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Connecting the Dots of Evaluations and Improvement Plans for Frontline Workers (Workshop 140)

State child welfare agencies now respond to a new level of accountability - the Child and Family Services Reviews. There is a new language with terms such as systemic factors, levels of conformity, and program improvement plans. Line workers are learning that this new structure of accountability is not simply a passing flavor-of-the-day trend that soon will move into obscurity. Thus, an important and necessary goal for best practice results comes with knowing how to convince line workers of the value of new accountability processes.

Some states are emulating the child welfare reviews with their own quality service reviews, which consider factors of the Federal reviews while weaving in the tapestry of implementation plans, strategic plans, and state and local human service score cards. An increasing number of states are pursuing accreditation through the Council on Accreditation as an avenue toward improving practice standards.

This workshop brings together the best of all worlds from each type of review process, culminating into a formula that goes beyond identifying and reaching benchmarks. Using familiar reference points within child welfare, the presenter explains the process of achieving continuous quality improvement (CQI). The session includes examples from parenting skills (i.e., 1-2-3 Magic) and family group conferencing to clarify how agencies can gain line employee buy-in to each form of accountability process.

The process of CQI allows line workers to eliminate sabotages in the utilization of best practice techniques such as family team decision-making and the recruitment and retention of foster parents. Most importantly, the motivational aspect of CQI is explained as a way of life that moves agencies along at a more rapid pace toward ongoing improvement. Clarity in how plans move in one direction with the support of line workers is the key skill to be discussed in this workshop.

The questions of workers, based on observation and pattern dynamic organizational behavior, must be answered successfully. For example, workers frequently ask: "How can review processes and accompanying improvement plans help me when the agency continues cyclical processes that never seem to progress?" The session addresses this omnipresent cause of frustration.

Herman Barber, Ph.D.
Child and Family Services Agency
400 6th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

Updated on February 2, 2010