Child Welfare Today - Florida`s Center for Child Welfare

Florida Department of Children and Families—Office of Child Welfare Publication
April Edition 2015
Child Welfare Today
Safety.
Inside this
Issue
Highlights
Pg. 1-3
Policy &
Waivers
Pg. 4
Reviews &
Reports
Pg. 5-7
Updates &
Upcoming
Projects
Pg. 7-9
Florida Safe
Families
Network
Information
Pg. 9-11
Trainings &
Meetings
Pg. 12-14
Permanency. Child Well-Being. Family Well-Being.
Highlights
Rapid Safety Feedback:
Creating Child Welfare Practice Experts and the Road to
Proficiency
Rapid Safety Feedback was implemented to provide coaching to child protective
investigators (CPI) and supervisors on investigations involving children under age 4
who have multiple risk factors such as parental substance abuse and domestic
violence history. Rapid Safety Feedback looks at CPI investigations in “real time”
while the investigation is open. This provides an opportunity for the Critical Child
Safety Reviewer to engage the CPI and supervisor in discussions about patterns,
potential danger threats, parental protective capacities, and child vulnerability. In
describing the Rapid Safety Feedback model, Secretary Carroll has previously
stated “I would much rather be engaged in reviewing cases when they’re active and
making decisions regarding our intervention than doing a retrospective review after
a bad outcome and trying to figure out what we missed.”
Employees doing this work must be proficient in the Child Welfare Practice Model in
order to provide sufficient guidance and support to CPIs and supervisors. Reviewer
proficiency is vital to ensuring CPIs are practicing the Child Welfare Practice Model
with fidelity and sufficiently assessing child safety.
Secretary Carroll believes there are talented employees within the Department who
have extensive child welfare experience but need additional training to become
“child welfare practice experts.” To achieve this, the Department will invest in a
core team of employees who will form the newly created Critical Child Safety Team
in each region. This investment will create what Secretary Carroll describes as “solid
chocolate bunnies versus hollow chocolate bunnies”. Employees will be the best of
the best and filled with the knowledge and training needed to be an expert. To
achieve this, the Office of Child Welfare is working with the Department’s
human resources division to create a proficiency process that
ensures the new positions are truly the “experts” in child welfare
and their Rapid Safety Feedback reviews are accomplished with
fidelity to the Child Welfare Practice Model.
April 2015
Florida’s IV-E Waiver Demonstration
One of the conditions for the IV-E Waiver is for the state to engage a third party evaluator to conduct an
evaluation of the waiver demonstration program. In January 2015, the Department and the University of
South Florida, Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) entered into a contract for the purpose of evaluating the
use of the IV-E funds and determining the effectiveness of an expanded array of services and supports in
improving permanency, safety, and well-being outcomes for children. This evaluation will include periodic
stakeholder interviews with child welfare professionals.
The context for Florida’s waiver demonstration renewal is the recent implementation of the Safety
Methodology which provides a set of core constructs for determining when children are unsafe, the risk of
subsequent harm to the child, and strategies to engage caregivers in achieving change. These core constructs
are shared by child protective investigators, child welfare case managers, and community-based providers of
substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence services. Other key contextual factors include the role
of Community-Based Care (CBC) lead agencies as key partners with shared local accountability in the delivery
of child welfare services as well as the broader system partners including the judicial system.
The assumption is that implementation of the Safety Methodology will enhance the skills of child protective
investigators, child welfare case managers, and their supervisors in assessing safety, risk of subsequent harm,
and strategies to engage caregivers in enhancing their protective capacities including the appropriate
selection and implementation of community-based services.
The waiver funding flexibility will lead to changes in or expansion of the existing child welfare service array for
many, if not all, of the lead agencies. Consistent with the CBC model, the flexibility will be used differently by
each lead agency, based on the unique needs of the communities they serve. The Department is conducting
an assessment of the availability of the service array in partnership with the CBCs and the case management
organizations. The survey also asks about the level of evidence based/evidence informed effectiveness of the
current service array. The results of the survey will inform the CBCs’ decisions regarding the local expansion of
services that is made possible by the waiver’s funding flexibility.
For information on Florida’s IV-E Demonstration Waiver, please contact Sallie Bond, Office of Child Welfare, at
[email protected].
Quality Parenting Initiative
The Department partnered with the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) for a statewide kick-off meeting to
launch a teen foster home recruitment initiative. The teen recruitment initiative is part of Secretary Carroll’s
overall goal of ensuring all children in care are placed in quality foster homes for more children to live in
families. Secretary Carroll met with Office of Child Welfare personnel and CBC and QPI leadership on Friday,
March 13, in Tampa to identify barriers, assess resources, and hear from teens and experts on ways to engage
more foster parents in teens' success. Please be on the lookout for future steps in upcoming newsletters.
2
April 2015
Spotlight: Human Trafficking Prevention Director
Kimberly Grabert
Statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Director Kimberly Grabert joined the Department in 2001 and has
served as a child protective investigator, CPI supervisor, program administrator and circuit community
development administrator. In her more than fifteen years of child welfare experience, she also has worked
as a targeted case manager for children with mental illness and a volunteer Guardian ad Litem. As a student
at American University prior to joining the Department, Kim received her first training in child abuse and
neglect investigations and rape investigations, as an intern in Naval Criminal Investigative Services on a Sex
Crimes, Child Abuse, and Family Violence project. Kim is a certified public manager and holds a master’s
degree in public administration.
Kim is energized, hard-working, and driven to make a difference for youth and young adults who are victims
of human trafficking. Kim’s passion and depth of knowledge shine through whether she’s presenting a
legislative update to lawmakers or their staff, developing partnerships among state, community and even
federal stakeholders, training co-workers at the Hotline or in child protective investigations or case
management, or speaking at a local awareness event.
Kim has shared her human trafficking and child welfare policy expertise with child welfare and government
officials in other states, as well as with officials from the Qatar Foundation for Protection and Social
Rehabilitation in the Middle Eastern State of Qatar, who were seeking Cooperative Strategies for Combating
Trafficking in Persons as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The
success of that meeting in Orlando in October 2014 led representatives of the World Affairs Council to
request a similar upcoming meeting with Kim and officials from Malaysia.
In January, Kim attended an Orlando Human Trafficking Awareness Day event, where she was honored with
a Polaris Award from the nonprofit advocacy organization, Florida Abolitionist. In addition, she was recently
invited to be a part of Shared Hope International’s JuST (Juvenile Sex Trafficking) Response Experts Council,
a group of top voices in the field, known for expertise in policy, systems, research, law enforcement, the faith
community, survivors, and advocacy.
Statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Director Kimberly Grabert
(center) is pictured with DJJ Human Trafficking Deputy Director
Tyson Elliott (left) and Office of Adoption and Child Protection
Director and Chief Child Advocate Zackary Gibson at Orlando Human Trafficking Awareness Day in January.
3
April 2015
Policy & Waivers
Amended Birth Certificate Waiver for Children
in Out-of-Home Care
The Office of Child Welfare, Children’s Legal Services and the Department of Revenue/Child Support Program
have been working on a joint project for several months. The two main project goals:


Obtain credit for paternity establishment, and
Waiver of the $20 fee for amended birth certificates.
The state must meet a Paternity Establishment Percentage of 90% each year to avoid financial penalties
through a reduction to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant (see 45 Code of
Federal Regulations section 305.40). This project was preempted by the state falling short of its goal for
paternity establishment in a recent year.
The state’s Paternity Establishment Percentage is significantly impacted by the number of children for whom
paternity is established or adoption is confirmed through dependency. As a result, it is important that a child’s
birth record be updated in a timely manner. To help achieve the goal, the Office of Vital Statistics has agreed
to waive the $20 fee for an amended birth certificate for children born in Florida out of wedlock and are
dependent.
Look for the memorandum about this issue and what is needed to obtain an amended birth certificate free of
charge. For information, please contact Sallie Bond, Office of Child Welfare, at
[email protected].
Chapter 65C-38
Chapter 65C-38, F.A.C., was filed with the Department of State on February 4, 2015 and became effective on
February 24, 2015. Entitled “State Automated Child Welfare System (SACWIS) Checks for the Placement of
Children,” the rules established standards for evaluating any information contained in SACWIS related to a
person who must be screened for purposes of making a placement decision, as well as codifies federal
requirements for out-of-state child welfare background checks for purposes of making a placement decision.
For more information , please contact Jodi Abramowitz at [email protected].
4
April 2015
Reviews & Reports
Annual Progress and Services Report
States are required to submit an Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR) to the Administration for
Children and Families in June each year. The APSR provides an annual update on the progress made towards
accomplishing the goals and objectives in the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP). It also provides updates
on the planned activities for the upcoming federal fiscal year.
The APSR is a vital report for receipt of federal funds that support child welfare. If the APSR submission does
not address all of the federal requirements, federal funds will be withheld until the information is complete
and approval granted.
When preparing the APSR, the Office of Child Welfare will be engaging the CBCs, courts, tribes, foster parents
and other stakeholders and partners. Look for more information on the APSR in future newsletters.
Previously approved APSRs are located on the CENTER’s web site at
http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/HorizontalTab/AnnualReports.shtml.
For information, please contact Sallie Bond, Office of Child Welfare, at [email protected].
Quality Assurance Reviews of Child Fatalities
The Department has implemented requirements for a QA Review of any child fatality where there was a prior
child abuse and/or neglect history (regardless of maltreatment findings) on the decedent, siblings, or other
children in the household, within the previous five years. These reviews will focus on an assessment of
practice at critical junctures in previous investigations or service cases. These reviews support the
Department’s ongoing effort to prevent future child fatalities and further support transparency and
accountability. All reports will be posted on the Department’s Child Fatality Website
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childfatality/ . For information contact [email protected].
5
April 2015
National Child Welfare
Outcomes Report
The Children’s Bureau has published the most
current Child Welfare Outcomes data for the 2010 to
2013 time period. The Child Welfare Outcomes is
published annually by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services and provides
information on the performance of states in seven
outcome categories. The outcomes used in the
report reflect widely accepted performance objectives for child welfare practice. The report can be
accessed at http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data/
overview.
Florida Abuse Hotline
Quality Assurance Partnership
Reviews
The Summary and Findings Report for the 2nd
Quarter Florida Abuse Hotline Quality Assurance
Partnership Review is available on the Hotline's
intranet page at http://eww/hotline/reports/docs/
summary/FAHQAPRSummaryFinal01-2015.pdf.
The 3rd quarter partnership review will take place in
April, in which participants will review a sample size
of child and adult intakes that were assessed by the
Hotline from January to March 2015.
Child Protective Investigations Safety Methodology
Implementation Status February 1 - 28, 2015
6
April 2015
Ongoing Services Safety Implementation Status as of 03/08/15
Updates & Upcoming Projects
Child and Family Service Review ( CFSR) Update
Florida was pleased to host representatives from the Administration for Children and Families who made a
site visit in February. Shalonda Cawthon, Regional Program Manager, Elizabeth Wynn, Child and Family
Program Specialist, and James Gregory, MSW, CFSR Program Specialist from Washington, D.C. spent two full
days learning about the many initiatives currently underway in Florida and planning for the 2016 state CFSR
review. In March, the Department will begin discussions about the Florida CFSR sample with the Children’s
Bureau Measurement, Analysis and Sampling Committee (MASC). Additionally, work has begun on our
statewide assessment that will be due in December 2015. For information contact, please contact Eleese Davis
at [email protected].
7
April 2015
Personal Health Care Records Pilot
During the 2013 session, the Legislature provided specific funding to procure an internet-based personal
health record (PHR) system for foster children, and the Department selected a PHR solution created by Five
Points Technology Group for pilot implementation. The baseline Five Points Jump Vault system has been
extended to include a PHR section that is integrated with the Sunshine Health system (CBCIH) that allows for
the electronic download and display of basic Sunshine Heath information while still allowing for youth and
caregivers to personally upload photos and information related to education, employment, and personal
contacts. The scope of the current pilot involves children that are currently residing in foster homes, group
homes, or adoptive placements that are between the ages of 12-17.
After an initial testing period in late 2014, Five Points launched the Jump Vault PHR system with Partnership
for Strong Families and Five Points is now working on implementation with Community Based Care of Central
Florida. Five Points is ready to expand the Jump Vault PHR system to the remaining CBCs and has developed
a proposed rollout schedule that includes time to increase awareness of system features and provide training
opportunities for youth, caregivers, and CBC staff. This schedule goes beyond the current pilot end date of
June 30, 2015, so the full completion of the plan will be contingent on available funding to extend the project.
Five Points is in the process of reaching out to the remaining CBCs to determine whether the proposed rollout
schedule works and to begin pre-implementation planning. Please contact [email protected] if
you have any comments or questions related to this project.
National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE)
Florida continues to participate as a pilot state in the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise
(NEICE), a national electronic system for processing cases under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of
Children (ICPC). NEICE is based off of Florida’s Interstate Compact System (ICS) and is showing promising
results in reducing the processing time for ICPC cases. The pilot is extended to May 2015 with plans for
nationwide implementation to begin in June. On February 1-4, a team from Florida attended a NEICE summit
in Washington, D.C. along with individuals from the project management team, advisory council, and other
pilot states. Courtney Lee, the ICPC Compact Administrator for Florida, participated in a congressional
briefing and discussed the development of ICS and Florida’s experience with NEICE. For additional
information about NEICE, please contact Courtney Lee at [email protected].
8
April 2015
Coming Soon: Criminal Justice Information Services Projects
The Office of Child Welfare is preparing to kick-off two projects to modernize practices specific to driver/
vehicle and criminal justice information. Objectives of the project include initiating new/revising current
operating procedures, implementing of auditing processes, creating system user guides, and including related
information on the Department's intranet. An email requesting nominations for the project teams was sent to
program and regional leadership. If you are interested in providing input, and/or participating with one or
both of the project teams, please contact Travis Paulk at [email protected]
Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) Information
FSFN System Adoption Initiative
The Office of Child Welfare and the Office of Information Technology Services launched the FSFN System
Adoption Initiative to realize Florida’s efforts to achieve SACWIS compliance. A common theme identified
during the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) SACWIS Assessment Review Report (SARR)
indicated that the FSFN system is not utilized in a manner that is consistent with SACWIS requirements.
Significant safety methodology, financial, and eligibility system enhancements were and are about to be
implemented between 2012 and 2015, to address identified system deficiencies. In order to evaluate the
implementation and support full system adoption by the diverse user community, the state established a
FSFN System Adoption Initiative.
The charge of this initiative is to work individually with each CBC agency to identify all the systems outside of
FSFN that are utilized, identify what systems are duplicative with FSFN capability, look at the other systems
that support CBC's business practice and support the development of an individualized System Adoption Plan
for each agency. This plan must support an efficient and effective technology process that achieves SACWIS
compliance and supports each CBC's systems for their business practice. The purpose of this initiative is to
outline, track and monitor the activities required to ensure the FSFN system is fully adopted in a SACWIS
compliant manner by all Community-Based Care agencies.
The Department is currently in an approved action plan state for Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS). Following the original SACWIS Assessment Review Report (SARR), DCF produced
an action plan to meet the non-confirming requirements. To view a national look at states SACWIS
compliance please view http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/resource/sacwis-status. For more information
about the System Adoption Initiative contact Alicia Dyer at [email protected].
9
April 2015
FSFN Consultant Network
The role of the FSFN Consultant Network is to enhance the
understanding of the Florida Safe Families Network system
(FSFN) by promoting communication and ensuring
information is distributed to users to improve competency.
The members act as the vocal and visible project
ambassadors throughout the state and for their
representative regions, community-based care agencies, and
sheriff’s offices.
The FSFN Consultant Network provides support to the front
line staff across the state as well as being a liaison between
central office and the field. The FSFN Consultant Network
acts as a network of information sharing knowledge of FSFN
functionality between all stakeholders.
Upcoming “Tips of the Month”

Case Plan Worksheet

Progress Update

Judicial Review Worksheet
Competency in understanding the intricacies of FSFN is vital to overall child well-being and safety. FSFN is the
federally recognized system of record for the state of Florida. FSFN is the system by which the placement, legal
status and health information of all children in care is tracked. FSFN is designed as a cohesive system that
follows all cases from investigation to closure. This group of professionals represents various areas of child
welfare and they each have an area of expertise within FSFN. It is critically important that child-welfare workers
are aware of and can utilize the Network as a resource. It is also important to create an opportunity for other
professionals who may have an interest in joining this group to do so.
In instances in which changes must be made to FSFN, the Network, conducts research on those changes, which
assists in staying current on upcoming FSFN system changes and enhancements. Members of the FSFN
Consultant Network also participate in Users Acceptance Testing (UAT) for FSFN changes, defects and
enhancements.
The FSFN Consultant Network meets quarterly around the state; during these meetings, the members are made
aware of the status of the current or upcoming system roll-outs. Training on pertinent topics is provided as well
as information concerning the creation of reports that address performance and management.
Members of the FSFN Consultant Network also conduct presentations on various topics to share learning and to
create “Tip Sheets” that are posted monthly on the FSFN production system. These tip sheets provide step by
step instruction on how to operate various areas of functionality within FSFN.
The next FSFN Consultant Network meeting is located in Orlando on April 1st and 2nd. To learn more about the
FSFN Consultant Network and how to join, please contact Stacey Cleveland at
[email protected].
10
April 2015
Eligibility Enhancements and FSFN/FLORIDA
Medicaid Automation
The Eligibility Enhancements to support the full Title IV-E eligibility determination process will be completed
in conjunction with changes to enhance the FSFN to FLORIDA interface for Medicaid applications planned for
mid-April. This will allow us the time needed to deliver the additional design changes identified by the CBC
partners that participated in the first round of User Acceptance Testing for the Title IV-E enhancements. User
Acceptance testing will occur between 3/16-4/3. Thank you to everyone that participated in the initial User
Acceptance Testing process and has provided support to make sure we are all ready to implement these
enhancements into FSFN.
The Office of Child Welfare (OCW) adopted a Change Management Methodology on significant practice and
technology initiatives that includes a three-prong approach to assessing whether the initiative is ready for
implementation. The project team—which includes points of contact in each region—meets weekly to
consider the readiness of people, tools, and support networks impacted by the change. Stay tuned for
pre-implementation webinar training announcements.
While the project team will fully explain these resources in a ‘Get Set’ communication two-weeks prior to
go-live, here are some useful links to information currently available:

Eligibility Enhancements Project Overview:
http://fsfn.dcf.state.fl.us/docs/Eligibility%20Enhancement%20Project%20Overview%20v20150303.pdf

Federal and State Funding Eligibility—the updated operating procedure located at:
http://tinyurl.com/l773tlu.

A resource sheet explaining how CBC Revenue Maximization workers can access FLORIDA screens and
the Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS) is located at:
http://fsfn.dcf.state.fl.us/docs/EligibilityResourceSheet.pdf

An eligibility support page containing tip sheets is located at:
http://fsfn.dcf.state.fl.us/eligibility.shtml

Functional design specifications explaining the eligibility enhancements are located at:
http://tinyurl.com/ods5ep9

Eligibility Enhancements Upcoming Training Opportunities:
http://www.centerforchildwelfare.org/kb/policymemos/EligEnhancementsProject031615.pdf

A series of FSFN recorded demonstration have been made available on the Center for Child Welfare for
the upcoming Eligibility Enhancements, under Training, New Releases at:
http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/FSFN/FSFNTraining.shtml
Should you have any policy or practice related questions, please send them to
[email protected]. For questions regarding changes to FSFN, please contact Alicia Dyer
at [email protected].
11
April 2015
Trainings & Meetings
FCADV Regional Training
The Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence will host 4 one and half day Child Welfare Regional Training
sessions for local child welfare professionals, domestic violence advocates, and community partners in April
and May. Please see link for more information and registration: http://www.fcadv.org/events.
Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC)
The Child Care Training Information Center is located at the headquarters of the Office of Child Care
Regulation and Background Screening in Tallahassee and serves the entire state. The CCTIC provides
information about the training requirements for personnel of child care facilities and family day care homes.
The CCTIC also processes applications for Staff and Director Credentials, and schedules competency exams
that child care personnel must pass in order to retain employment in the child care industry.
The call center has 12 staff members (11 are part-time). There are two call center leads, Sonia Castorena and
Gabriela Martinez. Sonia organizes staff schedules, manages day-to-day operations and monitors calls for
quality assurance. Gabriela coordinates the credentials, from the initial intake to the final quality assurance
review, to ensure the accuracy of the credentialing decisions.
There are also call center staff members assigned to assist providers who receive their Level 2 background
screening through the Department of Children and Families. Assistance is provided in locating LiveScan
vendors in the community, finding lost or delayed screening results, and registering in the DCF Background
Screening Web Portal or the new Clearinghouse, which enables providers to access screening results on the
Internet.
The Child Care Training Information Center handles an average of 9,500 calls and processes 650 Staff and
Directors Credential applications on a monthly basis. The call center’s hours of operation are Monday through
Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. To reach the call center, dial toll-free: 1.888.352.2842.
12
April 2015
"Safe & Together" Is Back!
Effective immediately, a broad array of services are available under the Department's recently executed
contract with David Mandel & Associates. This contract offers Safe and Together model-based training and
case consultation consistent with the new Child Welfare Practice Model. The five year rate agreement with
David Mandel & Associates provides a Basic 4 Day Safety Methodology-DV Informed Training; 2
Day Advanced Florida Safety Methodology-Domestic Violence Informed Training and 2 Day Children’s Legal
Services Florida Safety Methodology-DV Informed Training. In addition, it offers flexible training days to
create tailored packages for Circuit or CBC/Lead Agency, case consultation services, online courses and
webinars. The trainings also include video clips, developed specifically for Florida DCF, which model
interviewing children, perpetrators, and survivors; supervisory conversations and consultation with co-located
domestic violence advocates. All training curricula was developed to incorporate safety methodology
constructs, recent statute changes, and the expansion of the FCADV funded co-located domestic violence
advocates.
If you have any questions about accessing these services, please contact the contract manager,
Charles Powell, at 850-717-4395 or by email at [email protected].
Upcoming Training Events
Date
Training
Location
Contact
April 14-15
Child Welfare Training Institute—FCADV Palm Beach, FL
Ghia C. Kelly
April 16-17
Child Welfare Training Institute—
FCADV
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ghia C. Kelly
May 12-15
Child Welfare Training Institute—
FCADV
Miami, FL
Ghia C. Kelly
May 28-29
Child Welfare Training Institute—
FCADV
Orlando, FL
Ghia C. Kelly
13
April 2015
ACF/SACWIS May Visit
Monthly Conference Calls
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
Children’s Bureau is coming to Florida on May 1215, 2015 to see and hear about how you are using
the FSFN system. The Children’s Bureau team is
interested in talking to you! During their visit,
Office of Child Welfare will provide a FSFN system
demonstration of the intake process, investigation
process, and ongoing services. The Children’s
Bureau Team’s will also be interviewing staff that
work in the system across the full spectrum of
functionality (hotline, investigations, case
management, eligibility, financial, and resource
management.) DCF is planning these visits with
Big Bend Community Based Care, Florida Support
Services of North Florida, Partnership for Strong
Families, CBC of Central Florida, and Kids Central.
Please contact Alicia Dyer at
[email protected] for more
information.
Hotline
Annual AAICPC Business Meeting
The Association of Administrators of the Interstate
Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC)
will hold its annual business meeting and child
welfare conference on April 24-April 28 in Reno,
Nevada. For more information on the conference,
please visit www.aphsa.org/content/AAICPC/en/
home.html.
The Florida Abuse Hotline hosts a monthly
conference call that occurs on the final Wednesday
of each month at 3:00 PM. The purpose of the call
is to serve as a forum for the Hotline to provide a
status update on Hotline projects, events, and
local points, and to respond to any questions or
issues presented.
A Hotline Manager engages monthly in a Hotline
fidelity call exercise with the Department's
partners at ACTION for Child Protection. Managers
submit assessments they conducted via telephone
with a reporter that suspects abuse or neglect of a
child. During the call, the manager and
participants discuss the interaction of the reporter
and the manager and assess the decisions made
during the assessment. The next Hotline Fidelity
Call is scheduled for Monday, April 13th at
9:00AM.
Please contact James Cheatham for more
information at
[email protected].
Interstate Compact for the Placement
of Children (ICPC)
The next ICPC monthly conference call will be held
on Wednesday, April 22 at 10:00 AM. To receive
the agenda for the call or join the ICPC mailing list,
please email Courtney Lee at
[email protected].
2015 Legislative Session
The 2015 Legislative Session opening day was March 3rd. There was a flurry of activity leading up to session
with proposed child welfare bills being filed that deal with adoptions, child care, establishment of
guardianship for children in foster care, establishment of criteria for placement in shift-care group homes,
expansion of tuition and fee exemptions for young adults previously in foster care, grandparent visitation
rights, and human trafficking. It looks like this will be another busy session for the Department and child
welfare!
14
April 2015
Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
Date
Meeting
Location
Contact
April 1-2
FSFN Consultant Network
Orlando, FL
Alicia Dyer
April 13
Hotline Fidelity Conference Call
Tallahassee, FL
James Cheatham
April 22
Monthly ICPC Conference Call
Tallahassee, FL
Courtney Lee
April 22-May 1
Hotline 3rd Quarter QA Partnership
Review
Tallahassee, FL
James Cheatham
April 24-28
AAICPC Annual Business Meeting
Reno, NV
Courtney Lee
April 30-May 1
Child Abuse and Neglect Conference
Jacksonville , FL
Audrey Ressler
May 19-21
Quarterly QA Manager’s Meeting
Ocala, FL
Eleese Davis
June 18
Quarterly Child Welfare Practice Task
Force Meeting
Tallahassee, FL
Alicia Dyer
June 29-July 1
Florida Coalition for Children
Conference
Orlando, FL
Melissa West
15