ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL 2002

New Mexico

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: We have had training in the past year specific to ASFA and are in the process now of training supervisors on how to supervise staff on ASFA issues. We have had the CFS review and have developed more specific data information about outcomes.

b. Supervisors:

Comments:

c. Workers:

Comments: Experienced workers obviously have a better understanding of ASFA because of the training and the review held in the last year, but new workers are included in this information as they enter an office. There is a range of understanding but overall good.

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.

Internal communication? No Yes
If yes, please describe
The dept. has implemented an intranet to share information with all CYFD staff. It is available to everyone on their computers. The dept. has some policies on it and will use this to update policies and procedures. County specific data will also be available on the intranet restricted for use by the county, data tied to ASFA outcomes. The division has implemented a quality review system that mirrors the federal child and family service reviews and as each county has a review completed, a report will be generated which gives the county feedback on meeting the federal outcome measures and identifying areas for improvement.

Performance appraisals? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The state has moved to a new performance appraisal instrument which standardized the number of job assignments (4 for this dept) and competencies (up to 9) and moved to a focal point evaluation process. Everyone is now being opened on a new Performance Appraisal and Development (PAD) form and will be evaluated in October, 2002. The job assignments have tasks and standards, and the division is requiring that everyone’s jobs are connected to the appropriate outcome measures.

Job descriptions? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The state collapsed job titles and classifications into roughly 200 from several hundred, and there are fewer classifications. The jobs have been renamed, and social worker is no longer a classification although that is the work that is done and the requirements remain the same except for one class of workers which have been changed to caseworker. This classification will be assigned to intake or investigations and will not be required to be a licensed social worker.

Staff recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The dept. received approval from the state personnel department to hire people into positions that previously required only a social work degree and licensure. The new requirements are for people with degrees in related degrees and they are able to be hired into a limited number and type of positions, those doing only intake and investigations. This is to address the continuing vacancy and turnover rate and an inadequate number of licensed social workers to fill the positions.

Case Review? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The division has implemented a quality review system that mirrors the child and family services review. NM is using a modification of the federal instrument and conducting a review by field office that includes a random sample of home based services cases and out of home service cases. The local staff are involved with the reviews as are people from other parts of the division. Also included in the job assignments of the PADs for supervisors and managers is a requirement to complete regular case reviews and to go over the status of cases with workers on an established schedule.

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? If yes, go to question 4a. If no, go to question 4e.

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

Concurrent Planning
Supervising ASFA outcomes and measures
Preparation for the child and family services review

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
Other, part of new worker training

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?

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?

The system is evolving and changes are being made to collect and report data in a manner that is usable by field managers and supervisors to direct work and improve services.

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

We are waiting to receive the final report, so we are in the preparing to develop a PIP and carry out the activities we will negotiate with the federal regional reps.

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?

With ASFA in particular, the court system is crucial in assuring that children obtain permanency. We have experienced some difficulty with courts not granting a TPR due to “best interest” determinations. Training for judges on “best interest” and permanency would be helpful

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

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