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This audit assesses five issues
involving Child Protective Services (CPS) as specified by the Legislature:
whether caseloads are in-line with Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
standards; changes in new case manager training; the adequacy of supervisory
oversight and training; barriers to permanency; and the use of concurrent case
planning.
Auditors found that average
caseloads for most CPS case managers were 12 or fewer cases on June 30, 2001
and 2003. To ensure accurate staffing projections, CPS needs to modify its
case management system to allow it to classify cases according to the three
CWLA caseload standards it uses, include in its caseloads only active cases,
and include all staff who regularly manage cases. CPS should also address
factors, such as case manager retention, that may hinder effective caseload
management. Case manager training has increased since 2001, but CPS needs more
practical exercises. CPS also needs to improve case manager supervisory
oversight, including determining an appropriate supervisor-to-staff ratio and
improving supervisory training. Finally, CPS needs to fully implement its
concurrent case-planning policy to further improve children’s permanency
outcomes. Concurrent case planning is a permanency planning practice that
simultaneously pursues both family reunification and an alternate plan, such
as adoption.
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