ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Michigan

1. How would you rate your agency's staff in terms of their understanding of ASFA requirements? We are particularly interested in the level of understanding of managers, supervisors and workers. Please rate their understanding on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'comprehensive'.

a. Managers:

b. Supervisors:

c. Workers:

2. Based on your agency's experience to date, what skills do you think managers, supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA?

a. Managers?

• Basic social work skills
• Caseload management skills
• Familiarity with policy
• How we use data to effectively monitor performance outcomes
  

b. Supervisors?

Same as managers

c. Workers?

Same as supervisors

3. As part of your ASFA implementation has your agency undertaken any activities in the following areas:

• Agency structure? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  Some changes, but not totally in response to ASFA. There has been a shift in policy focus, some workers have been moved into foster care from protective services. Some changes made in order to balance resources.
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  ASFA was viewed as a change in policy. The agency has a system in place to handle major policy changes, including ASFA. The process for handling changes includes making change a priority and working to get staff buy-in by circulating information such as manuals and bulletins and incorporating changes into training sessions.
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  • Staff are evaluated in terms of how well they meet the ASFA mandates for permanency.
  • Established performance outcomes
    
    
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

Staff are required to complete a certain number of hours per year of training. ASFA material has been incorporated into these training sessions. For new hires the ASFA material has also been incorporated into their training too.

b. Who does the training?

Michigan has a Child Welfare Training Institute. It is the training unit for the agency and the trainers are agency staff. The Institute staff does the training on ASFA as all the other training for agency staff.

c. Is the training just on ASFA or is it incorporated into other training that you provide?

ASFA material is now incorporated into regular training sessions.

d. Have you done any training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

All the stakeholders involved in ASFA were invited to the Institute's training sessions, including court staff. The courts also have training sessions for their staff.

5. How well does your information system support the work of managers, supervisors and workers in implementing ASFA? Please rate the support provided by your system on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'outstanding'

a. Why did you give your system that rating?

The rating is for an old system that is only partially operational.

b. If a rating of 1 or 2 is given, probe as to the status of the SACWIS system.

The SACWIS has not been implemented yet; it is scheduled to be operational in 2002.

6. What has worked best for you in terms of supporting staff as they implement the ASFA requirements?

A system is in place to handle major changes in policy. It involves increased internal communication regarding the policy, as well as circulating material via bulletins and manuals, and training sessions. The goal is to get people to buy into the change and understand why it is important.

7. What do you view as barriers to your agency's support for staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

• Lack of staff
• Lack of funding
• Differences in interpretation of the requirements by the courts and the agency.
  
  

8. (For County based systems only.) To what extent does the fact that your state is county-based impact your ASFA implementation?

State supervised

9. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

Have to make changes caused by ASFA a way of thinking and implementation a priority.

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