THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN OFR THE

							              SOUTH CAROLINA GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM
                          2011 STRATEGIC PLAN

       Overall Goal: Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of staff in enabling
         volunteers to advocate for safety, permanence and well-being of children.


Section 1: Technical Assistance and Supervisory Support to Counties

        OBJECTIVE 1: STAFF DEVELOPMENT. To develop and retain a well-
        trained, dedicated, and responsible staff that supports the volunteer
        guardians ad litem and promotes child welfare best practices.

    A. Provide timely in-depth training for new staff.
        1. Training of Facilitator and Case Manager training to be completed
        within one year of hire.
         2. Volunteer Management and PR/Recruitment modules to be completed
        upon development. [On-going]

    B. Provide continuing education on volunteer supervision and support to
        staff members in order to strengthen leadership skills and organizational
        stability. [On-going]

    C. Assess county office staffing to maximize effectiveness of positions and
        move positions where needed. [On-going]
    D. Regional Supervisors support county staff in areas experiencing
        vacancies. [On-going]
    E. Notify staff of CASA online opportunities for staff development, including
        Everyone Ready and online webinars. [On-going]

    F. Monitor staff to insure that they meet the 12 hours of continuing
        education requirement yearly. [On-going]


        OBJECTIVE 2. INTRA-AGENCY COMMUNICATION. Create
        opportunities for communication, networking, sharing of information and
        support for Guardian ad Litem staff.


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    A. Implement video conferencing for statewide, regional and local staff
        training. [June 30, 2011]
    B. Implement alternative strategies using web-based and self-paced
        technologies for regional and local staff trainings. [On-going]
    C. Offer learning opportunities via group e-mail and referral to pertinent web
        sites and training seminars. [On-going]
    D. Conduct regional staff meetings in each of 4 regions as needed.
        [December 31, 2011]


        OBJECTIVE 3: STAFF QUALITY ASSURANCE. Standardize employee
        duties and performance.


    A. Maintain current job descriptions on file at State Office and in the GAL
        Best Practices Manual. [On-going]
    B. Conduct annual performance reviews for all staff on anniversary dates of
        employment. (On-going by policy of the Governor’s Office)
    C. Ensure all Supervisors attend OEPP Supervisory Training. [On-going]
    D. Reduce staff cases to 10% or maximum of 2 per staff member in every
        county. [December 31, 2011]


        OBJECTIVE 4: RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. Research and implement
        opportunities to stabilize funding sources and support state and county
        operations.

    A. State staff conducts grants searches and makes application. [Continuous]
    B. Manage NCASAA and other grant monies to effectively provide for all of
        the counties. [On-going]

    C. Use ETO database to provide data for grant applications. [On-going]


    OBJECTIVE 5: NATIONAL AFFILIATION. Provide a link between National
        CASA and local GAL programs.



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    A. Use ETO database to compile county statistics and supply them to
        National CASA for use in national public relations and child welfare policy
        development efforts. [On-going]
    B. Inform county offices of NCASAA efforts on behalf of federal child welfare
        legislation and advocacy best practices. [On-going]
    C. Link County GAL offices to specific NCASAA training material and
        educational opportunities.


Section 2: Recruitment and Training

    OBJECTIVE 1: RECRUITMENT. To recruit sufficient volunteers to accept
        100% of new cases without increase of staff cases.

    A. County and regional staff, along with the PR team, will set training dates
        one year in advance within one month of new fiscal year. [July 31, 2011]

    B. PR and county staff as a team will develop and implement targeted
        recruitment campaigns 6 weeks prior to each scheduled training.
        [On-going]

    C. PR staff will produce high quality print media individualized for each
        county & disburse to county offices. [On-going]

    D. PR staff will incorporate National CASA materials into recruitment
        campaigns where appropriate. [On-going]
    E. PR and County staff will use ETO database research to measure
        effectiveness of recruitment efforts. [On-going]
    F. PR staff will implement social media strategies to improve recruitment at
        a county and state level. [On-going]

    G. Coordinate with the family court bench in all counties to conduct
        swearing-in ceremonies for volunteers to familiarize volunteers with the
        local courts. [On-going]




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    OBJECTIVE 2: VOLUNTEER TRAINING. To Improve and standardize
        advocacy by improving pre-service volunteer training.

    A. Coordinators and Case Managers will attend Training of Facilitators
        (TOF) training and demonstrate proficiency in adult learning principles to
        be measured through supervisor observation and student evaluations
        within one year of hire. [On-going]

    B. Monitor staff member performance of pre-service volunteer training to
        meet NCASAA training best practice standards. [Ongoing]
    C. Use NCASAA materials for pre-service volunteer training. [On-going]

    D. PR staff will assist at one session of each county training to model
        effective facilitation and adult learning principles. [On-going]
    E. Develop a pre-service training model that includes some portion of the
        30-hour curriculum on CD. [12/31/11]


    OBJECTIVE 3: PUBLIC AWARENESS: To increase public awareness about
        child abuse and neglect issues and the need for volunteer advocacy.

    A. Utilize national and statewide public relations opportunities offered by
        NCASAA as appropriate to South Carolina. [On-going]
    B. Review and disseminate updates from NCASAA about national child
        welfare issues. [On-going]
    C. Implement social media programs that develop a statewide public
        network of people interested in child advocacy issues.


Section 3: Retention

    OBJECTIVE 1: VOLUNTEER LONGEVITY: To retain pro-active, motivated,
        knowledgeable volunteers.

    A. State and Regional staff will assist county staff with volunteer supervision
        and retention activities in order to maintain the pool of available, qualified
        child advocates. [On-going]

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    B. Assist each county program with a written retention plan and monitor the
        success of the plan. [December 31, 2011]

    C. Develop county-specific retention activities to assist individual counties to
        meet or exceed the annual state retention rate. [On-going]
    D. Communicate with volunteers through: newsletters; post-case
        evaluations; Twitter messages; FACEBOOK; & email. [On-going]
    E. Identify volunteers who have excelled in advocacy and expand their
        training to include family finding searches and/or assignment to difficult
        and complex child cases. [On-going]


Section 4: Quality of Advocacy

    OBJECTIVE 1: MEASURING OUTCOMES: To assess the quality of
        advocacy by our volunteers and staff by measuring outcomes for children.

    A. Develop and implement an on-going case file audit system that ensures
        that advocacy for each case can be tracked for assurance of protection to
        children. Five percent (5%) of case files will be audited in each county a
        minimum of once every 3 months. [On-going]
    B. Implement use of ETO data system to focus on objective measures of
        tracking volunteer efforts to child outcomes. [On-going]
    C. Review efforts for older children to determine their readiness to age out at
        six month intervals beginning at age 16 years. [On-going]
    D. Review time frames every six months from ETO reports for achieving
        permanency by county and suggest improvements. [Begin July 1, 2011]
    E. Review ETO reports numbers of placements for children and develop
        strategies to decrease placements changes. [July 1, 2011]


    OBJECTIVE 2: COURT ADVOCACY: Use court advocacy to improve
        outcomes for children in a timely fashion.
    A. Track compliance to statutory timeframes for court hearings and produce
        a list of late hearings by county. [Begin July 1, 2011]


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    B. Train attorneys representing volunteer guardians ad litem to file motions
        and become pro-active in meeting statutory timeframes for merits
        hearings and permanency planning hearings by 12/31/11.
    C. Communicate with other agencies to determine how to ensure timeframes
        are met through 12/31/11.


OBJECTIVE 3. INTER-AGENCY COMMUNICATION. Create opportunities for
communication, networking, sharing of information and support for Guardian ad
Litem staff and volunteers.
      A. Participate in DSS initiatives for enhanced permanency for foster
          children.
      B. Spearhead Finding Family search training for volunteer guardian ad
          litem throughout the state.
      C. Partner with the Foster Parent Association to enhance foster parent
          training.
      D. Increased communications with Foster Care Review Board for difficult
          case resolution.


Section 5: Legal Issues

    OBJECTIVE 1: ATTORNEY CONTINUING EDUCATION: To provide better
        advocacy and representation by continuing education of attorneys
        representing volunteer guardians ad litem.

    A. Participate in developing topics and curriculum for attorneys who
        represent volunteer guardians ad litem in cooperation with the Children
        Law Center. [On-going]
    B. Provide training opportunities for GAL county program contract attorneys
        through the GAL Program state staff and Children’s Law Center. [On-
        going]




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    OBJECTIVE 2: CONTINUING EDUCATION: To improve knowledge of staff
        and volunteers about legal issues in order to provide more effective
        advocacy.

    A. Develop and implement a training module to be delivered by SC Guardian
        ad Litem staff members that prepares volunteers to advocate in cases
        with concurrent private action or concurrent criminal charges so that
        steps taken in the DSS case are not hindered by other litigations.
        [December 31, 2011]

    B. Invite the county contract attorney and other interested members of the
        local BAR to each pre-service training and selected in-service training.
        [On-going]
    C. The Guardian ad Litem Program General Counsel will provide staff
        members with updates on state legislative action impacting the state
        program via email, correspondence or presentation. [On-going]
    D. Disseminate current information to local Guardian ad Litem programs
        regarding federal and state legislation, policy changes, trends in child
        welfare and court improvement as well as court decisions that impact the
        work of GAL programs. [On-going]
    E. The Guardian ad Litem Program General Counsel will provide staff
        members with current advance sheets and analysis on pertinent legal
        cases. [On-going]


Section 6: Diversity

    OBJECTIVE 1: EXPAND VOLUNTEER DIVERSITY: To recruit and maintain
        volunteers that more accurately reflect the demographics of each county
        and the children represented in those counties.
    A. Identify and collect diversity demographics per county for the children
        represented in child abuse and neglect cases and for volunteers. [July 1,
        2011]
    B. Analyze collected diversity data and create a plan for recruitment to
        achieve balance. [July 1, 2011]
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    C. Include in County PR plans specific targets for increasing diversity in
        recruitment, especially in counties with an identified imbalance.
    D. Identify civic, religious and academic organizations and sororities,
        fraternities and clubs that have strong affiliations in diverse populations
        for presentations about the guardian ad litem volunteer opportunity. [On-
        going]
    E. Develop print and audio/visual materials that specifically speak to these
        audiences. [On-going]
    F. Measure the success of the county diversity plan by examining the
        demographic data at six month intervals. [Begin December 31, 2011]
      OBJECTIVE 2: EXPAND STAFF DIVERSITY: To the extent possible within
        the state human resources system, hire a diverse staff consistent with
        state demographics.


    Note: Hiring practices, including posting of vacancies and new positions, are
        handled through the state Human Resources Department. Applications
        come to the state office and are reviewed by the county offices.            The
        applications do not have race, sex, or age on them. We choose who to
        interview based on listed job experience only.


    A. From applicants interviewed select candidates who increase diversity as
        well as meet job criteria. [On-going]
    B. Identify areas in the state where the need for diversity is more crit ical for
        adequate child representation and develop a targeted approach for that
        site. [July 1, 2011]


    OBJECTIVE 3: EXPAND STAFF AND VOLUNTEER COMPETENCE: To
        develop in guardian ad litem staff members and volunteers a respect for
        diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions, viewpoints and lifestyles, and to
        use that knowledge to better advocate for children.
    A. Support the Rosetta Stone training purchased for 57 Guardian ad Litem
        Program staff members for Spanish competency. [December 31, 2011]
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    B. Seek grant funds to host a volunteer diversity conference that highlights
        the necessity for children and youth to have their diversity acknowledged
        and encouraged. [On-going]
    C. The Guardian ad Litem Program will host an annual event featuring a
        speaker who specializes in diversity training for volunteers and staff
        through either regional or state meetings or e-media presentation.
        [Complete December 21, 2011]




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