ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Florida

1. How would you rate your agency's staff in terms of their understanding of ASFA requirements? We are particularly interested in the level of understanding of managers, supervisors and workers. Please rate their understanding on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'comprehensive'.

a. Managers:

Comments: Due to the leadership of our Secretary, Judge Kearney, all staff know the basic tenets of ASFA---safety, permanency and well-being. However, many staff are not clear about the specific requirements of the federal regulations.

b. Supervisors:

Comments: Same

c. Workers:

Comments: Same

2. Based on your agency's experience to date, what skills do you think managers, supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA?

a. Managers?

• An understanding of the details of the federal requirements relating to ASFA
• An understanding of how ASFA relates to FL statute Chapter 39
• An understanding of how our operating procedures pertain to, link to and support ASFA
  

b. Supervisors?

• An understanding of the details of the federal requirements relating to ASFA
• An understanding of how ASFA relates to FL statute Chapter 39
• An understanding of how our operating procedures pertain to, link to and support ASFA
  

c. Workers?

• Continued training, especially around job tools and aids that will help workers understand the specific requirements of ASFA and how to document their activities properly
• An understanding of the common problems other workers and supervisors have faced and overcome regarding ASFA implementation (from the monitoring visits)
  
  

3. As part of your ASFA implementation has your agency undertaken any activities in the following areas:

• Agency structure? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  We have agency child welfare attorneys in most of our districts. Those attorneys used to report to the local administrator, now they report to general counsel in the state office.
  
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  The districts participate with Central Office in 'Situation Reports', a focus on achieving outcomes and overcoming barriers. These reports contain information on ASFA outcomes, with a focus on safety, length of stay in care and achieving permanency. The reports are reviewed and discussed at quarterly management meetings chaired by the Secretary.
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

The pre-service training covers ASFA.

Also, we have a 10 and 1/2 month two-phase child protection certification program that all our child protective employees go through. The training is divided between classroom and fieldwork with close mentoring and supervision. The first phase occurs soon after hire and covers topics such as legal, assessments, federal funding, decision-making, documentation, removal and placement. At the close of phase one there is a written test. Phase two covers topics such as neglect, physical abuse, domestic violence and concurrent case planning and also concludes with a written test.

Additionally, after each district is monitored for compliance with ASFA, training is provided.

Legal staff in Miami received training from Mark Hardin, ABA.

b. Who does the training?

The Florida Professional Development Centers

c. Is the training just on ASFA or is it incorporated into other training that you provide?

Both stand-alone and incorporated into on-going training. In 1998, FL incorporated ASFA requirements into FL law. In 1999 we delivered a mandatory in-service training for all child protective staff on ASFA and the new laws; we will continue to develop and offer in-service training on this topic.

d. Have you done any training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Every year there is a conference for court and child welfare personnel. During the conference there will be professional workshops and circuit break-outs offering opportunities for localities to look at problems and develop action plans. While ASFA itself isn't the prime agenda item, issues its implementation can raise such as concurrent planning, timelines and procedure changes are included on the agenda. The event is 3 days long and draws over 1,000 participants, approximately half from child welfare and half from the courts.

5. How well does your information system support the work of managers, supervisors and workers in implementing ASFA? Please rate the support provided by your system on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'outstanding'

a. Why did you give your system that rating?

We are waiting for full implementation of our SACWIS system, HomeSafeNet. The system (Client Information System) does provide a regular report to districts with regard to tracking the 15 of the last 22 month population.

There are many efforts to compile and analyze data; however, the current information system is not adequate to meet our needs.

b. If a rating of 1 or 2 is given, probe as to the status of the SACWIS system.

Our SACWIS just went live in one district so state-wide implementation is sometime in the near future. There is a lot of optimism and hope that the SACWIS will be a big improvement for us in terms of data collection, reporting and use of information.

6. What has worked best for you in terms of supporting staff as they implement the ASFA requirements?

Our annual Dependency Court Improvement Project conference. This event fosters needed collaboration and on-going planning /problem resolution between the judicial and child welfare systems. Participants have the opportunity to be trained together on emerging issues, identify problem areas, do joint work planning and then go back to their districts and implement the plans.

The monitoring of all districts has provided each manager with specific performance on compliance with ASFA.

7. What do you view as barriers to your agency's support for staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

As good as we are, we need even more collaboration between the child welfare attorneys, the courts, the managers, the workers and the supervisors. The collaboration becomes more necessary yet even more complex if the legal service is contracted out as it is in some districts.

8. (For County based systems only.) To what extent does the fact that your state is county-based impact your ASFA implementation?

NA

9. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

Back to Top