CAPTA State Grant for FFY-09

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Service Description

The State of Missouri currently conducts a number of activities targeted toward the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Since implementing our multi-response system to address reports of child abuse and neglect, Missouri continues to maintain a high standard of practice. Child safety is of paramount concern and Missouri’s practice ensures child safety through a child focused family-centered approach. Missouri’s practice is culturally sensitive, strengths-based and embraces the community child protection philosophy. Current and future initiatives are designed around strengthening and ensuring quality improvement of our statewide practice.

Update of program areas selected for improvement from one or more of the 14 program areas set forth in Section 106(a) of CAPTA.

The following activities are in fulfillment of CAPTA for the application and grant in accordance with the ACYF-CB-PI-03-09, and pursuant to compliance with part B of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. 5106a of the CAPTA law], numbers (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), and (12):

1. The intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of abuse and neglect as they relate to the Missouri’s Child Welfare Practice and Family-Centered Services;

2.     (A) Creating and improving the use of multi-disciplinary and interagency protocols to enhance investigations as it relates to quality Child Welfare Practice and Family-Centered Services; and

  • (B) Improving legal preparation and representation, including (i) Procedures for appealing and responding to appeals of reports of abuse and neglect that are found to indicate a preponderance of the evidence; and
    • (ii) Provisions for the appointment of an individual appointed to represent a child in judicial proceedings;

3. Case management, including ongoing case monitoring and delivery of services and treatment provided to children and their families as it relates to the CPS Redesign, Family-Centered Services, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and delivery of services through the Child Advocacy Centers statewide;

4. Enhancing the general child protective system by developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols, as it relates to the Family-Centered Services, including National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Children’s Research Center’s Structured Decision Making practice model;

6. Developing, strengthening, and facilitating training including:

  • (A) Research based strategies to promote collaboration with the families;
  • (B) Legal duties of such individuals;
  • (C) Emergency Protective Custody and
  • (D) personal safety training for case managers;

12. Developing and enhancing the capacity of community-based programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between parents and professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect at the community level, as it relates to the Child Advocacy Centers and the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse.

Missouri’s Child Protection System (CPS) continues to seek to be state of the art in its use of multi-disciplinary and interagency protocols to enhance the intake, screening, investigation, and assessment of reports of child abuse and neglect. Since initial implementation in 1995, Missouri’s alternative response/dual track system continues to be considered best practice within Missouri and looked upon by other states as exceptional. Our design improved past methods by creating various responses to reports, while maintaining safety of children. This system continues to be improved through development of specific interview questions or pathways that identify issues being experienced in families reported to the Division because of child abuse/neglect i.e. domestic violence, substance abuse.

Through the creation of community partnerships, families receive faster and more comprehensive service delivery. The division continues to enhance the general CPS system by fine tuning the safety and risk assessment tools and protocols. A holistic Family Assessment is completed at the time a family initially experiences a hotline report, if the report is screened as a Family Assessment. Missouri’s practice in Family Assessment performance was evaluated by the Institute of Applied Research (IAR). The full report is available at the IAR website at www.iarstl.org.

A separate CAPTA requirement to train the child’s legal representative in judicial proceedings is continuing within the Missouri Bar Association (MBA). MBA provides extensive training for all newly appointed Guardians ad litem and CASA representatives. They are educated on the following: basic child abuse and neglect and the needs of the child; how to exercise independent judgment on behalf of the child in all matters; meeting with the child in the child’s placement as often as necessary to ensure the child is safe and to ascertain and represent the child’s best interest; reviewing progress of the case and advocate for timely hearings; participating in development or matters affecting the best interest of the child and monitoring implementation of court-ordered services to determine whether services are being timely provided.

Lastly, in response to provisions and procedures for referral of a child younger than age three involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect, to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, CD is collaborating with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The CD has collaborated with DESE and established policy which requires CD staff to make a referral to DESE First Steps Program when they have found a child under three to be a substantiated victim of child abuse/neglect. Children’s Division staff met with DESE representatives in November, 2008, to discuss and enhance the referral process.

Activities Missouri intends to implement with CAPTA State grant funds

In addition to FCS training described in the next section, the following activities continue to be practiced throughout the state:

(1) Bring other providers to the table (e.g., Temporary Assistance, Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health, and Child Support Enforcement Staff) as identified, in the process of providing direct technical assistance in FCS assessment and service delivery.

(2) Provide clinical consultation services for CD in-house staff. Such services would focus on assisting on CD staff in strategizing the assessment, treatment planning, goal setting, and service delivery on FCS Cases.

(3) Develop new ways in which consultation can be provided as an education component within communities.

The total funding necessary for FCS, for FFY-09 is $150,000.

The division will also purchase resource/training material for central office and field staff to equip them in staying current on new and emerging trends in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Pamphlets and related material will be purchased for mandated reporters and others to provide information on child abuse and neglect. The pamphlet The Guidelines for Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect has been made available through a link on the CD webpage and can be printed from that link.

The CD will send representatives to the required National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) State Liaison meetings.

The total funding necessary for such Out-of-State trainings/meeting, for FFY 09 is $10,000.

The division is a member of the Missouri Chapter-National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA), Missouri Juvenile Justice Association (MJJA), Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), and the National Family Preservation Network. The division is committed to the support of each of these organizations and their efforts to prevent child abuse. The annual dues as a member agency have been paid from this grant in the past.

The total funding necessary for NCPCA/MJJA/CWLA/NDAS annual dues, for FFY 09 is $12,000.

The CD continues to budget approximately $800,000 to Child Advocacy Centers (CACs). CAPTA funds are supporting the services these centers provide. These centers provide vital forensic interviews and sexual abuse examinations which assist in the successful prosecution of abuse and neglect. CAC settings are established to be neutral and in a "child friendly" atmosphere in order to: (1) Reduce the emotional trauma of the investigation to the child and the non-offending family members; (2) improve the ability of the Child Abuse Investigators to reach an appropriate finding; and (3) Improve the multi-disciplinary collaboration at the community level. These centers are regionally located to meet the needs of our children and families statewide.

The total funding necessary for the CAC FFY 09 is $480,000.

The State of Missouri is committed to providing a comprehensive array of services through public agencies and community action, which will prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in Missouri. The initiatives identified above will allow us to strengthen our programs and services in this area to develop or to enhance Missouri’s process of intake, investigation, assessment, case management and service delivery, as well as, enhance the capacity of community based programs.

The total CAPTA funding requested, which includes funding for all the above CD initiatives and activities for FFY 09 is $500,688.

Service and Training being provided under CAPTA State grant as required by Section 106(b)(2)(C) of CAPTA

Missouri continues to develop, strengthen, and facilitate training opportunities and requirements for individuals overseeing and providing FCS to children and their families through the child protection system. These training approaches are primarily provided at the local level and are designed to improve overall case management and service delivery provided to children and their families. These efforts include:

  • Consultation/training for staff in the county offices to assist them with developing service strategies with multi-problem families and family-based applications. FCS contracted consultants (family-based practitioners skilled in family-centered practice) help staff explore options and approaches to presenting problems with families, role model the staffing process, and reinforce the skills of a family-centered approach.
  • Training for contracted consultants and Children’s Services Specialist’s on utilization of Family Conferencing Techniques, as well as Community Partnering for the Protection of Children philosophy for intact families. FCS consultants and Children’s Services Specialist’s will be able to model this technique for CD staff for use in family service delivery.
  • Training provided for FCS staff by CD staff trainers or contracted trainers (i.e., Intensive In-home Services trainers, to assist them in improving their skills in providing FCS, e.g., interviewing skills). This training is usually provided within the context of completing and understanding the tools within the CD-14, Family Assessment Packet.

Other training which can be accessed at the local or community level according to identified training needs, and regional training plans.

  • The provision of specific one-on-one training with staff and families by modeling a family-centered assessment in the field with staff and selected a family. This carries the training process to conclusion and critiques the process for best practice.
  • Training is being provided to CD staff, JO, attorneys, GALs, and CASA on improved timeliness of hearings, concurrent planning and provisions of protective custody (including imminent danger definition and guidelines on standards of removal). These trainings are being provided by and in collaboration with Office of State Court Administrators and CD. The grant assists in funding these videoconferences and in - person trainings.

B. CAPTA Plan Five Year Plan

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Service Description

The State of Missouri currently conducts a number of activities targeted toward the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Since implementing our multi-response system to address reports of child abuse and neglect, Missouri continues to maintain a high standard of practice. Child safety is of paramount concern and Missouri’s practice ensures child safety through a child focused family-centered approach. Missouri’s practice is culturally sensitive, strengths-based and embraces the community child protection philosophy. Current and future initiatives are designed around strengthening and ensuring quality improvement of our statewide practice.

The following activities are in fulfillment of CAPTA in accordance with ACYF-CB-PI-09-06 and pursuant to compliance with Part B of Title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. 5106a of the CAPTA law], numbers (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), and (12):

1. The intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of abuse and neglect as they relate to the Missouri’s Child Welfare Practice and Family-Centered Services;

2. (A) Creating and improving the use of multi-disciplinary and interagency protocols to enhance investigations as it relates to quality Child Welfare Practice and Family-Centered Services; and

(B) Improving legal preparation and representation, including

(i) Procedures for appealing and responding to appeals of reports of abuse and neglect that are found to indicate a preponderance of the evidence; and

(ii) Provisions for the appointment of an individual appointed to represent a child in judicial proceedings;

3. Case management, including ongoing case monitoring and delivery of services and treatment provided to children and their families as it relates to the CPS Redesign, Family-Centered Services, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and delivery of services through the Child Advocacy Centers statewide;

4. Enhancing the general child protective system by developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols, as it relates to the Family-Centered Services, including National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Children’s Research Center’s Structured Decision Making practice model;

6. Developing, strengthening, and facilitating training including:

(A) Research based strategies to promote collaboration with the families; (B) Legal duties of such individuals; (C) Emergency Protective Custody and (D) personal safety training for case managers;

12. Developing and enhancing the capacity of community-based programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between parents and professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect at the community level, as it relates to the Child Advocacy Centers and the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse.

Missouri’s Child Protection System (CPS) continues to seek to be state of the art in its use of multi-disciplinary and interagency protocols to enhance the intake, screening, investigation, and assessment of reports of child abuse and neglect. Since initial implementation in 1995, Missouri’s alternative response/dual track system continues to be considered best practice within Missouri and looked upon by other states as exceptional. Our design improved past methods by creating various responses to reports, while maintaining safety of children. This system continues to be improved through development of specific interview questions or pathways that identify issues being experienced in families reported to the Division because of child abuse/neglect i.e. domestic violence, substance abuse.

Through the creation of community partnerships, families receive faster and more comprehensive service delivery. The division continues to enhance the general CPS system by fine tuning the safety and risk assessment tools and protocols. A holistic Family Assessment is completed at the time a family initially experiences a hotline report, if the report is screened as a Family Assessment.

A separate CAPTA requirement to train the child’s legal representative in judicial proceedings is continuing within the Missouri Bar Association (MBA). MBA provides extensive training for all newly appointed Guardians ad litem and CASA representatives. They are educated on the following: basic child abuse and neglect and the needs of the child; how to exercise independent judgment on behalf of the child in all matters; meeting with the child in the child’s placement as often as necessary to ensure the child is safe and to ascertain and represent the child’s best interest; reviewing progress of the case and advocate for timely hearings; participating in development or matters affecting the best interest of the child and monitoring implementation of court-ordered services to determine whether services are being timely provided.

Lastly, in response to provisions and procedures for referral of a child younger than age three involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect, to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, CD is collaborating with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The CD has collaborated with DESE and established policy which requires CD staff to make a referral to DESE First Steps Program when they have found a child under three to be a substantiated victim of child abuse/neglect.

Activities Missouri intends to implement with CAPTA State Grant funds

Missouri plans to provide the following activities in addition to the Family-Centered Services training outlined in later sections:

  1. Provide clinical consultation services for CD in-house staff. Such services would focus on assisting on CD staff in strategizing the assessment, treatment planning, goal setting, and service delivery on FCS Cases.
  2. Collaborate with other agencies (e.g., Family Support Division, Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health, and Child Support Enforcement Staff) as identified, in the process of providing direct technical assistance in FCS assessment and service delivery.
  3. Continue to develop new ways in which consultation can be provided as an education component within communities.

The total funding necessary for FCS training for each year is $150,000.

  1. The pamphlet The Guidelines for Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect has been made available through a link on the CD webpage and can be printed from that link. Updates will be made to the Guide and materials will be printed as necessary.
  2. Send representatives to the required National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) State Liaison meetings.
  3. Send representation to other national conferences designed to share evidence based practices to address child abuse and neglect and enhance current practice.

The total funding necessary for out of state training for each year is $10,000.

  1. Enhance programs to address recurrence of maltreatment. Assist current pilot sites to expand small tests of change in assessing and working with families with repeat reports of maltreatment.

The total funding necessary for enhancing repeat maltreatment practice for each year is $10,000.

  1. Continue memberships of the Missouri Chapter-National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA), Missouri Juvenile Justice Association (MJJA), Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), and the National Family Preservation Network. The division is committed to the support of each of these organizations and their efforts to prevent child abuse.

The total funding necessary for annual dues is $12,000 each year.

  1. Continue to assist funding to Child Advocacy Centers (CACs). CAPTA funds are supporting the services these centers provide. These centers provide vital forensic interviews and sexual abuse examinations which assist in the successful prosecution of abuse and neglect. CAC settings are established to be neutral and in a "child friendly" atmosphere in order to: (1) Reduce the emotional trauma of the investigation to the child and the non-offending family members; (2) improve the ability of the Child Abuse Investigators to reach an appropriate finding; and (3) Improve the multi-disciplinary collaboration at the community level. These centers are regionally located to meet the needs of our children and families statewide.

The total funds necessary for supporting CACs for each year is $480,000.

The State of Missouri is committed to providing a comprehensive array of services through public agencies and community action, which will prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in Missouri. The initiatives identified above will allow us to strengthen our programs and services in this area to develop or to enhance Missouri’s process of intake, investigation, assessment, case management and service delivery, as well as, enhance the capacity of community based programs.

Total funds requested to include all of the initiatives and activities listed in this section for each year is $500,688.

Service and Training being provided under CAPTA State grant as required by Section 106(b)(2)(C) of CAPTA

Missouri continues to develop, strengthen, and facilitate training opportunities and requirements for individuals overseeing and providing FCS to children and their families through the child protection system. These training approaches are primarily provided at the local level and are designed to improve overall case management and service delivery provided to children and their families. These efforts include:

  • Consultation/training for staff in the county offices to assist them with developing service strategies with multi-problem families and family-based applications. FCS contracted consultants (family-based practitioners skilled in family-centered practice) help staff explore options and approaches to presenting problems with families, role model the staffing process, and reinforce the skills of a family-centered approach.
  • Training for contracted consultants and Children’s Services Specialist’s on utilization of Family Conferencing Techniques, as well as Community Partnering for the Protection of Children philosophy for intact families. FCS consultants and Children’s Services Specialist’s will be able to model this technique for CD staff for use in family service delivery.
  • Training provided for FCS staff by CD staff trainers or contracted trainers (i.e., Intensive In-home Services trainers, to assist them in improving their skills in providing FCS, e.g., interviewing skills). This training is usually provided within the context of completing and understanding the tools within the CD-14, Family Assessment Packet.

Missouri provides Legal Aspects training to Child Abuse and Neglect Investigators, supervisors, regional staff, and multidisciplinary team members including Juvenile Court staff, Guardian at Litems, and Court Appointed Special Advocates. The training addresses the legal aspects of finding a preponderance of the evidence finding and elements of abuse and neglect. The Legal Aspects training will be incorporated into the current Child Welfare Practice Training for new staff. Legal Aspects training will be expanded to include permanency options, concurrent planning, and termination of parental rights.

Collaborations continue with the Office of State Court Administrators (OSCA) to develop joint training curriculums for court personnel and Children’s Division staff to address identified needs. Training is current being provided on Advanced Facilitation Skills as well as engagement of families from various disciplines.