RD436 - Evaluation of the Differential Response System - December 2008


Executive Summary:
DRS outcomes reported this year are similar to those reported in previous years. There has been a steady increase in the use of the family assessment track by local departments of social services (LDSS). The statewide percentage of family assessments increased from 55% in 2002 to 70% in 2007. Trends varied in different parts of the state, but there was an overall trend in all areas toward greater use of the assessment track. There continues to be wide variation in track assignment in individual LDSS, with a few rarely using the family assessment track and others using it for virtually all referrals that are not mandated for investigation.

As in previous years, a little over one-third of families had identified service needs and the large majority of them received at least some services. Analysis of data from Structured Decision Making (SDM) LDSS supported the hypothesis that the trend toward more families evaluated as high or moderate risk but a smaller percentage of high and moderate risk families identified as needing services is explained largely by the changes in risk assessment practices that occurred after the piloting of SDM by a third of the LDSS. Similarly, the trend toward more high and moderate risk and fewer low risk families receiving services appears to be primarily the result of the changes in risk assessment that occurred in SDM agencies. As more families were evaluated as high or moderate risk, the percentage of services going to those families naturally increased.

The special topic for this year’s report was an evaluation of ongoing service cases. The case reviewer examined 117 ongoing service cases. The families in the selected cases all had either a founded investigation or a family assessment with service needs in January 2007.

The LDSS performed a risk reassessment in 46 ongoing cases. While the number is small, the data from those cases suggest that ongoing services are effective in reducing the risk of future abuse or neglect. The percentage of families at high risk decreased from 67% to 17%. In addition, while initially there were no families at low risk, almost half (48%) were found to be low risk when they were reassessed.

LDSS were particularly attentive to high risk families. CPS policy requires monthly contact with families receiving ongoing services, but there was actually weekly contact with 47% of high risk families. There was also weekly contact with 22% of moderate risk families.

Seventy-eight percent of the families, including 73% of high risk and 82% of moderate risk families, did not have another referral during the year and a half between January of 2007 and the time of the case review. Considering that 58% had at least one other valid CPS report before January of 2007, these data suggest that intervention by the LDSS may indeed have contributed to preventing additional abuse or neglect. The recurrence rate was lower in families where services fully addressed the families’ service needs than in families where services only partially addressed those needs, supporting the impression that services properly tailored to family needs have played a role in reducing later abuse or neglect.

Outcomes of the 2008 DRS Recommendations

Each year the DRS evaluation report includes recommendations for DSS action in the following year. Based on the results of the 2008 DRS evaluation, the following recommendations were made.

1. DSS will continue to evaluate LDSS response time to CPS reports and consult with LDSS with high response time delays to identify the issues and to develop a plan to improve response time. General information about the response time requirements and CPS policy will be disseminated to all local agencies.

DSS revised the CPS Manual in July of 2008 to incorporate recent legislative changes. The revisions included response time requirements for responding to CPS reports based on urgency and safety. With the decision to revitalize the existing automated data system in April of 2008, CPS staff consulted with the CPS Policy Advisory Committee to identify needed revisions to the existing response time report. This statistical report is expected to be available to LDSS and to DSS by January of 2009.

In addition, DSS is preparing a statewide assessment of its entire child welfare program as part of the July, 2009 federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR). One of the key safety outcomes that will be reviewed is the timeliness of response to CPS reports. The results of the statewide assessment and upcoming on site review will provide valuable information to improve CPS policy and procedures.

2. DSS will continue to support the development of an automated data system that provides more accurate information about the CPS program including services and response time.

In April of 2008, DSS terminated development of a new automated data system and revitalized the existing data system after approximately three years of minimal maintenance. Several significant changes to the automated data system will make it easier for local users to accurately enter CPS data and to more easily correct data entry errors. Those changes are expected to be made by March of 2009.

3. DSS will conduct additional analysis of CPS service cases including comparison of SDM pilot LDSS and non-SDM LDSS to determine how service needs are identified and provided.

The results of this analysis are included in the Special Topic section of this DRS Report.

4. DSS will continue to provide technical assistance to LDSS with inconsistent screen out practices and disseminate CPS policy regarding validity to all LDSS.

CPS regional staff provided technical assistance to LDSS to improve knowledge of CPS policy regarding the validity criteria for CPS reports. In addition, training for mandated reporters that is conducted by CPS staff emphasizes the information needed by LDSS to determine if the report is valid for a CPS response. DSS developed an online course for mandated reporters that provides an overview of the CPS Program and how to recognize and report suspected abuse or neglect. The course can be accessed at https://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/vissta/courses/cws5692/index.asp.

5. DSS should continue to address the strategies recommended in “A Blue Ribbon Plan to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia 2005 – 2009.” This includes participating in the Integrated Early Childhood State Plan in areas such as parent education and home visiting.

Staff participates on the Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC) and on the State Home Visiting Consortium (HVC). Both of these efforts link with the Blue Ribbon Plan to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia and also with the Smart Beginnings Initiative as part of the Integrated Early Childhood State Plan.