Implementation Challenge – Vermont Department for Children and Families
How do we ensure that our practice is consistent and outcomes for children and families are improved across the state?
Since 2007, the Vermont Department for Children and Families has been engaged in a set of interwoven initiatives to support excellence in practice, with a strong focus on family engagement. The Department designed a practice model, built upon their 2008 Transformation Plan and integrating a number of key initiatives (e.g., centralized intake, teaming). Vermont DCF wanted a comprehensive approach to practice model implementation, ensuring consistent practice statewide, expanding beyond the current pockets of best practice upon which the practice model was built.
The Approach
NCIC worked with VT DCF on the development of policies and practice guidance, alignment of their hiring protocol and employee performance evaluation tools, enhanced their capacity for data collection and Continuous Quality Improvement, and increased engagement of internal and external stakeholders. Through the implementation work, it became clear that the identification and communication statewide of six key practice indicators was to be an important step toward improving the consistency of practice across districts.
NCIC’s Role
Built capacity within the agency around the need for identifying priority indicators, communicating those measures statewide, and sharing practice across districts to improve practice.
Broadened agency perspective by arranging a site visit to another state focused on managing with data, as well as through meetings with peer states and tribes at key points throughout the work.
Brought coaching to district directors and central office staff on setting targets for outcomes and refining their definition for consistent measurement statewide.
Provided a policy specialist to give the state capacity to develop policies and practice guidance, consistent with their new practice model, to focus on continuous quality improvement, and to enhance their existing data warehouse.
Provided a data specialist to improve agency access to data and to support development of a case review instrument for Continuous Quality Improvement.
Results
District Implementation Plans. Initiated as part of the state’s ongoing effort to support Continuous Quality Improvement efforts, the DIPs are intended to build engagement and ownership as a parallel process to the practice model at the local level, thus obtaining the best fit between local capacity and the overall mission and goals of the state.
Statewide GoTo Data Meetings. These web-based meetings allow all staff in the state to attend, focusing on one previously identified key practice indicator. Central Office presents relevant statewide data the first month. The following month, district offices share their data, best practices, and challenges with respect to this indicator.
Statewide “Roadshow”. Central Office staff, including the Director, traveled annually to each district to discuss the practice model and its implementation with all staff statewide.
Increased engagement and teaming with families. In 2011, the beginning of this project, 135 Family Safety Planning Meetings and Family Group Conferences occurred. In 2013, this number had risen to 603.
Increased rate of kinship placement. One of the six indicators of practice model implementation, the rate of kinship placement rose from 25% in 2011 to 36% in 2013.