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Home My WebLink About990885.tiff RESOLUTION RE: APPROVE EXPEDITED PERMANENCY PLANNING PHASE-IN PLAN AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute arid the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with an Expedited Permanency Planning Phase-In Plan from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Social Services, to the Colorado Department of Human Services, commencing June 1, 1999, and ending May 31, 2000, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said plan, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, ex-officio Board of Social Services, that the Expedited Permanency Planning Phase-In Plan from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Social Services, to the Colorado Department of Human Services be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said plan. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 21st day of April, A.D., 1999. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ' OUNTY, •L0RADO / /A� • ATTEST: er ,. ' a ik „snit,_ ._. _ ► i , , • ' '� viz le K. Hall, Chair iciAfrWeld County Clerk to the B. :§� a � +. e "aQ)1..� '- 3 USED DATE OF SIGNING (AYE) — (�9 ----I bar J. Kirkmeyer , ro-Tem BY: <o, i t g fi Deputy Clerk to the Boar. /cm.1>' z eorge E. xter 7PROVED ,A5 TO FORM: /'/ j . . J eil CourS Attorney ,xf!uCc( '0 �C/s" ') 6' Glenn Vaad=— 990885 (7 iS S50026 ,,,, . A A,,cia-;, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PO BOX A IDGREELEY,CO 80632 Administration and Public Assistance(970)352-1551 C Child S rvpos(970)352-1923 Protective and Youth Services(970)352-1923 COLORADO MEMORANDUM TO: Dale K. Hall, Chair Date: April 19, 1999 Board of County Commissioners FR: Judy A. Griego, Director, Social Services a ,l.V tiftlo RE: Weld County Expedited Permanency Planning Phase-in Plan Enclosed for Board approval is the Weld County Expedited Permanency Planning Phase-in Plan to be submitted to the Colorado Department of Human Services for approval and funding from the Family Issues Case Fund (100% Federal and State funding). The major provisions of the plan are as follows: 1. The term of the plan is June 1, 1999, through May 31, 2000. 2. The total budget request is for $182,021.90, and incorporates specific budget requests as follows: A. Half-time Case Aide IV $14,541.24 B. Half-time Child Protection Caseworker III $20,940.66 C. Family Group Decision Making Services $79,400.00 D. Private Contracts for Home Studies/Evaluations $14,400.00 E. Private Contracts for Adoptive Studies $22,500.00 F. Mediation Services $ 6,240.00 G. Special Economic Assistance $24,000.00 3. Major revisions of the original plan and budget from the previous year are as follows: A. Decreased costs for mediation due to a combination of relative placements and family group conferences. B. Increased need for Special Economic Assistance for families to aid in reuniting children with their parents or relatives. We provide this assistance through vendors in the community. 1 of 990885 MEMORANDUM Dale K. Hall April 19, 1999 At the conclusion of the phase-in period, the Weld County Department of Social Services will assume full financial responsibility for its staff and program activities outlined and designated by the Department. The Nineteenth Judicial District assumes full financial responsibility for its budget under a separate plan. If you have any questions, please telephone me at extension 6510. 2 of 2 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PO BOX A IGREELEY, CO 80632 Administration and Public Assistance(970)352-1551Chil l Support(970) 352-6933 (970)Protective and Youth Services352-1923 COLORADO WELD COUNTY EXPEDITED PERMANENCY PLANNING PHASE-IN PLAN The Board of Weld County Commissioners has been presented with the Weld County Expedited Permanency Planning Phase-in Plan, or behalf of the Weld County Department of Social Services, and has approved such plan for the period of June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2000. O9 Dale K. Hall, Chair Date Board of Weld County Commissioners '.L.,. LjThigq Jud . Grie o, Direc!.r j Date We County Department of Social Services (/)O s(5 411(M: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PO BOX A GREELEY,CO 80632 C Administration and Public Assistance(970)352-1551 O Child Support(970)352-6933 Protective and Youth Services(970)352-1923 COLORADO April 15, 1999 Carol Wahlgren Child Welfare Division Colorado Department of Human Services 1575 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203-1714 Dear Ms. Wahlgren: Please find attached Weld County Department of Social Service's request for renewed funding of our Expedited Permanency Planning Program for fiscal year 1999 - 2000. Our request is actually $447.54 less than last year's request. Please notice that the Department has requested less for mediation services and private home studies due to less usage of these services than anticipated. Also, the Department has deleted the request for training monies due to availability of funds from other sources. The Department has added monies for special economic assistance due to high demand for this resource and the direct impact this resource has on securing permanent placements for children or reunifying children with their parents. Please remember that the upcoming year will only be the Department's second full year of the Expedited Permanency Planning Program. It is critical that the funding continue so the Department can ensure the progress that has been made. Please note that of the 77 children already in the Expedited Permanency Planning Program at the end of March 1999, 83 percent or 64 children are already in permanent placements. The majority of these permanently placed children are in relative placements. The remainder are in foster\adoptive placements. In these cases, the instability and expense of long-term foster care has been avoided. The Weld County Department of Social Services plans to expend its block grant as budgeted and as planned. If the budget for next year's Expedited Permanency Planning Program is cut, the Department will have to use monies allocated for other purposes in order to continue the services of the Expedited Permanency Planning Program. April 15, 1999 Carol Wahlgren Page Two The Department has anticipated a 25 percent reduction in funding for the Expedited Permanency Planning Program for fiscal year 2000 - 2001. In order to meet this anticipated reduction, the Department has begun to make available similar services in C.O.R.E. Service Programs as are available in the Expedited Permanency Planning Program. Specifically, these services are mediation and family group conferences. Also, we have established a contract with a private vendor for private home and adoptive studies. Additional monies, though, are not available at this time to absorb additional needs for these services. Expedited Permanency Plan Program funding is needed in order to assure that the Department can continue to provide these services. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, 1 Frank Aaron, MSW Social Services Manager II pv WELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Expedited Permanency Planning Renewal Proposal Weld County Department of Social Services and the Nineteenth Judicial District continue to be interested in an Expedited Permanency Planning program. This program would serve 40 families in one year. OVERSIGHT: The Weld County Families, Youth and Children Commission will monitor the project goals, budget, and outcomes and will recommend refinements to the Expedited Permanency Planning (E.P.P.) system. The Families, Youth and Children Commission is an advisory committee to the Board of Weld County Commissioners and the Weld County Department of Social Services. IL PHILOSOPHY: In promoting self sufficiency and keeping with the belief that government welfare should be used to temporarily help families, the greatest burden of the Expedited Permanency Planning (E.P.P.)program must be placed on parents not on the system or taxpayers. This accelerated program is designed to better include families, in the decision making process, as well as better meet the children's need for permanency. III. ELIGIBLE POPULATION: The goal is to serve 40 families per year. These children will range in ages from zero through five years of age. Criteria for acceptance into the Expedited Permanency Plan (E.P.P.) program is as follows: A. The child must have been placed outside of their home due to risk of abuse or neglect in their own home. B. The child must be in out-of-home placement at the time of the initial temporary custody hearing or placed outside of their home as a result of the initial temporary custody hearing. IV. FLOW OF EXPEDITED PERMANENCY PLAN (E.P.P.) CASES AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: The flow of E.P.P. cases remains basically the same as described in the January 1998 proposal. The only slight difference is that the staffing at the beginning of a case that takes place between the intake caseworker, ongoing or E.P.P. caseworker, E.P.P. program Page 1 of 8 Pages supervisor, intake supervisor, and sometimes the dependency and neglect case coordinator is for purposes of sharing information. The staffing does not place children into the E.P.P. program. Placement into the E.P.P. program and court track is automatic if their situation meets the eligibility criteria previously described. V. RESOURCES: In order to expedite these cases the Department continues to recommend the funding and use of the following resources: 1. Half-time Case Aide IV: This half-time position was combined with an existing half-time case aide position. This position was used extensively for visitations between young children in out-of-home placement and their parents or guardians. Additionally, this was a bilingual/bicultural position and therefore helped our caseworkers better communicate and understand monolingual clients and Hispanic families. 2. Half-time Child Protection Caseworker III: Our goal was to serve 40 families in a 12-month or one-year period of time. This program began on February 1, 1998. As of the end of February 1999,there were 39 families in the Expedited Permanency Planning Program. As of the end of March 1999, there were 46 families in the E.P.P. program. We also continue to receive substantial non-E.P.P. child protection cases that have resulted in the caseloads of the Ongoing Child Protection Unit remaining manageable, but full. The E.P.P. cases continue to take more concentrated efforts and staff time due to shortened time lines. In order to provide the best services possible to these cases, and because we are integrating these cases into our regular staffs caseloads, we are requesting continuation of this half-time Caseworker III position. This half-time position will continue to be coupled with a regular half-time Caseworker III position that already exists in the Ongoing Child Protection Unit to create one full-time position. 3. Family Group Decision Making Services: The Department continues to recommend allocating monies in order to contract with a private provider to do Family Group Conferences for E.P.P. cases. From February 1, 1998, through February 1999, we have had or scheduled 18 Family Group Conferences for E.P.P. cases. This single service has contributed substantially to our remarkable success in finding and placing children in permanent placements (see outcomes and goals section.) Although the E.P.P. program started out slow, it has continued to build momentum. There have been an additional seven new E.P.P. cases in the month of March 1999 alone. Also, cases that have not yet used Family Group conferences may do so at any point in time. Page 2 of 8 Pages Therefore, it is prudent to continue to allocate enough money for 40 cases to utilize this service. During the last year, it became necessary to simplify the billing process for this service. The cost for provision of this service was agreed upon at $1,875.00 per completed Family Group Conference. The cost of the next year will remain the same. The requested allocation for 40 cases is therefore $75,000.00. In addition, we wish to continue to have money for refreshments at these conferences at a rate of$30.00 for each conference or $1,200.00 annually. Some extended family members will need assistance in traveling to and from the meeting. We have used these monies for such purposes last year, as well as for international or other long-distance telephone calls. We anticipate needing expenses for two families per case traveling 200 miles for a total of 400 miles per case at .20 cents per mile, or$3,200 for all 40 cases. 4. Private Contracts for Home Studies Psychological Evaluations, and Interactional Evaluations: Last year we utilized these monies for only one home study. This was largely due to early placement of children with close relatives in the family giving us the advantage of accessing the placement over a period of time using caseworker staff. Also, some studies were done by staff of other states free of charge. Therefore, we are recommending that only half of the money from last year's proposal for this service be allocated. In addition, we propose expanding the use of these monies for private psychological evaluations on parents, relatives, or prospective caretakers. We also propose the use of these monies for private interactional evaluations between children and prospective caretakers. These changes are seen as necessary in the often complex decision-making process required of professionals making permanency planning decisions and for quality recommendations to the court. The recommended allocation is therefore for one such study or evaluation for 20 cases, at $90.00 per hour and eight hours per study or evaluation for a total of$14,400.00. 5. Private Contracts for Adoptive Studies: The Department continues to need the flexibility of purchasing private adoptive studies for children who do not have appropriate relative or foster adoption placements available to them. These studies are much more in-depth and extensive than regular home studies. The cost is usually per study with the high range being $1,500.00 per study. Last year we utilized these monies for five children or sibling groups. Since last year was our first full year of E.P.P., we anticipate that these funds will be greatly used as each E.P.P. case from last year nears the permanency deadline of 12 months. Also, we anticipate newer cases needing this service. Therefore, we are requesting the same allocation of$22,500.00 for 15 adoptive studies at $1,500.00 per study. 6. Court Mediation Services: Last year funds for this service was used for only five cases. The reason seems to be that a combination of relative placements and Page 3 of 8 Pages family group conferences lessened the adversarial process around permanent placement. The Department sees a need for this service as last year's cases approach permanency. This service may be used more to mediate termination cases. Also, new cases may need this service. Therefore, we recommend funding 13 mediations at six hours per mediation and $80.00 per hour for a total of $6,240.00. 7. Special Economic Assistance: The Department's C.O.R.E. services allocation for this task is always expended and the need is substantial. Many E.P.P. cases have utilized this service in order to reunite children with their parents or relatives. The eligibility for this service would be for cases needing purchases to help parents reunite with their children and lessen the risk of or prevent further out-of-home placement, to achieve permanent placement of children, and to keep children in the least restrictive out-of-home placement. The money could not be given directly to a client. The money can only be given to vendors for services such as mortgage payments, rental deposits and rent, utility payments, beds, building supplies, construction costs, etc. The limit would be $1,200.00 per family per fiscal year. The Department recommends allocating enough Special Economic Assistance for 20 families or a total of$24,000.00. Last year the Department did budget for miscellaneous training at a total request of$6,000.00. A few thousand dollars were initially utilized for staff training regarding family group decision-making. The Department recognizes the need for training but believes a combination of free training from the Department of Human Services, inexpensive private workshops, and other training monies are sufficient to meet staff needs. As described in our original proposal, all the Department's other resources, such as C.O.R.E. services, case services payroll, special circumstances day care, foster care allocation, etc., will also be utilized to achieve the goals of the Expedited Permanency Planning Program. VI. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: A meeting was held with community human service providers. Presentations were done by the E.P.P. coordinating supervisor for the Department and the district judge presiding over the juvenile court. There was excellent participation and interest. Page 4 of 8 Pages VII. MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND GOALS: Goal #1: The program will serve 40 cases in one year. The program served 39 families from February 1, 1998, to February 28, 1999. From March 1, 1999, to March 24, 1999, the program received seven additional cases for a total of 46 cases. Goal #2: Ninety percent of children will be in permanent placement within one year of initial removal. As of the end of March, 1999, twelve children have been in the E.P.P. program for one year. Eleven of those children are in permanent placements. This equates to over 90 percent achieving a permanent placement in one year. More significantly, the 39 cases accounted for from February 1, 1998, to February 28, 1999, includes a total of 77 children. These cases range in time of opening as a case from one month to one year. As of March 24, 1999, 83 percent or 64 of the 77 children in the program are already in permanent homes. Goal #3: Recidivism rate for children returning home will be less than 10 percent. Recidivism is defined as replacement or confirmed new instances of abuse or neglect. Eighteen children were returned home to their parents. Four children had to be removed from their homes again. One sibling group of three lasted only six weeks at home, and another child lasted only one week. Fourteen children were reunited with their parents and remain there today. Although,there is a 22 percent recidivism rate the total universe is very small and one family accounted for 75 percent of the recidivism. Goal #4. Disruption rate for children in alternative permanent placements will be less than 10 percent. Of the 64 children already in permanent placements, none have disrupted. Goal #5. This program will not result in adoption disruptions. Three children have been adopted. Several more are awaiting adoption. None have disrupted to date. The same measurable goals will remain in place for the next year of the E.P.P. program. Page 5 of 8 Pages BUDGET REOUEST PAGE JUNE 1. 1999. THROUGH MAY 31.2000 Department of Social Service's Request 1. Half-time Case Aide IV: $ 14,541.24 1,211.77 per month x12 months (Includes cost of living increase plus benefits) 2. Half-time Child Protection Caseworker III: $ 20,940.66 1,745.55 per month x12 months (Includes cost of living increases plus benefits) 3. A. Family Group Decision Making Services: $ 75,000.00 40 cases - one conference per case at $1,875.00 per conference B. Refreshments for Family Group Decision $ 1,200.00 Making meetings: at $30.00 per meeting for 40 cases C. Transportation for Family: $ 3,200.00 400 miles per case for 40 families at .20 cents per mile 4. Private Contracts for Home Studies/Psychological $ 14,400.00 Evaluations/and Interactional Evaluations: 20 evaluations at $90.00 per hour and 8 hours per study 5. Private Contracts for Adoptive Studies: $ 22,500.00 15 studies at$1,500.00 per study 6. Mediation Services: $ 6,240.00 13 cases at 6 hours per case times $80.00 per hour 7. Special Economic Assistance: $ 24,000.00 $1,200.00 per family for 20 families Total Department of Social Service's Request: $ 182,021.90 Page 6 of 8 Pages WELD COUNTY EXPEDITED PERMANENCY PLANNING FLOW CHART Initial Intervention Child Remains Home Child Enters Emergency Placement Initial Placement Assessment for Ongoing Placement Team to include E.P.P. Caseworker, Intake Supervisors, D&N Case Coordinator, Ongoing Supervisors, Intake Caseworker who has case. Expedited Permanency Planning Existing Permanency Planning Children 0-6 Years of Age Children 6 and Older May Include Older Siblings I I .._li I Kinship Foster Care Foster Adopt Adoption I Services provided meet concurrent planning model Both family reunification as well as other options such as relinquishment/termination of parental rights E.P.P. Legal Tracking — Permanency Planning Staffing — Existing Legal Tracking Page 7 of 8 Pages EPP Legal Track: Permanency Planning Staffing: Existing - temporary custody _ - 30 days prior to permanency plan hearing Legal - adjudication and initial desposition - staffing to include EPP caseworker, D&N — Tracking hearing 60 days from service of petition Case Coordinator, Resource caseworker, - refined treatment plan hearing may occur Adoption Unit Staff member, attorneys 30 days after adjudication - May include other members of the child's - permanency planning hearing Treatment team, i.e. foster parent, therapist 3 months after dispositional hearing - permanent placement 12 months from Original out-of-home placement Return Home Permanent out-of-home placement that meets the best interst of the child - ongoing foster care Mediation by -adoption Office of Dispute Resolution - guardianship D&N Case Coordiantor 6 month - Annual Review of Placement by permanency planning team if child is in ongoing foster care Services Available - ADAD - 4A/Ea -Medicaid - Case Services - Family Preservation Program Page 8 of 8 Pages Hello