ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Texas

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:

Comments: Supervisors are still being trained.

c. Workers:

Comments: In the process of doing training. Have trained trainers and they will be doing training supervisors who in turn will train their 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?

• Management skills
• Know how to track reports
  

b. Supervisors?

• Same as managers
• Familiar with automation system
• Know documentation that is needed
• Need good assessment skills
  

c. Workers?

• Case work skills
• Know how to document their work
• Need knowledge of best practice skills
  
  

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.
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  A work group has been formed consisting of primary internal stakeholders composed of managers who are responsible for systemic factors. They determine what changes need to be made. A workplan has been developed

  There is also a larger workgroup that represents staff from different areas (i.e. legal, licensing,). We keep them informed on what the work plan is and status.)
  

• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

There was statewide training for trainers - The trainers were delegated by their regions. The trainers will then return to their regions, and train managers and supervisors. Supervisors are responsible for training their workers..

b. Who does the training?

Professional development trained the regional trainers. The regional trainers consisted of management level staff.

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

The training was just on ASFA. Have talked about making it part of regular training, (Basic Skills Development for new workers) but haven't done that yet.

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

Haven't done anything, but have talked about it. Agency staff have talked with the regional attorney to see if court orders are in place. Texas had already passed state legislation before ASFA was passed. The state legislation had time frames that are more stringent than ASFA's so courts have worked with these for awhile. There was also a permanency initiative in 1997 before ASFA. Court personnel and judges were trained then, so after passage of ASFA didn't do additional training , but the request has been referred to legal

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?

Mangers and supervisors are still somewhat unfamiliar with how to access the data and reports they need to do their job.

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?

• Have a work group made up of internal stakeholders who meet once a month to discuss barriers and issues brought up by staff and administration. The stakeholders have a work plan that they follow.
• Coordination and commitment at management level.
• Training has worked well so far.
  

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

• Lack of resources - funding and staff
• A computer system that is difficult and slow
  

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 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?

Need to have adequate resources to implement.
Good casework is still the same; just have to document it the right way.

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