Child welfare accountability: evaluating quality assurance processes in Maryland.
Other Titles
Quality Assurance Processes in Maryland Child Welfare. 1st Annual Child Welfare Accountability ReportResearch in Support of Child Welfare Policy & Programs
Abstract
Executive Summary: The Child Welfare Accountability Act of 2006 increased legislative oversight of the Maryland Quality Assurance processes in child welfare. The Act also provides a framework for the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to partner with the University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMB/SSW) to develop the Maryland Quality Assurance (QA) Collaborative. The purpose of the Collaborative is to evaluate quality assurance processes and make recommendations for improvement. As required by 5-1309(B), this annual report presents 1) an evaluation of existing quality assurance policies and practices and 2) recommendations on how to improve quality assurance processes in child welfare. A separate companion report, "Child Welfare Accountability: Annual Report on Maryland Performance Indicators," describes Maryland's performance on performance indicators outlined by the Child Welfare Accountability Act. This report was compiled by faculty and staff at the University of Maryland School of Social Work's Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children in partnership with staff at the Department of Human Resources, Social Service Administration. Drs. Diane DePanfilis and Sarah Kaye Faraldi managed the Child Welfare Accountability project and writing of this report. Anna Hayward and Gillian Gregory participated in the design and implementation of the Quality Assurance process evaluation and led the redesign of the supervisory review instrument. Cathy Mol, Carnitra White, and David Ayer guided the activities of the Quality Assurance Collaborative. The Quality Assurance team of the Social Services Administration includes Gloria Valentine, Shirley Brown, Jospehine Lambert, Dee Ritterpusch, Elizabeth Mitchell Stemley, and Jewel Wilson.Table of Contents
Executive Summary; Evaluation of Maryland's Quality Assurance System; Summary of Recommendations; Introduction; Evaluation of Maryland's Quality Assurance System; Local Self-Assessment; Onsite Review; Program Improvement Plan (PIP); Local Supervisory Review; Recommendations for Improvement; Improve Sampling Strategies; Increase Technical Assistance for Local Departments; Automate Data Collection; Consider Redesigning the Onsite Review ProcessDescription
PROJECT NAME: Child Welfare Accountability: Efficiency and Effectiveness of Child Welfare Services. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Diane DePanfilis, PhD. PROJECT DATES: 1/1/2007-06/15/2008; 6/16/2008-6/15-2009. COLLABORATORS: University of Maryland School of Social Work's Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children. Department of Human Resources, Social Service Administration.Series/Report No.
Child Welfare Research;Sponsors
Maryland Higher Education Commission(MHEC)- yr 1; Maryland Department of Human Resources - yr 2.Keyword
Maryland Child Welfare Accountability Act (2006)University of Maryland, Baltimore. School of Social Work--Projects and Reports
Child welfare--Maryland--Evaluation
Family social work
Foster parents--Maryland
Identifier to cite or link to this item
http://hdl.handle.net/10713/86Collections
The following license files are associated with this item:
- Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Quality Assurance Processes in Maryland Child Welfare. 4th Annual Child Welfare Accountability ReportExecutive Summary: The Child Welfare Accountability Act of 2006 (Maryland Family Law, Section 1301-1311 inclusive) specified the development and implemntation of a proces to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare services in Maryland that addresses the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the care and custody [of] the Maryland Department of Human Resources/the Local Departments of Social Services. The Quality Assurance Process in Maryland Child Welfare does this through the evaluation of quality assurance and system implementation processes in Maryland's child welfare system. The state of Maryland made great strides in 2010 towards achieving the development of an integrated, comprehensive Quality Assurance system. Acknowledgements: This report was compiled by faculty and staff at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work's Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children (RYC) in partnership with staff at the Department of Human Resources, Social Service Administration (DHR/SSA). Terry V. Shaw, Nina Esaki, Haksoon Ahn, and Diane DePanfilis co-managed the interagency agreement for the Quality Assurance process. Gillian Gregory and Julia O'Connor led the Local Supervisory Review process and Foster Parent Survey. Heidi Melz oversaw the Family Centered Practice evaluation component. Carnitra White, Richard Larson, David Ayer and Linda Carter at DHR/SSA guided the activities related to the Quality Assurance process. The Quality Assurance unit at DHR/SSA includes Linda Carter, Josephine Lambert, and Jewel Wilson-Crawford. A separate companion report, "Maryland Child Welfare performance Indicators: 4th Annual Child Welfare Accountability Report," describes Maryland's performance on the outcome and performance measures outlined by the Child Welfare Accountability Act.
-
Maryland Child Welfare Performance Indicators. 4th Annual Child Welfare Accountability ReportExecutive Summary: The Child Welfare Accountability Act of 2006 (Maryland Family Law, Section 1301-1311 inclusive) specified the development and implementation of a process to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare services in Maryland that addresses the safety, permanency and well-being of children in the care and custody of the state. A set of performance indicators were established that encompassed and expanded upon extant federal measures in four areas of child welfare practice: 1. Child abuse and neglect, 2. Protecting children in out-of-home care from abuse and neglect, 3. Permanency and stability of children in out-of-home care, and 4. Effectiveness of efforts to address the health, mental health, education, and well-being of children in out-of-home care. This report, the fourth report completed, describes and documents the performance indicators mandated in the Act for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 and compares the states progress in relation to outcomes from prior years. A separate companion report entitled "Quality Assurance Processes in Maryland Child Welfare" describes and evaluates Quality Assurance processes in calendar year 2010. Acknowledgements: This rport was prepared by faculty and staff at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work's Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children (RYC) in partnership with staff at the Department of Human Resources, Social Services Administration (DHR/SSA). Diane DePanfilis, Terry V. Shaw and Haksoon Ahn co-manage the interagency agreement that supports the development of this report. Terry V. Shaw developed the performance indicators found in this report with the assistance of David Ayer from DHR/SSA. Carnitra White, Richard Larson, David Ayer and Linda Carter at DHR/SSA guided the activities of the outcomes measurment and performance indicators process.
-
Quality Assurance Processes in Maryland Child Welfare. 3rd Annual Child Welfare Accountability ReportExecutive Summary: The goal of the projects encompassed in the Child Welfare Accountability Act is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare services in Maryland. The Maryland Quality Assurance (QA) unit does this through the evaluation of quality assurance processes and system implementation processes in Maryland child welfare. Although Maryland has mechanisms in place to successfully achieve objectives of a comprehensive Quality Assurance system, it has yet to realize its full potential for identifying strengths and needs and providing a framework for meaningful program and systems improvement. Acknowledgements: This report was compiled by faculty and staff at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work's Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children (RYC) in partnership with staff at the Department of Human Resources, Social Service Administration (DHR/SSA). Diane DePanfilis, Sarah Kaye, and Terry V. Shaw managed the interagency agreement for the Quality Assurance process. Gillian Gregory led the Local Supervisory Review process and Foster Parent Survey. Anna Hayward oversaw the Family Centered Practice evaluation component. Nina Esaki assisted with the preparation of this report. Carnitra White, Richard Larson, David Ayer and Linda Carter at DHR/SSA guided the activities related to the Quality Assurance process. The Quality Assurance unit at DHR/SSA includes Linda Carter, Shirley Brown, Josephine Lambert, Dee Ritterpusch, and Jewel Wilson. A separate companion report, "Maryland Child Welfare Performance Indicators: 3rd Annual Child Welfare Accountability Report," describes Maryland's performance on the outcome and performance measures outlined by the Child Welfare Accountability Act.
