6-month case plan review
OR, file a motion within 45 days
95%
70%
33%
46%
63%
81%
80%
77%
71%
92%
87%
88%
87%
95%
28) 95% (2nd) shall have a
permanency hearing OR, file a
motion with 45 days
95%
80%
70%
82%
83%
81%
95%
87%
89%
99%
93%
95%
94%
94%
25%
47%
50%
58%
49.1%
40%
Periods 1 – 14 Outcome Performance
Reporting Periods
OUTCOMES
Goal
1
st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
30%
3%
5%
4%
4%
5%
1%
1%
0%
3%
4%
0%
29) No more than 5% (3rd) shall
have a lapse in their legal custody
within the prior 13 months
<5%
30) 80% (2nd), 85% (4th) shall not
have any unmet medical, dental,
mental health, education, or other
service needs, according to the
service needs documented in the
child's most recent case plan
85%
74%
77%
57%
54%
75%
72%
68%
69%
77%
78%
75%
78%
74%
31) No more than 10% (2nd) shall
be placed in foster homes that
exceed the capacity limits
<10%
8%
8%
7%
6%
8%
3%
4%
0%
2%
2%
1%
2%
2%
ONE TIME MEASURES
12) 90% shall have had adoptions
or legal guardianships finalized
within six months
90%
94%
13) 95% registered on exchanges,
and have an individualized
adoption recruitment plan or plan
for legal guardianship within 60
days
95%
30%
Kenny A: Exit Strategies
• Added a Kenny A. Strategic Team to
implement strategies for outcomes not
achieved.
• Developing a Kenny A. Dashboard to
provide real-time data.
• Conducting bi-weekly internal meetings.
Kenny A: Exit Strategies
• Focusing on Supervision
• Using Research to Guide Strategy
Development
• Establishing Work Teams for Specific
Outcomes
• Conducting Statewide Training
Kenny A: Exit Strategies
• Strengthening partnerships with private
providers.
• Developing new relationships with external
constituents.
• Sustaining performance on outcomes
already achieved.
Questions?