NCJ Number
234977
Date Published
January 2010
Length
89 pages
Annotation
This report on California's application of the SDM (structured decision making) model in foster care cases examines the relationship between foster care case assessment findings and two case outcomes that reflect permanency and safety, i.e., child reunification and foster care reentry; evaluates the utility of both assessments as constructs for improving reunification and reentry outcomes; and proposes change in assessment procedure or content to improve performance.
Abstract
Although the findings confirm the predictive validity of both assessments, the validation samples in which the tests were conducted were not representative of all foster care cases served in the 17 sample counties. This is because workers did not complete the family strengths and needs assessment (FSNA) and California reunification reassessment (CRR) assessments for all cases, and because the assessments were much more likely to be completed for cases that remain in foster care for a longer period. The study concludes that the FSNA and CRR are apparently achieving their intended purpose when workers rely upon them to help assess families. It recommends that counties encourage workers to complete the FSNA and CRR for all cases within time frames established by policy guidelines. Other recommendations are for supervisors/managers to monitor completion of the assessments; the clarification of current policy on assessment requirements for returning a child home shortly after placement entry; increase worker understanding of both the FSNA and CRR by developing an advanced training that emphasizes worker case planning; and revise current definitions for estimating client case-plan progress when developing the new core curriculum. 5 tables and 22 references