ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Arizona

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 done a lot of training all over the state about ASFA. Managers know the terms and concepts.

b. Supervisors:

Comments: The Supervisors have a better understanding of ASFA; they know the concepts and their application.

c. 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?

• Application of ICWA in the context of ASFA
• Use of concurrent planning
  
  

b. Supervisors?

• Application of ICWA in the context of ASFA
• Use of concurrent planning
• Up front assessments, including determining reasonable efforts, developing an appropriate case plan and identifying and assuring services are specific to the needs (not boilerplate)
• How you engage clients in services and maintain their participation
• Understanding when a compelling reason is in the best interest of the child---what factors to consider when making those decisions.
  
  

c. Workers?

• Use of concurrent case planning
• Application of ICWA in the context of ASFA
• Up front assessments
• How you engage clients in services and maintain their participation
• Understanding when a compelling reason is in the best interest of the child---what factors to consider when making those decisions.
  
  

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 hired a Statewide Permanency Coordinator who reviews the cases of children in care 15 of the last 22 months and works with the Districts to support the development of case specific plans and services.
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  We developed a series of management information reports that identify children in out of home care 15 of 22 months. These reports are distributed within Central Office and the Regions for follow-up action
• 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.

In 1998 and 1999, we completed state -wide mandatory training in the Districts on the requirements and philosophy of ASFA. Since then, we have incorporated ASFA training into our core staff training.

The Policy Unit has also done ASFA related training for the Foster Care Review Board and CASA's.

b. Who does the training?

The Central Office Policy and Program Development staff; these are the people who wrote the policy.

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

Initially it was just on ASFA, now the ASFA concepts around requirements such as TRP and permanency are incorporated into the core training.

d. Have you done any training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Court personnel participated in department sponsored initial training sessions on ASFA. The courts have delivered their own 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?

We enhanced our SACWIS so that it has windows to enter and review ASFA information such as are the kids living with relatives? have the parents been convicted of certain crimes? and how long has the child been in care?. It produces the needed management reports.

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

NA

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

Solid training to help them understand the 'why' of ASFA, not just the 'what'. Since we view ASFA as good casework practice, we stress that ASFA is about what we all want, which is the best for all of the children of Arkansas.

Showing appreciation for a job well done.

Trying for more manageable caseloads.

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

Limited availability of services and the funding to contract for services.

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

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?

Between 1997 and 1999, we made massive legislative changes to revamp AZ law to support the provisions of ASFA into.

We recently implemented performance based contracting for home studies and placements. We now pay providers 30% at placement, 40% when the petition for adoption is completed and 30% when the adoption is finalized. We also have built in incentives to support work with older children, ethnic and minority children and sibling groups.

The training you develop should include the TPR requirements as they relate to ICWA, specifically give a clear understanding of the ASFA and ICWA relationship. For example, ICWA requires rehabilitative services to prevent break-up of the family with no exclusions for case specific circumstances. Also, when is enough enough for burden of proof? There is no TPR timeline in ICWA. Another question that needs some clarifying is 'what are compelling reasons' for an Indian child in his/her cultural environment?.

It would be helpful if someone developed a needs assessment document for minority and ethnic children

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