Child and Family
Services Reviews
Summary of
Findings Form
January 2007
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
Instructions .................................................................................................................................... 2
General Information ..................................................................................................................... 3
I. Safety ................................................................................................................................... 4
Outcome S1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse
and neglect. ..................................................................................................................................................4
Outcome S2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever
possible and appropriate. .......................................................................................................................6
II. Permanency ......................................................................................................................... 7
Outcome P1: Children have permanency and stability in their
living situations. .........................................................................................................................................7
Outcome P2: The continuity of family relationships and connections
is preserved for children. ..................................................................................................................... 10
III. Child and Family Well-Being .......................................................................................... 13
Outcome WB1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for
their children’s needs. ........................................................................................................................... 13
Outcome WB2: Children receive appropriate services to meet
their educational needs. ........................................................................................................................ 15
Outcome WB3: Children receive adequate services to meet
their physical and mental health needs. ......................................................................................... 16
IV. Statewide Information System ........................................................................................ 17
V. Case Review System ......................................................................................................... 18
VI. Quality Assurance System ............................................................................................... 20
VII. Staff and Provider Training ............................................................................................ 21
VIII. Service Array and Resource Development .................................................................... 23
IX. Agency Responsiveness to the Community .................................................................... 25
X. Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing, Recruitment, and Retention ......................... 27
XI. Determination Of Substantial Conformity .................................................................... 29
Introduction
During the onsite review, each local review team completes a Summary of Findings Form. The
Form includes sections for each of the three outcome areas and each of the seven systemic areas
being reviewed. For each outcome listed, subsections are provided to record the number of cases
reviewed by the team according to the degree to which the outcome was determined by the
reviewers to be achieved, followed by a list of each indicator used to evaluate the outcome. For
each systemic factor listed, subsections are provided to record the State’s substantial conformity,
or lack thereof, followed by the State plan requirements used to evaluate each systemic factor.
The form also includes sections used to record areas determined by the review team to be
operating in substantial conformity with applicable State plan requirements and those determined
not to be in substantial conformity. At the conclusion of the review, the Team Leader compiles
the forms from the local sites into one form.
The Summary of Findings Form is designed to:
Provide a format for each local onsite review team to identify its collective findings
based on the activities conducted by the team in a particular review site.
Provide a format for recording information obtained during the onsite review
applicable to the outcomes and systemic factors being reviewed, including
information obtained from case reviews and stakeholder interviews.
Provide a format for all the local review teams to consolidate their information into
one comprehensive report to the State agency.
When completed, following the onsite review, serve as the final report of the review
to the State agency that includes the summary of the review findings and the
determination of substantial conformity.
Summary of Findings Form 1
Instructions
Each review team member should receive a copy of the form that includes the Preliminary
Assessment information. However, each local review team will submit only one completed form
that includes the results of the local team’s findings of the onsite review as compiled at the local
team’s final debriefing. The Local Site Leader must ensure that the form is completed and
submitted by the end of the onsite review. For each outcome (sections I–III), the team should
record the number of cases they reviewed in which that particular outcome was determined to be
substantially achieved, partially achieved, or not achieved or addressed by the agency under
review. Each systemic factor (sections IVX) should be marked by the team as in substantial
conformity with State plan requirements or not in substantial conformity.
Each performance indicator (items 145) following the outcomes and systemic factors should be
judged by the team as primarily a strength or primarily an area needing improvement,
recognizing there may be some identified strengths and needs within any one indicator. The basis
for rating each performance indicator should be specific, should substantiate the rating, and
should note the source of the information, i.e., case reviews, stakeholder interviews, or the self-
assessment.
In the debriefing of the State Review Team near the conclusion of the onsite review, the team
should complete one consolidated form that incorporates the findings of each local team and
includes and addresses each section of the Preliminary Assessment. The team should complete
the final section of the form (section XI), indicating those areas determined to be operating in
substantial conformity with applicable requirements and those areas not in substantial
conformity. The team will identify the specific performance indicators needing improvement in
each area determined not to be in substantial conformity, to assist the State in developing its
Program Improvement Plan. Following the onsite review, the Children’s Bureau Regional Office
Review Team Leader will refine and supplement the form as needed, verify the areas of
nonconformity, and submit the completed form to the State agency as the Final Report of the
review.
2 Summary of Findings Form
General Information
State:
Date of Onsite Review:
Children’s Bureau Program Specialist:
Select One:
State Summary of Findings Form
State Team Leaders:
Local Site Summary of Findings Form
Site:
Local Site Leaders:
Summary of Findings Form 3
I. SAFETY
Outcome S1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Conformity of statewide data indicators with national standards:
Does Not Meet
National Standard State’s Percentage Meets Standard
Standard
Absence of Maltreatment Recurrence
Absence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect
in Foster Care
Item 1. Timeliness of initiating investigations of reports of child maltreatment
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
4 Summary of Findings Form
I. Safety
Item 2. Repeat maltreatment
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 5
I. Safety
Outcome S2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Item 3. Services to family to protect child(ren) in the home and prevent removal or re-entry into foster care
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 4. Risk assessment and safety management
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
6 Summary of Findings Form
II. PERMANENCY
Outcome P1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Conformity of statewide data indicators with national standards:
Does Not Meet
National Standard State’s Percentage Meets Standard
Standard
Timeliness and Permanency of
Reunifications
Timeliness of Adoptions
Achieving Permanency for Children in
Foster Care
Placement Stability
Item 5. Foster care re-entries
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 7
II. Permanency
Item 6. Stability of foster care placement
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 7. Permanency goal for child
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 8. Reunification, Guardianship, or Permanent Placement With Relatives
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
8 Summary of Findings Form
II. Permanency
Item 9. Adoption
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 10. Other planned permanent living arrangement
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 9
II. Permanency
Outcome P2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Item 11. Proximity of foster care placement
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 12. Placement with siblings
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
10 Summary of Findings Form
II. Permanency
Item 13. Visiting with parents and siblings in foster care
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 14. Preserving connections
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 15. Relative placement
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 11
II. Permanency
Item 16. Relationship of child in care with parents
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
12 Summary of Findings Form
III. CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING
Outcome WB1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Item 17. Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 18. Child and family involvement in case planning
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 13
III. Child and Family Well-Being
Item 19. Caseworker visits with child
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 20. Caseworker visits with parents
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
14 Summary of Findings Form
III. Child and Family Well-Being
Outcome WB2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Item 21. Educational needs of the child
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 15
III. Child and Family Well-Being
Outcome WB3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.
Number of cases reviewed by the team according to degree of outcome achievement:
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Total Number Total Percentage
Substantially Achieved:
Partially Achieved:
Not Achieved or Addressed:
Not Applicable:
Item 22. Physical health of the child
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 23. Mental/behavioral health of the child
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
16 Summary of Findings Form
IV. STATEWIDE INFORMATION SYSTEM
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating
1 2 3 4
Item 24. The State is operating a statewide information system that, at a minimum, can readily identify the legal status,
demographic characteristics, location, and goals for the placement of every child who is (or within the immediately
preceding 12 months, has been) in foster care.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 17
V. CASE REVIEW SYSTEM
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 25. The State provides a process that ensures that each child has a written case plan to be developed jointly with the
child’s parent(s) that includes the required provisions.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 26. The State provides a process for the periodic review of the status of each child, no less frequently than once every 6
months, either by a court or by administrative review.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
18 Summary of Findings Form
V. Case Review System
Item 27. The State provides a process that ensures that each child in foster care under the supervision of the State has a
permanency hearing in a qualified court or administrative body no later than 12 months from the date the child
entered foster care and no less frequently than every 12 months thereafter.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 28. The State provides a process for termination of parental rights proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the
Adoption and Safe Families Act.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 29. The State provides a process for foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of children in foster
care to be notified of, and have an opportunity to be heard in, any review or hearing held with respect to the child.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 19
VI. QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 30. The State has developed and implemented standards to ensure that children in foster care are provided quality
services that protect the safety and health of the children.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 31. The State is operating an identifiable quality assurance system that is in place in the jurisdictions where the services
included in the Child and Family Services Plan are provided, evaluates the quality of services, identifies strengths
and needs of the service delivery system, provides relevant reports, and evaluates implemented program
improvement measures.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
20 Summary of Findings Form
VII. STAFF AND PROVIDER TRAINING
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 32. The State is operating a staff development and training program that supports the goals and objectives in the Child
and Family Services Plan, addresses services provided under titles IV-B and IV-E, and provides initial training for
all staff who deliver these services.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 33. The State provides for ongoing training for staff that addresses the skills and knowledge base needed to carry out
their duties with regard to the services included in the Child and Family Services Plan.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 21
VII. Staff and Provider Training
Item 34. The State provides training for current or prospective foster parents, adoptive parents, and staff of State licensed or
approved facilities that care for children receiving foster care or adoption assistance under title IV-E that addresses
the skills and knowledge base needed to carry out their duties with regard to foster and adopted children.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
22 Summary of Findings Form
VIII. SERVICE ARRAY AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 35. The State has in place an array of services that assess the strengths and needs of children and families and determine
other service needs, address the needs of families in addition to individual children in order to create a safe home
environment, enable children to remain safely with their parents when reasonable, and help children in foster and
adoptive placements achieve permanency.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 36. The services in item 35 are accessible to families and children in all political jurisdictions covered in the State’s Child
and Family Services Plan.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 23
VIII. Service Array and Resource Development
Item 37. The services in item 35 can be individualized to meet the unique needs of children and families served by the agency.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
24 Summary of Findings Form
IX. AGENCY RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 38. In implementing the provisions of the Child and Family Services Plan, the State engages in ongoing consultation with
tribal representatives, consumers, service providers, foster care providers, the juvenile court, and other public and
private child- and family-serving agencies and includes the major concerns of these representatives in the goals and
objectives of the Child and Family Services Plan.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 39. The agency develops, in consultation with these representatives, Annual Progress and Services Reports pursuant to
the Child and Family Services Plan.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 25
IX. Agency Responsiveness to the Community
Item 40. The State’s services under the Child and Family Services Plan are coordinated with services or benefits of other
Federal or federally assisted programs serving the same population.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
26 Summary of Findings Form
X. FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENT LICENSING, RECRUITMENT, AND RETENTION
Rating of Review Team Regarding Substantial Conformity
Not in Substantial Conformity Substantial Conformity
Rating 1 2 3 4
Item 41. The State has implemented standards for foster family homes and child care institutions that are reasonably in
accord with recommended national standards.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 42. The standards are applied to all licensed or approved foster family homes or child care institutions receiving title
IV-E or IV-B funds.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Summary of Findings Form 27
X. Foster and Adoptive Parent Licensing, Recruitment, and Retention
Item 43. The State complies with Federal requirements for criminal background clearances as related to licensing or
approving foster care and adoptive placements and has in place a case planning process that includes provisions for
addressing the safety of foster care and adoptive placements for children.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 44. The State has in place a process for ensuring the diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families who
reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children in the State for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
Item 45. The State has in place a process for the effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources to facilitate timely adoptive or
permanent placements for waiting children.
Strength Area Needing Improvement
Basis:
28 Summary of Findings Form
XI. DETERMINATION OF SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMITY
For each outcome and systemic factor listed below, mark “Y” where the State is determined to be in substantial conformity and “N” where the State is
determined not to be in substantial conformity. For each outcome or systemic factor marked “N,” place a check beside the performance indicator, listed by item
number in this form, that has been determined to be an area needing improvement.
Safety Child and Family Well-Being _____ Quality Assurance System
_____ Outcome S1 _____ Outcome WB1 _____ Item 30
_____ Item 31
_____ Item 1 _____ Item 17
_____ Item 2 _____ Item 18 _____ Staff and Provider Training
_____ Item 19
_____ Outcome S2 _____ Item 20 _____ Item 32
_____ Item 33
_____ Item 3 _____ Outcome WB2 _____ Item 34
_____ Item 4
_____ Item 21 _____ Service Array and Resource Development
Permanency
_____ Outcome WB3 _____ Item 35
_____ Outcome P1 _____ Item 36
_____ Item 22 _____ Item 37
_____ Item 5 _____ Item 23
_____ Item 6 _____ Agency Responsiveness to the
_____ Item 7 Systemic Factors Community
_____ Item 8
_____ Item 9 _____ Statewide Information System _____ Item 38
_____ Item 10 _____ Item 39
_____ Item 24 _____ Item 40
_____ Outcome P2
_____ Case Review System _____ Foster and Adoptive Parent
_____ Item 11 Licensing, Recruitment, and
_____ Item 12 _____ Item 25 Retention
_____ Item 13 _____ Item 26
_____ Item 14 _____ Item 27 _____ Item 41
_____ Item 15 _____ Item 28 _____ Item 42
_____ Item 16 _____ Item 29 _____ Item 43
_____ Item 44
_____ Item 45
G:\child\SumFind\Current SFF.doc
Summary of Findings Form 29