ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Pennsylvania

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'.

NOTE: PA is a state supervised, county administered state so the answers pertain to county staff.

a. Managers:

b. Supervisors:

c. Workers:

Comments: Due to the organizational structure, it is impossible to accurately answer this question.

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?

Concurrent planning. Specifically, how to address the confusing, often conflicting messages that workers must discuss with parents. Parents often 'shut down' and communication becomes difficult.

b. Supervisors?

• Same as managers
  

c. Workers?

• Same as managers
  

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.
  We added field reps to the staffing pattern of the regions.
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  We are currently posting a position for a person to work in Central Office to coordinate the CFSR.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  But…counties have asked for additional staff.
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

We incorporated all of the ASFA training into our standing competency based training curriculum.

b. Who does the training?

The staff from the competency based training group.

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

Incorporated

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

See answer to question 6.

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 PACWIS system is up in 61 counties but not all the pieces are there yet. The Court module, which is a critical module, is coming soon. Permanency and safety plans are there and that is helpful.

PACWIS is forcing a standardization of practice.

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

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

Our training. We introduced ASFA with a 3 part training approach. The first part was pre-the law and focussed on what was coming and what the law might look like. (In hindsight, this training was done too early and could have been skipped.)

The second part was a 1 day session for county, provider and child advocacy groups on what is ASFA and what it means for you.

The third part was entitled The PA Implementation of ASFA: Sharing the Responsibility. The DPW, in conjunction with the PA Bar and ABA, convened 4 one day sessions in different parts of the state for various groups that share in the implementation of ASFA such as Judges, Child Welfare Directors, agency attorneys, Mental Health reps, CASAs, parent and child attorneys etc. The day started off with an overview of ASFA from the national perspective. Then it moved into panel discussions from each group represented covering the strategy they were using to implement ASFA, what they found to be the most difficult challenges and what was the most positive aspect for them. Over lunch, each group discussed the 3 most important issues for them relating to ASFA and what resources/support they needed. The remainder of the day was spent on joint implementation planning. These sessions were taken seriously by participants, very well received and extremely effective. Folks stayed the whole day and were actively engaged in the problem solving process.

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

Counties are struggling with finding grounds for termination. They are missing hard data on aggravated circumstances and the PA Adoptions Act needs some clean-up to clarify and add grounds. A committee is reviewing the PA Adoptions Act currently and will be making some recommendations for additional grounds.

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

The limited number of staff in the small counties means that sometimes they can't devote enough attention to ASFA and other priorities. The staff is stretched thin.

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?

It is important to have ongoing communications around policy clarification.

Comments:
PA is the only region with no federally recognized tribes.

Back to Top