Present

  • Becky Porter
  • Sally Gaines
  • Meliny Staysa
  • Monica Hogue
  • Kim Abbott
  • Clark Peters
  • Beth Dessem
  • Susan Savage
  • Teresa Hayner
  • Emily DeCenzo
  • Mellissa Smyser
  • Amy Martin
  • Tom Schlimpert
  • Ryan Dowis
  • Angela Dockett
  • Dale Fitch

State Update:

  • InFocus newsletter shared
  • Mandated reporter legislation—there are or have been about 5 different versions introduced for expansion of the mandated reporter definition with an intent to avert an incident similar to the Penn State.
  • A legislative bill has been introduced targeting adoptive parent records for adults wanting to obtain birth records. Seems like there is a desire to be more open.
  • Case Review completed in ten circuits to explore why the foster care population is increasing in Missouri. Of the ten circuits chosen, five were experiencing an increase in foster care population and five were either decreasing or remained status quo. Meliny Staysa shared some preliminary findings:
    • Some circuits were doing a good job diverting children from foster care by placing with relatives or finding suitable community services.
    • Use of a power of attorney process allowed relatives to seek medical care and enroll the child in school has been helpful for some relative placements.
    • Good use of the Team Decision Making process which is facilitated by an objective party and explores wrap around services.
    • Managers are doing a good job mentoring with community to build services.
    • Some Circuits, as well as regions and sub-regional managers are clinically focused.
    • Circuits with FCI teams review cases.
    • Circuits wanting to build or maintain services use existing contracts creatively to meet the family's needs.
    • Some Circuits has consistent J/GAL/CASA involvement which created a solid foundation to overcome turnover experiences.
    • Some Circuits do an outstanding job empowering workers to think critically
  • DESE/OSCA/CD held a joint meeting to look at educational needs for children in foster care.
  • Amy Martin shared information regarding new recruitment commercials entitled, "Life is Better with Kids Around". Note: Recruitment commercial web-link was sent
  • Provided members with information regarding the Practice Improvement Conference Calls
  • Described the concept of the new PerFoRM measures.
  • Reviewed elements of the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act.
    • Oversight and coordination of health care services—monitoring of emotional trauma and psychotropic medications
    • Description of state activities to reduce the length of time of children under 5 without a permanent family
    • Desired expansion of child deaths
    • Changes the desired outcome for worker visits from 90% t95% and modifies computation formula
    • Requires the Safe and Stable Families program to identify population groups which are greatest risk of maltreatment
    • Court improvement projects must submit one application instead of one application per grant area
    • Older Youth gaining access and understanding credit report before emancipation

Service Array Project:

  • Six step model was shared and reviewed
  • Liaison Updates
    • Monica Hogue stated the SW region circuits are at the beginning stages of developing a work plan. A circuit summary (for all ten circuits) was shared, below is each focus:
      • 26th, Services to family to protect children in the home and prevent removal or re-entry into foster care, specifically looking at older youth and status offenders in Miller and Camden Counties
      • 27th, Services to family to protect children in the home and prevent removal or re-entry into foster care, specifically looking at status offenders and DMH children
      • 28th, Stability of foster care placement, specifically look at reducing the number of children in residential treatment placements
      • 29th, Caseworker visits with parents
      • 30th, Stability of foster care placement, specifically reducing the numbers of children in residential treatment
      • 31st, Needs and Services of child, parents and foster parents
      • 38th, Physical health of the child
      • 39th, Stability of foster care placements, specifically reducing the numbers of children in residential treatment
      • 40th, Stability of foster care placements, specifically to increase the number of resource homes
      • 44th, Stability of foster care placements, specifically to increase the number of resource homes
    • Angela Dockett stated St. Louis Region was at this same place as well. She shared some of the assessment information, the top three identified service areas are Mental Health Services, Family Resources and Education. St. Louis Region focus is to increase utilization and support of relative and kinship resource homes in St. Louis metropolitan area, St. Louis City and County

Reviewed Highlights of recently release report (from ACF, Children's Bureau), to Congress (using 2006-2009 data)

  • As a nation, two or fewer placements for children in care less than 12 months shown only slightly increase from 2006 to 2009 (84.1% to 84.9%)
  • As a nation, two or fewer placements for children in care at least 12 months, but less than 24 months shown only slightly increase from 2006 to 2009 (60% to 60.8%)
  • As a nation, percent of children exit to reunification (permanent setting) for children in care less than 12 months is decreasing—desire is to increase (87.2% to 85.9%)
  • As a nation, the median length of stay is increasing—desire is to decrease (7.1 months to 8.0 months)
  • As a nation, the number of children exiting to adoption in less than 24 months is increasing (29.9% to 33.8%)
  • As a nation, the median length of stay until adoption is decreasing—desire is to decrease (30.8 months to 30.2 months)
  • Not one state in the nation passed the CFSR Well-Being 1 domain, which consists of Item 17, Needs and Services of Child, Parents, Foster Parents; Item 18, Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning; Item 19, Caseworker Visits with Child; Item 20, Caseworker Visits with Parents.
  • Two states in the nation passed the case review systemic factor which consists of: Item 25, Written Case Plan; Item 26, Periodic Reviews; Item 27, Permanency Hearings; Item 28, Termination of Parental Rights; Item 29, Notice of Hearings and Reviews to Caregivers

Next Meetings:

  • May 16, 2012

Meeting Adjourned