ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Maryland

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:

b. Supervisors:

c. Workers:

Comments: With workers there is a problem in keeping them up-to-date because of constant staff turnover.

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?

Managers need to be able to focus on the implications of policies related to safety and timeliness. They need to be aware of timeliness as a factor in bring kids to permanence.

b. Supervisors?

Supervisors need the same skills as managers. In addition they need to know how to put new policies into practice.

c. Workers?

Workers need to focus on skills that move children through the system to permanency in a timely way. They need to have strong assessment skills and be able to deal with court related issues effecting time requirements of ASFA. In terms of developing case plans, workers need to have skills in planning concurrently, or moving in two directions at the same time.

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.
  No major restructuring; some local departments have re-organized.
  

• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  The Maryland State Legislature changed the laws to meet ASFA requirements; the Agency has subsequently rewritten regulations. They have done an array of training, including developing web site materials that focus on the new directions that need to be taken to comply with ASFA requirements. Web site has been successful in making staff more aware.
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  Maryland had already changed the performance process in 1997 just before the passage of ASFA to a behavior based process.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  Job descriptions were revised through State law passed after passage of ASFA. Reflect increase ingrade level for social workers; focus on case management principles.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  Have changed recruiting methods:
  • Offer a sign-on bonus
  • Upgraded salaries
  • Recruit more aggressively at professional schools
  • Require caseworkers to have a Bachelors degree in a human services area
  • Retention
  • Expanded steps in pay grade from 6 to 10
  • Expanded the 4-E master's program
  • Upgraded equipment for staff, including providing cell phones, lap top computers.
    

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

Staff are required to complete general pre-service and in-service training. The material related to ASFA has been merged with the existing training.

b. Who does the training?

University of Maryland School of Social Work

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

Training is incorporated into regular training.

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

Question was omitted from copy of survey I used.

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?

The child welfare system is presently using a very old, limited system that does not support child welfare.

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

Maryland does not have an operational SACWIS system at the moment. It is in the process of being developed. It is scheduled to be operational by July 2004.

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

Providing staff with up-dated equipment, including lap tops and cell phones.

Training staff new requirements for practice, both in regular training sessions and via web based information.

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

Conflict caused by time line requirements. Requirements bring an artificial pressure to bring cases to closure. Disagreement over interpretation between courts and agency.

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

Maryland has a state-supervised, state administered system.

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?

More discussion at the federal level.

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