ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL 2002

Michigan

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: Michigan’s child welfare policy reflects ASFA requirements. Managers monitor staff performance and adherence to policy thereby increasing the adherence to ASFA.

b. Supervisors:

Comments:

c. Workers:

Comments: Workers may not link FIA policy mandates to ASFA but they understand and adhere to policy.

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

Understand Requirements of ASFA

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

b. Supervisors?

Case work skills:

Communication Skills:

Collaborative Skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

c. Workers?

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Communication Skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

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.
We have transitioned family Prevention services to our Family Independence Program (cash/food assistance/MA etc) from the Child Welfare unit. This was done to enhance the “one worker” concept; to assure that the worker that works with the family on their basic needs can also address child safety issues before they become critical. We have sent computer lists of chldren who meet the 15 of 22 months requirmeent to the field and conllected pertient information on each case. An on-going workgroup with the State Court Administrative Office has been convened to address implementation issues.
We have done refresher training on key provision with court and FIA staff.

Internal communication? No Yes
If yes, please describe
The FIA has increased their commitment to the business planning process and has identified strategic inititatives to focus on for the coming 3 years. These initiatives are publicized and all workers focus toward employing strategies to accomplish them.

Performance appraisals? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The Agency has moved toward a performance based system. Appraisals are tied to the regulations and are aimed at supporting our overall mission. On example is providing field offices with the number of moves children experience in out of home care and ensure this is addressed. County Directors are monitored and held accountable for adoptions and reunification’s of children.

Job descriptions? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Staff recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Case Review? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Foster/Adoptive parent recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
We continue with an active recruitment and retention initiative designed to ensure we have adequate numbers of qualified foster and adoptive parents. This effort includes foster parents, public and private agency staff and national experts; e.g. targeted recruitment and neighborhood recruitment.

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

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

Court requirements, 15 of 22 months requirements/termination of parental rights

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?

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

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

All requirements pertaining to courts.

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

Schools
Health care providers
Mental health providers
Tribes
Other, please specify providers

h. What topics were covered in the ASFA training?

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?

They full system conversion in Foster Care, Juvenile Justice and Adoption occurred this fiscal year. There has been a learning curve and we are now being able to access data from the system. It is anticipated that the rating will increase over the coming year as skills develop with data entry and data extraction for management purposes.

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

6. 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:

7. 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 (certain 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:

8. (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 (diverse)
Limited state control
Limited resources

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

a.
Planning
Statewide assessment completed.
Review complete
Working to complete the activities described in the PIP

b. Are there any significant lessons you learned from the CFSR process that you suggest we include in our curriculum? If so, please describe.


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

Do you mind if we call you again if we need additional information?
No
Yes

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