CITIZEN REVIEW PANELCITIZEN REVIEW PANEL

Theresa Costello, MATheresa Costello, MADirectorDirector

National Resource Center for Child National Resource Center for Child Protective ServicesProtective Services

AGENDAAGENDA

OverviewOverview Resources and Reference MaterialsResources and Reference Materials Training and Technical AssistanceTraining and Technical Assistance

– www.nrccps.orgwww.nrccps.org– theresa.costello@actionchildprotection.orgtheresa.costello@actionchildprotection.org– 505-301-3105 505-301-3105

CRP HISTORYCRP HISTORY

1996 CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention 1996 CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act) Reauthorizationand Treatment Act) Reauthorization– CAPTA established in 1974CAPTA established in 1974– Established requirement for state plan Established requirement for state plan

detailing compliance with CAPTA detailing compliance with CAPTA requirements in order to receive CAPTA requirements in order to receive CAPTA grantgrant

CRP requirementsCRP requirements

3 panels per state by July 1999 (some 3 panels per state by July 1999 (some states only 1 required)states only 1 required)

Panels must review compliance of state Panels must review compliance of state and local CPS with respect to:and local CPS with respect to:– State CAPTA plan (CA/N reporting system, CPS State CAPTA plan (CA/N reporting system, CPS

system, confidentiality)system, confidentiality)– Other criteria panel considers important, which Other criteria panel considers important, which

may include coordination with foster care and may include coordination with foster care and adoption programs and review of child adoption programs and review of child fatalities and near fatalities.fatalities and near fatalities.

CRP RequirementsCRP Requirements

Membership:Membership:

Composed of volunteer members:Composed of volunteer members:– Broadly representative of the Broadly representative of the

community in which they are operatingcommunity in which they are operating– Include individuals with expertise in the Include individuals with expertise in the

prevention and treatment of child abuse prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglectand neglect

CRP RequirementsCRP Requirements

MeetingsMeetings– Must meet at least quarterlyMust meet at least quarterly

FunctionsFunctions– Examine policies, procedures and Examine policies, procedures and

practices practices (2003 amendment)(2003 amendment) of State and of State and local agencies and, where appropriate, local agencies and, where appropriate, specific casesspecific cases

– Evaluate extent to which State or local Evaluate extent to which State or local agency is meeting child protection agency is meeting child protection responsibilitiesresponsibilities

CRP RequirementsCRP Requirements

ConfidentialityConfidentiality– Critical to maintain confidentiality of Critical to maintain confidentiality of

individual case information; cannot be individual case information; cannot be made public unless authorized by State made public unless authorized by State statutestatute

Public OutreachPublic Outreach– Panels must get public comment to Panels must get public comment to

assess impact of procedures and assess impact of procedures and practices on children and families in the practices on children and families in the community (2003 amendment)community (2003 amendment)

CRP RequirementsCRP Requirements

ReportReport– Panel produces annual reportPanel produces annual report

Summary of the activities of the panelSummary of the activities of the panel Recommendations to improve the child protective Recommendations to improve the child protective

services system at the State and local levelservices system at the State and local level Key product of panel; distribute widely (Governor, Key product of panel; distribute widely (Governor,

legislature)legislature)

– State agency response State agency response (2003 amendment)(2003 amendment) Within 6 months of receipt of reportWithin 6 months of receipt of report Describes whether or how the State will incorporate Describes whether or how the State will incorporate

the recommendations of the panelthe recommendations of the panel

CRP RequirementsCRP Requirements

State AssistanceState Assistance– Provide access to information on cases Provide access to information on cases

the panel desires to reviewthe panel desires to review– Provide the panel staff assistance for the Provide the panel staff assistance for the

performance of the duties of the panelperformance of the duties of the panel

CPS SystemCPS System

Panels can examine any of the Panels can examine any of the followingfollowing– Intake (screening)Intake (screening)– Investigation (assessment)Investigation (assessment)– Differential responseDifferential response– Safety decision makingSafety decision making– Case findings (substantiated, not Case findings (substantiated, not

substantiated)substantiated)

CPS System, continuedCPS System, continued

– Family assessment (ongoing)Family assessment (ongoing)– Case planningCase planning– Ongoing safety decision makingOngoing safety decision making– Case closureCase closure– Placement; placement stabilityPlacement; placement stability– Service array and coordinationService array and coordination– Staff training, qualifications, workloadStaff training, qualifications, workload

Basic CAPTA requirementsBasic CAPTA requirements

See CAPTA manual page 28-34See CAPTA manual page 28-34– Reporting procedures for CA/NReporting procedures for CA/N– Policies and procedures for substance exposed Policies and procedures for substance exposed

newbornsnewborns– Plan of safe care for substance exposed Plan of safe care for substance exposed

newbornsnewborns– Procedures for screening, risk and safety Procedures for screening, risk and safety

assessmentassessment– Triage procedures for children not at risk of Triage procedures for children not at risk of

imminent harmimminent harm– Procedures to assure safety of all kids in a Procedures to assure safety of all kids in a

homehome

CAPTA requirements continuedCAPTA requirements continued

See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34– Immunity for good faith reportingImmunity for good faith reporting– Confidentiality of recordsConfidentiality of records– Provisions for public disclosureProvisions for public disclosure– Public disclosure in fatality and near Public disclosure in fatality and near

fatalityfatality– Cooperation of law enforcement, courts Cooperation of law enforcement, courts

and state CPS agenciesand state CPS agencies

CAPTA requirements, continuedCAPTA requirements, continued

See CAPTA manual pgs.28-34See CAPTA manual pgs.28-34– Expungement of records available to Expungement of records available to

publicpublic– Appointment of guardian ad litemAppointment of guardian ad litem– Establishment of citizen review panelsEstablishment of citizen review panels– Provisions for expedited TPRProvisions for expedited TPR– Provisions not requiring reunification in Provisions not requiring reunification in

certain casescertain cases– TPR for surviving childrenTPR for surviving children

CAPTA requirements, continuedCAPTA requirements, continued

See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34– Parental notification at first contactParental notification at first contact– Training for those with legal responsibilitiesTraining for those with legal responsibilities– Procedures to improve training, retention and Procedures to improve training, retention and

supervision of caseworkerssupervision of caseworkers– Procedures for referral of children under 3 to Procedures for referral of children under 3 to

IDEA Part CIDEA Part C– Criminal background checks for prospective Criminal background checks for prospective

adoptive, foster, relative and non-relatives adoptive, foster, relative and non-relatives living in the homeliving in the home

How do panels review CPS How do panels review CPS policies, practices and procedures?policies, practices and procedures? Case reviewsCase reviews Statewide dataStatewide data Policy reviewPolicy review Procedure reviewProcedure review SurveysSurveys Quality Assurance reviewsQuality Assurance reviews Community forumsCommunity forums Focus groups or interviewsFocus groups or interviews

Identified Technical Assistance and Identified Technical Assistance and Training needs of CRP’sTraining needs of CRP’s

NRCCPS Survey of State CRP NRCCPS Survey of State CRP coordinatorscoordinators– Scope of work (see page 6)Scope of work (see page 6)– Annual report (page 8)Annual report (page 8)– Retention of CRP members (page 5)Retention of CRP members (page 5)– Orientation and training of CRP Orientation and training of CRP

members (page 4)members (page 4)– Recruitment of members (page 2)Recruitment of members (page 2)

Big PictureBig Picture

National effectiveness study in 2006National effectiveness study in 2006– Blake JonesBlake Jones

National Citizens Review Panel Virtual National Citizens Review Panel Virtual CommunityCommunitywww.uky.edu/socialwork/crpwww.uky.edu/socialwork/crp

Fifth annual Citizens Review Panel Fifth annual Citizens Review Panel Conference May 25-26, 2006 Louisville, Conference May 25-26, 2006 Louisville, KentuckyKentucky