ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
2003

Louisiana

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:

b. Supervisors:

Comments:

c. Workers:

Comments:

2. Following are some of the skills that managers, supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA. Please rate each of these on a scale of 1-5 with one being 'do not need it' and 5 being 'extremely important.'

a. Managers:

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Understanding requirements of ASFA

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

b. Supervisors:

Case work skills:

Communication skills:

Collaborative skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

c. Workers:

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Communication skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

3. In the past year, since our earlier survey, as part of your ASFA implementation has the agency undertaken any activities in the following areas:

Agency structure? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Internal communication? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Implemented a CQI process which consists of a peer review process for cases.

Performance appraisals? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Job descriptions? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Have rewritten job descriptions. Some of the changes reflect ASFA requirements. Have a new pay plan structure too.

Staff recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Increased the amount of graduate student stipends to allow more staff to go to graduate school. Using 4-E funds for recruitment on campus.

Case Review? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Have implemented a peer case review process.

Foster/Adoptive parent recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

4. In the past year, since our earlier survey, has there been any ASFA training for child welfare agency personnel? No Yes
If yes, go to question 4a. If no, go to question 4e.

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

ASFA topics are part of regular training.

b. Which of the following did you use for the ASFA training?

Statewide training
In service training
Pre-service training
Forums on ASFA topics
Conferences on ASFA topics
Regularly scheduled meetings
Managers train people
Interactive video on ASFA topics
Teleconferences on ASFA topics
Training by federal agencies
Information is circulated about ASFA

c. Who did the training?

Agency/training unit staff
Outside consultants
State university
Court staff
Central office staff
Regional staff

d. Was the training just on ASFA or was it incorporated into other training that you provide?

Incorporated
Incorporated into new worker training
Not incorporated

e. In the past year, since our earlier survey, have you done any of the following ASFA training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, continue with this question; if no go to question 4g.

Joint training sessions
Agency and court staff have worked together on local level
Court Improvement Project events attended by agency people
ASFA workgroups of agency and court staff
Agency staff have trained court people
Agency published a newsletter for court staff
Other
     Resource center staff, consultants

f. What topics were covered in that ASFA training for the courts?

The training was a three hour training for judges. It included an overview of ASFA and it highlighted such topics as, the wording of court orders, reasonable efforts, timelines, permanency reviews.

g. Have you done ASFA training with or for any of the following:

Schools
Health care providers
Mental health providers
Tribes
Other, please specify
     People in schools of social work at the university level,
     foster parents were given an overview. Independent
     living service providers placement. The focus is different
     for each group.

h. What topics were covered in the ASFA training?

• Schools - discussed with some school systems the advantages of keeping children in care in the same schools and communities when they enter foster care.
• Health care providers - The State sponsors conferences where some part of the conference is devoted to ASFA topics. Mental health and public health staff are invited to these conferences.
• Tribes - Tribal representatives are invited to attend trainings on ASFA issues and CFSR requirements.

5. Thinking about future training for your agency and community partners (not just on ASFA), what do you think is the number one training need of:

a. Agency managers:

Need to address scarcity of resources, how to work collaboratively with the community to make sure clients needs are met.

b. Agency supervisors:

How to keep staff motivated, support staff and give direction to staff, remaining current with new requirements.

c. Agency workers:

How to address client needs regarding resources. Collaboration with community stakeholders and how to do good assessments.

d. Foster parents:

How to deal with children with behavioral difficulties and how to address those issues at home. How to deal with older children.

e. Schools:

The importance of maintaining the same school and community for children placed in foster care.

f. Health care providers:

How to provide integrated service delivery for clients. How to work well with others in the community.

g. Mental health providers:

Same as for health care providers.

h. Tribes:

The tribes have asked for 4-E eligibility training.

i. Courts:

How to coordinate/collaborate with agency.

j. Is there any other group you think has a training need? Please specify.

6. 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?

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

There is no SACWIS system in the state. Use an old legacy system. They are in the process of designing a new system, but progress is slow. Haven't even picked a system to use as yet.

7. Please rate the importance of the following in terms of supporting staff as they implement the ASFA requirements, with 1 being 'not important' and 5 being 'crucial.'

Training

Increased communication

Resources to support staff

Collaborative efforts with stakeholders

Seeing ASFA as good casework practice

Management support

Revising policy to support ASFA

Monitoring implementation

Other, please specify and rate:

8. Do you see any of the following as barriers to your agency's support for staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA (check if 'yes')?

Lack of resources
Difficult relationship with courts
Staff turnover
Limitations or lack of computer system
Lack of understanding/knowledge about ASFA
Heavy workload
Lack of support
Difficulty meeting ASFA requirements
Large number of cases
Differences in interpretation
Lack of services
Lack of time
Lack of training
Problems caused by a county-based system
Other, please specify:

9. (For County based systems only.) Do any of the following impact your ASFA implementation (check if 'yes')?

Must be responsive to local needs
Lack of uniform practice standards
Communication can be difficult
Approach is fragmented
Limited state control
Limited resources
Other

10. At which point in the Child and Family Service Review process is your agency?

a.

Planning
Statewide assessment underway
Review complete
Working to complete the activities described in the PIP

b. Are there any significant lessons you learned from the CFSR? If so, please describe.

Have seen the value of bringing information to the first line staff, especially in peer case review process. Staff liked doing the review. Plan to continue after the CFSR review is complete.

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

Need to increase staff input into decision making and increase the value placed on staff input.

Do you mind if we call you again if we need additional information?

No
Yes

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