ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Mississippi

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:

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?

• Clear understanding of ASFA requirements
• Good working relationship with the court
• Ability to work with families toward development of plans
  

b. Supervisors?

• Same skills as managers
• Provide good feedback to staff regarding changes
• Can model and support different practice requirements
  

c. Workers?

• Good rapport with court
• Can facilitate family group decision making conferences
• Understand what resources available in community; if needed resources are not available, can develop advocacy skills to get them.
  
  

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.
  Expanded adoption unit; hired more staff and supervisors; working toward a system where one workers stays on case through adoption
  Revised licensing standards so there is one process for foster/adoptive families
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  Holding more meetings with regional directors, supervisors and staff for addressing problems and discussing policy.
  Publish a newsletter regarding training areas that need attention
  Working to develop a training institute with the University to serve staff and foster parents.
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  They have been changed but not because of ASFA; they just needed changing.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  Job descriptions were changed only for licensing staff because of new licensing procedures; new positions were added for licensing supervisors.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

There was training on topics related to ASFA, especially regarding permanency planning.

b. Who does the training?

There is a training unit that handling training, both on ASFA and on other topics; agency also contracted for training with the Resource Center for Permanency Planning and the Resource Center for Organizational Improvement.

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

For regular staff ASFA training was done separately; for new hires it will be incorporated into regular training sessions.

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

Have done some training with the court. Also, have published a newsletter for the courts regarding changes in practice.

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 agency is using an old system in which forms are keyed in to meet AFCARS requirement; state has been able to meet AFCARS requirements even though system is old.

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

The state is in the process of developing its SACWIS system now; it is scheduled to be operational by June of '01.

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

Training sessions
Increased communication regarding changes, especially using meetings and newsletters.

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

• Staff turnover
• Lack of adequate number of staff
• Problems with computer system; SACWIS system not operational yet
• Computer system that interfaces with courts not on-line yet
  
  

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

State supervised, state administrated.

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?

On going training
Decrease caseloads
Focus on good communication

Back to Top