(B) ENSURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE PERMANENCE:
Children will return to their own homes or be placed in homes where adoption or legal guardianship will result.
1. Home Study Assessments (relative, adoptive, foster) will be completed within ninety (90) working days of assignment.
SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS:
· Variable: Timely (within 90 work days) completion of home studies (Ideal direction=decrease)
· Operational definition: The length of time elapsed between the assignment to the worker and the time information is gathered, visits are made, the decision is made to approve or deny, and all paperwork is completed.
· Measures:
· Length of time to complete relative home study
· Length of time to complete adoptive home study
· Length of time to complete foster home study
· Baseline: Home studies completed in 90 days as a proportion of total home studies assigned
· Charting period: Quarterly with quarterly and cumulative percentages for baseline year and current year
· Data source: Tracking method to be developed
· Status: A data collection system and computer-generated report will be developed….
4. Service to children in their own homes will be completed within twelve months of the initial referral.
SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS:
· Variable: In-home protective intervention cases closed in less than twelve months (Ideal direction=increase)
· Operational definition: Services by LCCS workers resulting in sufficient progress to close the case will have been completed in less than one year
· Measures:
· Decrease in risk on the “Risk Assessment” tool
· Compliance with or completion of the Case Plan objectives
· Baseline: In-home cases closed within one year as a proportion of all in-home cases open one year
· Charting period: Monthly with month and cumulative percentages for baseline year and current year
· Data source: Tracking method to be developed–“Risk Assessment” tool; “Case Plan” objectives; “Status Change” slip
· Status: A data collection system and computer-generated report will be developed….