1.11 Specific Goals in State Law for Children in Foster Care Over 24 Months

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(1) Administration

Policy Title:

Specific Goals in State Law for Children in Foster Care Over 24 Months

Policy Number:

1.11

Previous Policy Number(s):

N/A

Effective Date:

July 2020

Manual Transmittal:

2020-05

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 49-5-19 Annual Report on Children and Youth Services
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act § 471(a)(14)
2 USC § 671
Public Law 96-272 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Formulate for each fiscal year, a specific goal as to the maximum number of children (in absolute numbers or as a percentage of all children in foster care receiving assistance under a title IV-E program) who at any given time during the fiscal year will have been in foster care for over 24 months.

  2. Submit the Annual Report on Children and Youth to the Governor that includes an analysis of goals to ensure that no more than 25 percent of children remain in the foster care system under title IV-E of the Social Security Act for a period of 24 months or longer.

  3. Take the following steps to achieve the specific goal established:

    1. Review data indicators on a quarterly basis;

    2. Conduct targeted Quality Case Reviews (QCR);

    3. Include policies on permanency planning in the Child Welfare Policy Manual;

    4. Implement targeted solutions to resolve concerns and ensure permanency efforts are meeting the needs of the children.

  4. Report progress on goal achievement in the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR).

Procedures

The designated DFCS staff will (see Practice Guidance: Roles and Responsibilities):

  1. On a quarterly basis:

    1. Identify the number of children, under the age of 18 in foster care for a period of 24 months or longer and compare that data with the previous year’s/quarter’s data;

    2. Review and analyze data and trends to ensure targeted goals are being met; and

    3. Conduct targeted QCR.

  2. Take the following steps if the data indicate that more than 25 percent of children will remain in the foster care for a period of 24 months or longer:

    1. Identify barriers for not meeting the specific goal.

    2. Discuss data indicators with agency leadership.

    3. Implement agency-wide or targeted solutions, such as:

      1. Use of the permanency timeline to track ongoing case progress;

      2. Routine case consultations, including a 12-month consultation that has a participant at a higher level than Supervisor to address barriers to permanency;

      3. Permanency Roundtables for cases where the child has no identified permanent resource; and

      4. Partner with the Office of General Counsel and the Court Improvement Project where legal delays to permanency exist.

    4. Review and update permanency planning policies as needed.

  3. Include the specific steps to achieve the goals established in the Annual Report on Children and Youth to the Governor and the APSR.

Practice Guidance

Roles and Responsibilities

The Data Unit provides relevant staff with monthly data on children in care approaching or over 24 months. The Unit also provides trend information by conducting data quality case reviews that provide feedback to county and regional staff to ensure consistent data reporting and messaging.

The Quality Assurance (QA)/Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Unit conducts targeted QCR to evaluate the quality of services provided to children and families and barriers to permanency. QCR also improve overall safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children and families by improving the quality of case work provided by county and regional staff.

The DFCS Placement and Permanency Section reviews data and information on a regular basis regarding children remaining in care for 24 months or longer. When trends are identified that would adversely affect the permanency goal, specific strategies are implemented to resolve those concerns and ensure Georgia’s permanency efforts are meeting the needs of the children. The Placement and Permanency Section also presents a summary analysis and updated information on those strategies at statewide leadership meetings.

Forms and Tools

N/A