Action Group ChargeAction Group Charge
For children who cannot remain safely at home, the Governor’s Action Group for Safe Children will develop:
a full and seamless continuum of placements, services, and support that are
safe, appropriate, community-based, and community supported.
Focus of 3 Work GroupsFocus of 3 Work Groups
1. First placement is the right placement
2. Seamless system of placement options
3. Statewide access to safe and appropriate placements
Work Group # 1:First Placement Is the Right PlacementWork Group # 1:First Placement Is the Right Placement
Inventory existing assessment instruments and methodologies.
Recommend a comprehensive assessment methodology for all children who cannot remain at home
Apply assessment findings to future placement decisions
Work Group # 2:Statewide Access to Safe &Appropriate Placements
Work Group # 2:Statewide Access to Safe &Appropriate Placements
Inventory existing placement options Use existing data and best practice to
define gaps in continuum of placements Consider existing child profile data to
prioritize highest system need for placement options
Work Group # 3:Seamless Systemof Placement Options
Work Group # 3:Seamless Systemof Placement Options
Develop strategies to recruit, train and retain providers along the continuum
Develop community partnerships to create more placement options
Create a system of data and information sharing among agencies, providers, advocacy groups and courts
Develop innovative financing
Vision
The Action Group’s vision of the child’s involvement with the State includes compassion, collaboration, cooperation, common sense and communication to demonstrate that children are cherished.
Vision
While we recognize that children suffer pain and tragedy daily that burdens the hearts of all Georgians, we seek to design a system to provide appropriate, adequate care of children; to encourage retention, dedication and professionalism of those who serve our children; and to galvanize citizen action and support for the success of all children and families in Georgia.
Final Report Issue Areas (11)
1) Staff & Work Force
2) Assessment & Screening
3) Family-Based Placements
4) Non-Family-Based Placements
5) Support Services
6) Coordinated Case Management
Final Report Issue Areas
7) Cross-Agency Collaboration, Organizational Structure & Evaluation
8) Data Systems & Information Sharing
9) Community Collaboration
10)Legal Issues
11) Innovative Financing
Staff & Work Force
Reduce caseloads Knowledgeable case managers Culturally competent case managers Incentives to attract right staff
Assessment & Screening
Shared assessments Common assessment components Time frames for data collection Required acceptance of
assessments across agencies Cross-training First staff is right staff Early assessments to prevent out-of-
home placements
Family-Based Placements
Increase availability of foster care Single system for foster care
recruitment, training, retention Privatization of recruitment Statewide marketing campaign Positive agency response & support
Non- Family-Based Placements
Increase availability of therapeutic services, independent living, emergency placements
Monitor implementation of Level of Care system
Consistent licensing rules for public & private foster homes
Support services
Make educational services a priority Active participation of local schools Develop comprehensive system of
mental health services for children
Case Management
Implement new case management system: accessible, accountable, measurable outcomes, best practices
Community- or school-based case management
Agencies held responsible: Stop the competition not to serve
Cross-Agency Collaboration
Explore organizational structures focused on children’s issues; e.g., program budgeting, children’s cabinet
Joint planning among child-serving agencies
Involve Dept of Education Evaluate effectiveness of programs
Data Systems &Information Sharing
Effective data systems Availability of needed information Shared access Statutory authority to share information HIPAA compliance SACWIS project accountability Continue Juvenile Tracking System efforts
Community Collaboration
Investigate national models of collaboration
Develop faith-based strategy Bottom-up/Top-down communication Add out-of-home placement benchmark to
Family Connection indicator set
Legal
Standard definition of “child” Competent legal representation for
children in court CHINS, PINS, & FINS Children’s right to MH services
Innovative Financing
Level of Care system Funding follows the child Maximize federal funding Outcomes & accountability