Case Planning for Educational

StabilityThe Pennsylvania Example

Background Pennsylvania has a county-based system

67 counties 500 school districts

168,821 children who received in-home services (SFY 10-11)

14,848 Children in Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) on the last day of the report period (September 30, 2010) 8,801 children (Age 6-17) in OOHC on the last day of the

report period (September 30, 2010) Challenges

Low graduation rates, problems with attendance, discipline, test scores, grade retention

AgendaHistory and Development How it WorksCounty-Level ImplementationJudicial RulesBarriers and SolutionsDiscussion

How the Screen Came to BeCross Agency Discussion and

Collaboration related to:Special education concernsSchool stability concernsLegal entitlements

Development of the ScreenDevelopment, Structure & Input Infrastructure Supporting Screen:

Education Liaisons in each county receive specialized ongoing training and serve as resource to caseworkers

Accountability Reviewed/Signed by SupervisorSubject to citation by State’s

audit/review

Bulletin Overview In-home and out-of-home Single point of contact McKinney-Vento Fostering Connections Collaboration Other education rights Screen mandate and timelines

Implementation

Roll-out plan Responses from the field

How it Works – Case Study James is 16 years old. His IEP information and recent

report cards are both in his file. The IEP is dated May 10, 2011, and is signed by the case worker. The IEP specifies that James will continue in the regular education classroom, but receive extra help with his reading and writing. The IEP also specifies that James should get a “cooling off” period when he gets frustrated. James is improving academically, but struggling with his behavior. The transition plan focuses on his goal of attending college.

James has entered a therapeutic foster home, where they use a “safety plan” when he feels stressed. His behavior in the home is improving significantly.

James’ permanency goal is reunification.

Education Screen – Section 7

Education Screen Tool (7A and B)

Elements of the Screen – Case Study Zelda, who is 17, has just entered care.

She has been attending a magnet school for the arts, which she loves. Because of her rocky home situation, and frequent moves between schools, she is far behind in credits. However, while she is not excelling in school, she is not struggling academically. She loves her music and dance classes.

Elements of the Screen

Elements of the Screen

Elements of the Screen – Case Study Sam has been in care for three years. He

has previously been hospitalized to address his mental health needs. He repeated the 6th grade last year, and is now starting seventh grade. His parents have been largely out of the picture, and the school has received very little information about him.

Elements of the Screen

Elements of the Screen

Using the Screen to Collect Data Demographic Information

Child Welfare Data Elements Linking to State Education Data

Data Matching

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Allegheny County Implementation

Office of Children, Youth and Families

Allegheny - 515 staff, 7 different office locations Approximately 7000 children actively receiving

services (point in time) In 2010, over 14,000 children & youth and over

19,000 parents receive services Less than a third of the children are in placement

outside the home Approximately 48% of children in placement are

with kin 154 agencies under contract

43 school districts including Intermediate Unit Largest district is Pittsburgh Public Schools

(approximately 27,000 children enrolled in that district alone)

0ver 170,000 children in public schools (reference www.publicschoolreview.com)

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Outline of Implementation General timeline since September 2010 –

March 2011 Concurrent Planning April 2011 - present

Lay out a plan to train and influence change within CYF office locally

Training Policy Contracts unit Contract Monitoring unit KIDS web-based case management

Integral partners outside of the CYF office DHS Education Network Children’s Court Educators

Partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools Public Relations/Internet

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September & October 2010

Release of Department of Public Welfare, Office Children Youth and Families Bulletin #3131-10-04

Allegheny County Education Liaison appointed for this effort

Train the trainer session completed

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2011 Starts off Slowly January

Change in staffing of Education Liaison position

February & March Make up session for ‘train the trainer’

with new Education Liaison and the entire local CYF training department (9 additional people)

March Discuss role of Education Liaison and

CYF Deputy Director’s wishes for implementation

Got the “ok” to “go”

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Tentative Plan

If a child is “in care” – placement provider completes the screening tool

If a family is receiving in-home services – in-home provider completes the screening tool

If a child is assigned an independent living education liaison – this person completes the screening tool

CYF Caseworker – will complete when no other provider involved, responsible to make sure it is ultimately in the record, work with kids/families/providers/educators as needed to trouble-shoot

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CYF Training

First step – meet the state’s training requirements

PA required that first training be held prior to May 31, 2011 First one: May 23 June, August, September, October,

November (2), December

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CYF Policy

The policy will be clear and concise Currently in draft Direct line to County Solicitors as

needed Willing to meet and share ideas Attends any meetings necessary

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CYF Contracts Unit

Contracts office can amend provider contracts with policy is finalized

Kept updated on an ongoing basis will all progress

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CYF Contract Monitoring

CYF Contract Monitoring Unit invited to attend Caseworker trainings so they know the issues/resources

They will act as an ‘education contact’ for the agencies they monitor

Each provider will be asked to appoint an ‘education point of contact’ for their agency to ease communication

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KIDS Web-Based Case Management

KIDS – Key Information and Demographics System

Online case management and contracting web-based computer application

KIDS implementation team and web developers are currently meeting to work on automating the education screen

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Discussing Early and Often with Educators

Pittsburgh Public Schools – Student Services Department, Counselors/Social Workers meeting & email blast, Special Education Department

Allegheny Intermediate Unit – brings together all local superintendents – they have

heard about this effort twice in different contexts Alternative Education Schools (for youth transitioning

out of juvenile placement), met with records department, school staff, truancy prevention program

Regional (9 counties) McKinney Vento Coordinators meeting

Allegheny County Counselors Association meetings

Homeless Education Network Preschool Early Education Network ………and any other opportunity that presents

itself!

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Data Sharing Since 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding

has been in place with Pittsburgh Public Schools

Data sharing agreement & targeted interventions focused on improving educational outcomes for students Throughout the district Only DHS/probation involved

This agreement and the consistent positive communication that we have with Pittsburgh Public Schools afforded me MANY opportunities that I would have otherwise not had

www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/research-education.aspx

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DHS Education Network as Partners

Internal County “cross-office” group of ‘education’ focused staff

Human Services Staff: Systems Integration Independent Living for Transition Aged Youth Education

Liaisons Behavioral Health - Education Specialists, School Based

Liaisons CYF - Intake, Policy, Training, Contract Monitoring, Resource Services Community Services – AmeriCorps KEYS, Afterschool Program

Monitors, Employment & Training, Family Support monitors, Early Learning, Youth Support Partners

Intellectual Disability - Intake, Resource Services, Planning Community Relations - Resource Specialists, Disability Connection Data analysts, legislative aid

Juvenile Probation Staff Education Specialists, Probation Supervisors

Children’s Court Staff Education Liaisons

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Children’s Court as Partners

Meet and talk often with Children’s Court Education Liaisons

Invited to a Bench Bar training session to introduce the CYF Education Screen to local attorneys, judges and hearing officers

Partner in new Federal DHS “Improving Educational and Well Being Outcomes for Children in Care” grant – awarded September 26, 2011.

Multiple DHS representatives serve on local Children’s Court Roundtable and the Truancy Roundtable committee

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CYF In-Home and Placement Providers as Partners

Email introduction to the bulletin and CYF change in policy/process

Will be asked to appoint an ‘education point of contact’ for agency

2 introductory sessions will be planned to talk about the issues

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Public Relations – Internet Community Relations Department is

responsible for our public web site “education” page launched January 2011

with resources about human services For Educators For Parents and Caregiverswww.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/education/

index.aspx Next step – resources about education

for human service workers – including this screening tool

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Overall strategies Good communication IS the intervention Acknowledge that this is a big change for child

welfare staff Talk about this as often and as loudly as people

will allow Enlist the help of as many ‘experts’ as possible Meet people where they ARE – have resources

available on paper, on the web, in shared files, via phone, via email

Common theme - good customer service – with the intent of supporting the helping professional

Respect for people in jobs that can typically thankless

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January 1, 2012 Goal for full implementation in

Allegheny County

!

Contact InformationCindi HorshawOffice of Children, Youth and Families625 Forster Street, Room 103Harrisburg, PA 17120(717) 783-7287chorshaw@pa.gov

Jessica Feierman, Esq.Supervising AttorneyJuvenile Law Center1315 Walnut Street, Suite 400Philadelphia, PA 19107(215) 625-0551jfeierman@jlc.org

Samantha Murphy, MSEd, NCCResource Services Manager/Education

LiaisonOne Smithfield Street, First FloorPittsburgh, PA 15222412-350-2441Samantha.Murphy@alleghenycounty.us

Cynthia K. Stoltz, Esq.AdministratorAllegheny County Children’s Court440 Ross StreetPittsburgh, PA 15219412-350-0368cynthia.stoltz@alleghenycourts.us