ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
2003

Washington

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:

b. Supervisors:

Comments: Supervisors and managers set up the structure for implementation of ASFA.

c. Workers:

Comments: Workers are involved only in practice and just follow ASFA structure. Experienced workers understand requirements of ASFA well; new workers don't - overall a rating of 3 seems about right.

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

Understanding requirements of ASFA

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

b. Supervisors:

Case work skills:

Communication skills:

Collaborative skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

c. Workers:

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Communication skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

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.
There have been changes in the administration and structure of the training system resulting in changes in the way training is done.

Internal communication? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Performance appraisals? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Job descriptions? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Have revamped and brought job descriptions up to date. They have been expanded and broadened to include ASFA requirements and other things.

Staff recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Case Review? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

Foster/Adoptive parent recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The focus has been on recruiting minority foster homes. Have put ads in Spanish on Spanish radio. Have worked in urban centers with black churches and partnered with Indian tribes to reach those populations.

4. In the past year, since our earlier survey, has there been any ASFA training for child welfare agency personnel? No Yes
If yes, go to question 4a. If no, go to question 4e.

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

Training was comprehensive covering all elements of ASFA, especially concurrent planning, timelines, reasonable efforts, compelling reasons and health and safety.

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

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? No Yes
If yes, continue with this question; if no go to question 4g.

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
Other

f. What topics were covered in that ASFA training for the courts?

Health symposia that focused on reasonable efforts held in all 6 regions. Then, the regions do their own training.

g. Have you done ASFA training with or for any of the following:

Schools
Health care providers
Mental health providers
Tribes
     Comment: Tribal representatives and other stakeholders have
     been invited to agency trainings and conferences
Other, please specify

h. What topics were covered in the ASFA training?

All elements of ASFA, especially concurrent planning, timelines, reasonable efforts, compelling reasons, and health and safety.

5. Thinking about future training for your agency and community partners (not just on ASFA), what do you think is the number one training need of:

a. Agency managers:

How to deal with fewer resources; dealing with budget cuts. Following through with good practice.

b. Agency supervisors:

How ASFA and the CFSR fit together with state policy and practice.

c. Agency workers:

Importance of following through, collaboration, how to increase engagement with people they have to deal with.

d. Foster parents:

Dealing with the behavior issues of children in care and confidentiality issues.

e. Schools:

Behavioral issues, confidentiality

f. Health care providers:

Increase awareness of the needs of kids in care. How to address gaps in dental care.

g. Mental health providers:

Understanding needs of kids in care. Assuring quality of care is uniform throughout the state.

h. Tribes:

Dealing with alcohol abuse.

i. Courts:

General understanding of the complications of the child care system.

j. Is there any other group you think has a training need? Please specify.

6. 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 good, but there are still some issues.

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

7. 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:

8. 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
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:
     The disproportional representation of African American kids in care.

9. (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
Limited state control
Limited resources
Other

10. At which point in the Child and Family Service Review process is your agency?

a.

Planning
Statewide assessment underway
Review complete
Working to complete the activities described in the PIP

b. Are there any significant lessons you learned from the CFSR? If so, please describe.

Can't prepare too early.

11. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA and the CFSR?

Do you mind if we call you again if we need additional information?

No
Yes

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