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ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
2003

Hawaii

Agency: State of Hawaii, Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Services
Person interviewed: John Walters
Title: Assistant Program Administrator
Mailing address: 810 Richards Street, Suite 400
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone #: (808) 586-5697
Fax #: (808) 586-4806
E-mail: jwalters@dhs.state.hi.us

 

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:

POOR 1 2 3 4 5 COMPREHENSIVE

Comments:

b. Supervisors:

POOR 1 2 3 4 5 COMPREHENSIVE


Comments:

c. Workers:

POOR 1 2 3 4 5 COMPREHENSIVE

Comments:

 

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:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Collaborative skills

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Understanding requirements of ASFA

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Using data effectively

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Other, please specify and rate:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT


b. Supervisors:

Case work skills:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Communication skills:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Collaborative skills:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Using data effectively

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Other, please specify and rate:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT


c. Workers:

Case work skills:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Collaborative skills

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Communication skills:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Using data effectively

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Other, please specify and rate:

DO NOT NEED IT 1 2 3 4 5 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

 

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? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

Internal communication? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

Performance appraisals? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

Job descriptions? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

Staff recruitment? unchecked box No checked box Yes
If yes, please describe.
We were provided funds by our legislature to staff and implement statewide centralized intake and statewide Title IV-E eligibility determination.

Case Review? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

Comment: Our case review process is ongoing

Foster/Adoptive parent recruitment? checked box No unchecked box Yes
If yes, please describe.

 

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

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

ASFA and the Child and Family Service Review. (At our kick off conference in August) Stakeholder orientation for the review instruments

b. Which of the following did you use for the ASFA training?

checked box Statewide training
checked box In service training
unchecked box Pre-service training
checked box Forums on ASFA topics
checked box Conferences on ASFA topics
checked box Regularly scheduled meetings
unchecked box Managers train people
unchecked box Interactive video on ASFA topics
checked box Teleconferences on ASFA topics
unchecked box Training by federal agencies
checked box Information is circulated about ASFA

c. Who did the training?

checked box Agency/training unit staff
checked box Outside consultants
unchecked box State university
unchecked box Court staff
unchecked box Central office staff
checked box Regional staff

d. Was the training just on ASFA or was it incorporated into other training that you provide?

unchecked box Incorporated
unchecked box Incorporated into new worker training
checked box 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? unchecked box No checked box Yes
If yes, continue with this question; if no go to question 4g.

unchecked box Joint training sessions
checked box Agency and court staff have worked together on local level
unchecked box Court Improvement Project events attended by agency people
unchecked box ASFA workgroups of agency and court staff
unchecked box Agency staff have trained court people
unchecked box Agency published a newsletter for court staff
unchecked box Other

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

ASFA basics and the CFSR

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

unchecked box Schools
unchecked box Health care providers
unchecked box Mental health providers
unchecked box Tribes
checked box Other, please specify
     Stakeholders who may be case reviewers.

h. What topics were covered in the ASFA training?

CFSR and the review instrument

 

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:

b. Agency supervisors:

c. Agency workers:

d. Foster parents:

e. Schools:

f. Health care providers:

g. Mental health providers:

h. Tribes:

i. Courts:

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'.

POOR 1 2 3 4 5 OUTSTANDING

a. Why did you give your system that rating?

Because we have a system that supports the work of our staff, but it needs improvement.

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

We don't have one.

 

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

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Increased communication

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Resources to support staff

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Collaborative efforts with stakeholders

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Seeing ASFA as good casework practice

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Management support

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Revising policy to support ASFA

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Monitoring implementation

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

Other, please specify and rate:

NOT IMPORTANT 1 2 3 4 5 CRUCIAL

 

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')?

checked box Lack of resources
unchecked box Difficult relationship with courts
checked box Staff turnover
unchecked box Limitations or lack of computer system
checked box Lack of understanding/knowledge about ASFA
checked box Heavy workload
unchecked box Lack of support
checked box Difficulty meeting ASFA requirements
checked box Large number of cases
checked box Differences in interpretation
checked box Lack of services
checked box Lack of time
unchecked box Lack of training
unchecked box Problems caused by a county-based system
unchecked box Other, please specify:

 

9. (For County based systems only.) Do any of the following impact your ASFA implementation (check if 'yes')?

unchecked box Must be responsive to local needs
unchecked box Lack of uniform practice standards
unchecked box Communication can be difficult
unchecked box Approach is fragmented
unchecked box Limited state control
unchecked box Limited resources
unchecked box Other

 

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

a.

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

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

 

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?

checked box No
unchecked box Yes

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