“Child Welfare Agencies and Citizen Review Panel

Collaboration: The Difficult--but Necessary--

Dance” Blake L. Jones, MSW, Ph.D.

University of Kentucky College of Social Work

ACF Region 4 CWCI Meeting

August 17, 2011

Atlanta, Georgia

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR YOUR STATE’S CITIZEN REVIEW

PANELS?

Arnstein’s “Ladder of Participation”

Citizen Participation in Other Fields

Public Administration (Box, 1998; Denhardt & Denhardt, 2000; King, Feltey, & Susel, 1998, Thomas, 1995)

> Shift from “informing” citizens of government projects to “involving” them (i.e., maximum feasible participation)

> Mixed results (Big question for administrators to answer: WHY are citizens being used?)

Environmental Issues (Peelle, et al., 1996)

“successful” citizen participation requires….

Agency clarity on goals and stakeholder roles in public participation

Top management commitment to the public participation process

Manager/leader goes beyond legal minimum

Agency responsiveness to stakeholders

Two-way communication and education

Adequate resources

Development of provisional trust between agency and public

Giving priority to trust building actions

Openness of the agency

Why is Citizen Participation in Public Child Welfare Important?

It prevents the child welfare agency from becoming a “system unto itself”

It moves us toward “community based” protection of children (the BEST way!)

Citizen can be advocates for the agency

It educates citizens about what is really happening with child abuse and neglect

It’s democracy in action….

An Auspicious Beginning?

“By allowing the Panels to have complete access to child protection cases, by requiring Panels to publicize their findings, and by requiring states to respond to criticisms and recommendations of the Panels, the Committee intends to subject states to public criticism and political repercussion if they fail to protect children”

~House report 104-081, p. 1

History of CRPsCitizen Review Panels were formed through a 1996 amendment to the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA)

3 panels per state by July, 1999 (some only needed one)

Each panel has the responsibility to review compliance of state and local CPS agencies with respect to:

state CAPTA plan (basically ANY child protective services)

Other criteria the panel considers important, which may include coordination with foster care and adoption programs and review of child fatalities and near fatalities

Requirements for Citizen Review Panels

Composed of volunteer members thatare broadly representative of the community in which they are operatinginclude individuals with expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect

Meet at least quarterly

Examine policies and procedures and, where appropriate, specific cases of both state and local agencies

Maintain confidentiality

Prepare an annual report with activities and recommendations

Requirements from 2003 CAPTA Reauthorization

Evaluate PRACTICES as well as policy and procedure

Develop a means for public comment

Child welfare agency is to respond in writing to annual report within six months

NEW from CAPTA 2010 Re-Authorization

CRPs “may include adult former victims of child abuse or neglect”

Directs Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the effectiveness of CRPs by 2012

Common Themes

CRP coordinated by someone from state child welfare agency

Struggle with “diverse” membership and involving “non-professionals”

Trouble in defining the “mission” and outcomes of CRP (“watchdog” vs. “advocate”)

Retention of members is difficult

Turnover in state agency (i.e., new administrations)

Difficulty in connecting with Child and Family Services Review

A Selection of CRP Successes Nationally

Minnesota CRPs have done research projects around the issue of father involvement in case planning

Maine hosted a large statewide child welfare conference in 2010, involving over 300 participants

South Carolina made the commitment to work with their child welfare agency and hosted the 2011 national conference

Wyoming has formed a CRP on the Wind River Indian Reservation

Examples of Recommendations Made Nationally

Child welfare agency should implement an online mandated reporter training (GA)

Develop a brochure to be given to families who are chosen as “kinship care” (SC)

The Child Welfare Agency and the Department of Education should develop a joint training on child abuse to be given to teachers and other school personnel (NJ)

CPS caseworkers should receive additional training on identifying child and family needs related to mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders (NV)

Use a “risk simulator” similar to the ones used by police to train social workers (KY)

Challenges to Collaboration

Citizens have trouble understanding complexities of state agencies (“Feel like we’re treading water”)

Difficulty in choosing evaluative topics of any substance and value

CRPs get lost in the sea of “citizen groups” who are charged with evaluating CPS

More obstacles…

Distrust from frontline workers

Overwhelming nature of NCANS, PIP, CFSR, etc.

Time lag between when new initiatives are launched and CRPs are informed (“we had to read it in the paper…”)

Some members see Panels as a way to “stick it to” the child protection system

Research tells us that Citizen Review Panels generally do better when they are…

Given access to information

Consulted EARLY in the policy development process

Given FEEDBACK about their recommendations

Provided staff and other logistical support

Are part of a thoughtful, well-defined process rather than a “feel good” exercise

What Makes a “Bad” CRP?

Unclear or conflicting goals

Poor leadership from chairperson

No follow through on commitments

“axe grinders”

Lack of communication from child welfare agency

“Policy overload”

Membership turnover (always “starting from scratch”)

The Elements of Successful Citizen Review Panels

A clear focus and strategic plan

A trusting relationship with the child welfare system

Ability to view the “big picture” of incremental change within large bureaucracies

Staff and other logistical support

Ability to engage in ongoing dialogue (this is more than “trading reports”)

Ability to connect with other child advocates in the state

Meetings which are productive and move the group toward a common goal

What have we learned?

Clearly define roles of responsibilities of CRPs and child welfare agency (this should be spelled out in a Memo Of Agreement)

Give feedback to Panels about what happens to their recommendations. If they are not feasible, say so, and explain why

Create consistent “point persons” within the agency to answer critical questions.

Have a way for members to cycle on and off the Panel

What have we learned?

Work on team development (use cohesion scale to assess)

Work with Chairperson to develop her or his leadership abilities

Provide at least a part-time paid staff person (be CREATIVE, sub-contract with a University to coordinate CRPs)

Celebrate successes and improvements

Value citizenship

An Example of a Successful CRP Topic

TOPIC: How frontline Kentucky child welfare workers are trained to respond to “meth” cases

KY CRP reviewed policy, talked with frontline workers and supervisors, law enforcement, first responders

RESULT: Changes in policy which made workers and children safer

Selected ReferencesBryan, V., Collins-Camargo, C., & Jones, B. (2011). Reflections on citizen-state child welfare partnerships: Listening to citizen review panel volunteers and agency liaisons. Children and Youth Services Review, 32, 1, 986-1010.

Bryan, V., Jones, B.L. & Lawson. (2010). Key features of effective citizen–state child welfare partnerships: Findings from a national study of citizen review panels. Children and Youth Services Review, 32, 4, 595-603.

Collins-Camargo, C., Jones, B.L, & Krusich, S. (2009). The “Spinach” of Citizen Participation in Public Child Welfare: Strategies for Involving Citizens in Public Child Welfare. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 3, 287-304.

Jones, B.L. & Royse, D. (2008) Citizen review panels: The connection between training and perceived effectiveness. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal) 32, 1-2.

Bryan, V., Jones, B.L., Allen, E. & Collins-Camargo, C. (2007) Child and Youth Services Review Civic Engagement or Token Participation? Perceived Impact of the Citizen Review Panel Initiative in Kentucky. 29, 1286–1300

Jones, B.L. & Royse, D. (2008) Citizen review panels for child protective services: A national profile. Child Welfare, (87), 3, 143-162.

Jones, B. L. (2004) Variables Impacting the Effectiveness of Citizens Review Panels For Child Protective Services: A Multi-state Study. Children and Youth Services Review, (26) 12, 1117-1127.

Jones, B.L., Litzelfelner, P. & Ford, J.P. (2003) Making a Change or Making a Report: Change Perceptions of Citizens Review Panel Members and Child Protective Workers. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal., (27) 699-704.

Litzelfelner, P., Collins-Camargo, C. & Jones, B. L. (2003) Models for Involving Citizens in the Child Welfare System in Kentucky: An Overview. Kentucky Children’s Rights

Journal., Spring, 2003.

Practical AdviceDo…..

Focus on building a trusting, honest relationship with your child welfare agency

Become an integral part of the Program Improvement Plan!!!!

Do a “project” during the year (i.e., host a conference, do a community service project, do something for frontline workers)

Develop a mechanism whereby you follow your recommendations over the years

Get a practicum student

Try to find a project that aligns with the PIP!

Don’t….Choose a work project that is

large and unmanageable

Spend your time in meetings “chasing rabbits”

Neglect the health of your group

Be afraid to ask for what you need, but….

Don’t get overly defensive if the answer is “no”

SMART Indicators for CRP Topics

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Time Limited

The national scene…

University of Kentucky is the organizing “hub” for Citizen Review Panels

National Citizen Review Panel Virtual Community (www.uky.edu/socialwork/crp)

* Annual Reports* Training Materials* Sign up for Listserv* Information from Annual Reports* Articles, Tip Sheets

National CRP Conference will be held in Washington, DC on April 15-17, 2012