CWS/CMS & Outcomes
A Practical Guide to Using CWS/CMS to Support State and Federal Outcome Measures
Central CA Training Academy
January 2010
Safety Outcomes
Federal Safety Measure 1
S1.1: No Recurrence of Maltreatment 2
Federal Safety Measure 2
S2.1: No Maltreatment in Foster Care 3
Child Abuse/Neglect Referrals with a Timely Response 4
State Measure – 2B
Timely Social Worker Visits with Child 5 - 6
State Measure – 2C
Permanency Outcomes
Federal Permanency Composite 1 – Timeliness & Permanency of Reunification
C1.1: Reunification Within 12 Months (exit cohort)
C1.2: Median Time to Reunification (exit cohort) 7
C1.3: Reunification Within 12 Months (entry cohort)
C1.4: Reentry Following Reunification (exit cohort)
Federal Permanency Composite 2 – Timeliness of Adoptions
C2.1: Adoption within 24 Months (exit cohort)
C2.2: Median Time to Adoption (exit cohort) 8 - 9
C2.3: Adoption Within 12 Months (17 mos in care)
C2.4: Legally Free Within 6 Months (17 mos in care)
C2.5: Adoption Within 12 Months (Legally Free)
Federal Permanency Composite 3 – Achieving Permanency for Children in FC for Long Periods of Time
C3.1: Exits to Permanency (24 Months in Care)
C3.2: Exits to Permanency (Legally Free at Exit) 10
C3.3: In Care 3 Years or Longer (Emancipated/Age18)
Federal Permanency Composite 4 – Placement Stability
C4.1: Placement Stability (8 days to 12 months in care)
C4.2: Placement Stability (12 to 24 months in care) 11
C4.3: Placement Stability (At least 24 months in care)
Child & Family Well Being Outcomes
Siblings Placed Together in Foster Care 12
State Measure – 4A
Foster Care Placement in Least Restrictive Settings 13
State Measure – 4B
Rate of ICWA Placement Preferences 14
State Measure – 4E(1) and 4E(2)
Rate of Timely Health and Dental Exams
State Measure – 5B(1) and 5B(2) 15
Authorization for Psychotropic Medications 16
State Measure – 5F
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
State Measure – 6B 17
Children Transitioning to Self-Sufficient Adulthood 18
State Measure – 8A
CWS/CMS Guide to Child Welfare Outcomes
Safety Outcomes
No Recurrence of Maltreatment
Federal Measure S.1.1
Of all children who were victims of a substantiated or indicated maltreatment allegation during the first 6 months of the study period, what percent were not victims of another substantiated or indicated maltreatment allegation within the next 6 month period?
CWS/CMS
· Only Referrals with Substantiated allegations will be considered.
· Follow-up substantiated allegations must be at least 2 days after the first one to be counted.
· Allegations of ‘At Risk, Sibling Abused’ or ‘Substantial Risk’ will be excluded.
· Secondary (duplicate) referrals are not counted as subsequent referrals. They must either be ‘associated’ to the primary referral or Evaluated Out.
· Incoming ICPC children are excluded.
Allegation Notebook:
Values counted:
ü Caretaker Absence / Incapacity
ü Emotional Abuse
ü Exploitation
ü General Neglect
ü Physical Abuse
ü Severe Neglect
ü Sexual Abuse
Values counted:
ü Substantiated
No Maltreatment in Foster Care
Federal Measure – S.2.1
Of all children served in child welfare supervised foster care during the twelve-month review period, what percent were not victims of a substantiated or indicated maltreatment by a foster parent or facility staff member during the fiscal year?
CWS/CMS – to mark a child a victim while in Foster Care
· Only substantiated allegations will be considered.
· Allegations of ‘At Risk, Sibling Abused’ or ‘Substantial Risk’ will be excluded.
· Perpetrator must be identified as SCP/Res. Facility Staff
· Placement Facility Type must be entered if allegation is substantiated.
Allegation Notebook
Values counted:
ü Caretaker Absence / Incapacity
ü Emotional Abuse
ü Exploitation
ü General Neglect + Perpetrator Type
ü Physical Abuse SCP/Res. Facility Staff
ü Severe Neglect
ü Sexual Abuse + Placement Facility Type
Values counted:
ü Substantiated
Child Abuse/Neglect Referrals with a Timely Response
State Measure – 2B
Percent of child abuse and neglect referrals that require an investigation in the study quarter that have resulted in an in-person investigation stratified by immediate response and ten-day referrals, for both planned and actual visits.
CWS/CMS
· Referral start date is compared with Determine Response date and first Contact date.
· Start and End date of Contact must be entered.
· Contact Purpose must be Investigate Referral
· Contact must be In-Person
· Contact status must be Attempted or Completed
· Contact Party Type: Staff person/Child
Referral Notebook:
Start Date of Referral
Compared to:
ACTION - DETERMINE RESPONSE
Values:
ü Immediate
ü 3 Day
ü 5 Day
ü 10 Day
Compared to:
Contact Notebook:
Values:
ü Date
ü Method: In-Person
ü Status: Completed or Attempted
ü Contact Purpose: Investigate Referral
ü Contact Party Type: Staff Person/Child
Timely Social Worker Visits With Child
State Measure – 2C
Of all children who required a monthly social worker visit, how many received a monthly visit?
CWS/CMS
Contact Notebook:
Start and End date of Contact must be entered.
Contact must be In-Person
Contact status must be Completed
Contact Party Type must be Staff Person/Child
For those children with a placement record – the episode end date must be blank.
Cases Excluded from this measure:
ü Cases open for less than 30 days.
ü Cases with intervention reason of Incoming ICPC Case
ü Agency responsible for Placement Episode is LA-County Probation Dept, or Kin-Gap
ü Children placed out of state and NOT in group home.
ü Placement Change Reason is Child Ran Away from Home or Child Abducted
ü Cases with valid Contact Exceptions recorded in Case Plan
ü Non-Dependent Legal Guardianships
Document Exceptions here: Document Runaways/Abducted
Case Plan Notebook: children here:
Contact Exception Needs to be Listed here: Placement Change Reason:
Values include: Values include:
ü Child Contacted by Another Agency Child Ran Away from Placement
ü Child Placed with Legal Guardian Child Abducted
ü Child Placed with Relative
ü Child Placed Out of State
ü Child Receiving FR Services/Stable
ü Child Receiving PP Services/Stable
ü Child Under 2 Yrs of Age
ü Child’s Whereabouts Unknown
Non-Dependent Legal Guardianships:
Non-Dependent Legal Guardianships require face to face contacts once every six months.
Document Non-Dependent Legal Guardianships here:
Placement Notebook
+
Legal Authorization for Placement field: Home Type field:
This is the correct entry: Facility Type:
ü Guardian Non-Relative Guardian Home
These options will also be considered:
ü Child/Agency Agreement
ü Out of State ICPC
ü Parent-Agency Agreement
ü Relinquishment
ü Legal Authority Not Yet determined
ü Findings Never Made
ü Guardian Relative Kin Gap
ICPC CASES:
ICPC Outgoing:
+
A row on the ICPC-100B must be done to Address of Placement Home:
exclude from this measure. In order to get to All states except CA
the 100B, the ICPC–100A must be done first.
OR
Contact/Visitation Waiver documented in the Case Plan Notebook
ü Child Placed Out of State
ICPC Incoming: Incoming cases do not have a primary assignment: the case must have a primary assignment to be counted.
Permanency Outcomes - Federal Measures
Permanency Composite 1: Timeliness and Permanency of Reunification
Measure C1.1: Reunification Within 12 Months (exit cohort)
Of all children discharged from foster care to reunification in FY specified who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, what percent were reunified in less than 12 months from the date of the latest removal from home?
Measure C1.2: Median Time To Reunification (exit cohort)
Of all children who were discharged from foster care to reunification in FY specified, and who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, what was the median length of stay in months from the date of the latest removal from home until the date of discharge to reunification?
Measure C1.3: Reunification Within 12 Months (entry cohort)
Of all children who entered foster care for the first time in the 6-month period just prior to FY specified, and who remained in foster care for 8 days or longer, what percent were discharged from foster care to reunification in less than 12 months from the date of latest removal from home?
Measure C1.4: Reentry Following Reunification
Of all children who were discharged from foster care to reunification in the 12-month period prior to FY specified, what percent re-entered foster care in less than 12 months from the date of discharge?
CWS/CMS
This outcome measure relies on staff to end placement episodes timely and accurately when children leave out of home care. They will be stratified by reason exiting care.
Child Removal Info Page:
ü Date of Removal
Placement Episode Termination Reasons:
ü Reunified with Parent/Guardian (Court)
ü Reunified with Parent/Guardian (Non-Court)
ü Child Released Home
The system will compare the date of removal with date placement episode ended in order to calculate this measure. For C1.4 (Reentry): Following a termination of episode – a subsequent removal date within 12 months of episode end date will trigger this measure.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
If placement has been ended due to Trial Visit – worker must remember to enter the placement episode termination reason above at the end of the trial visit period.
Permanency Composite 2: Timeliness of Adoptions – Federal Measures
Measure C2.1: Adoption Within 24 Months (exit cohort)
Of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption during FY specified,
what percent were discharged in less than 24 months from the date of the latest removal from home?
Measure C2.2: Median Time to Adoption (exit cohort)
Of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption during FY specified,
what was the median length of stay in foster care in months from the date of the latest removal from home to the date of discharge to adoption?
Measure C2.3: Adoption Within 12 Months (17 months in care)
Of all children in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer on the first day of the year, what percent were discharged to a finalized adoption by the last day of the year?
CWS/CMS
This outcome measure relies on staff to end placement episodes timely and accurately when children leave out of home care. They will be stratified by reason exiting care.
Child Removal Info Page:
ü Date of Removal
Placement Episode Termination Reasons:
For both Foster Care and Non-Foster Care Placements:
ü Adoption Finalized
ü Private Adoption Agency (non-CWS)
Excluded from Measure C2.3: Children who were in care 17 months or longer, but exited foster care during the year with episode termination reason of reunified with parents or primary caretakers, or guardianship.
The system will compare the date of removal with date placement episode ended in order to calculate these measures.
Permanency Composite 2: Timeliness of Adoptions (continued)
Measure C2.4: Legally Free Within 6 Months (17 months in care)
Of all children in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer and not legally free for adoption on the first day of the year, what percent became legally free within the next 6 months?
Measure C2.5: Adoption Within 12 Months (legally free)
Of all children in foster care who became legally free for adoption during the year, what percent were then discharged to a finalized adoption in less than 12 months?
CWS/CMS
This outcome measure relies on staff to record events as they happen. This would include recording parental rights termination timely, as well as ending placement episodes timely and accurately when children leave out of home care. The measure will be stratified by reason exiting care.
CWS/CMS recognizes a child legally free for adoption if Parental Rights have been terminated:
ü Effective Date
ü Termination – Voluntary or Court Ordered
Note: For deceased parent – under Voluntary – select ‘Birth Parent Deceased’
Terminating the Placement Episode:
Child Removal Info Page:
ü Date of Removal
Placement Episode Termination Reasons:
For both Foster Care and Non-Foster Care Placements:
ü Adoption Finalized
ü Private Adoption Agency (non-CWS)
The system will compare the date of removal with date placement episode ended in order to calculate these measures.
Permanency Composite 3: Achieving Permanency for Children in Foster Care for Long Periods of Time
Measure C3.1: Exits to Permanency (24 months in care)
Of all children in foster care for 24 months of longer on the first day of the year, what percent were discharged to a permanent home by the end of the year and prior to turning 18?
Measure C3.2: Exits to Permanency (legally free at exit)
Of all children discharged from foster care during the year who were legally free for adoption, what percent were discharged to a permanent home prior to turning 18?
Measure C3.3: In Care 3 years or longer (emancipated or age 18 in care)
Of all children in foster care during the year who were either discharged to emancipation or turned 18 while still in care, what percent had been in care for 3 years or longer?
CWS/CMS
This outcome measure relies on staff to end placement episodes timely and accurately when children leave out of home care. They will be stratified by reason exiting care.
Placement Episode Termination Reasons:
ü Reunified with Parent/Guardian (Court)
ü Reunified with Parent/Guardian (Non-Court)
ü Child Released Home
ü Adoption Finalized
ü Private Adoption Agency (non-CWS)
ü Guardianship
ü Emancipation (for measure C3.3 only)
CWS/CMS recognizes a child legally free for adoption if Parental Rights have been terminated:
ü Effective Date
ü Termination – Voluntary or Court Ordered
Note: For deceased parent – under Voluntary – select ‘Birth Parent Deceased’
Federal Permanency Composite 4: Placement Stability – Federal Measures
Measure 1
C4.1: Placement Stability (8 Days to 12 Months in Care)
Of all children who were served in foster care during FY specified, and who were in foster care for at least 8 days but less than 12 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings?
Measure 2
C4.2: Placement Stability (12 to 24 Months in Care)
Of all children who were served in foster care during FY specified, and who were in foster care for at least 12 months but less than 24 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings?
Measure 3
C4.3: Placement Stability (At least 24 Months in Care)
Of all children who were served in foster care during FY specified, and who were in foster care for at least 24 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings?
CWS/CMS
Child Removal Info Page:
ü Date of Removal
ID page: Agency Responsibility
Values include:
ü Co. Probation Dept / LA Co. Probation Dept
ü Co. Welfare Dept / LA Co. Welfare Dept
ü Out of State Agency / LA Out of State Agency
ü State Adoptions District Office / LA State Adoptions District Office
ü Indian Child Welfare / LA Indian Child Welfare
County of Responsibility:
ü County creating the Placement Episode
IMPORTANT:
UC Berkeley calculates the number of placements. This measure is dependent upon placement information being entered accurately and timely. If the type of home changes, but the child stays with the SCP, ie: relative home to guardian home, the placement counter will NOT increment ONLY if the SCP of the first home is “attached” (using the Attach Existing SCP command) to the new home. If this is not done, the counter will increment and inflate this measure!