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I. Purpose
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), in partnership with child welfare stakeholders across the state, is committed to improving outcomes for the children and families served by the child welfare system. Consistent with the federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), and New York’s Program Improvement Plan (PIP), the implementation of a comprehensive set of strategies designed to improve the child welfare outcomes of safety, permanency and well-being is underway in New York State. One of these initiatives involves strengthening the Service Plan Review (SPR) process, a significant component of casework practice in New York. As codified in New York policy in the 1970s, the SPR currently combines federal and state requirements for case planning and case review into a single meeting.
The purpose of this Informational Letter is: to review the purposes of the SPR process; to inform the field about the ways in which New York State is different than other states in implementing this process; to identify several innovative SPR practices already underway in local districts and agencies in New York State; and to recommend strategies for revitalizing and renewing Service Plan Review meetings to:
· support more timely and effective permanency outcomes for children in foster care;
· better support local departments of social services’ program improvement initiatives;
· strengthen the engagement and involvement of children, parents, and foster parents in case planning to resolve child welfare issues;
· provide a more independent review of casework practice and service plans as it relates to achieving successful outcomes for children;
· strengthen the role of the SPR as a quality assurance process; and
· promote use of information captured during SPR meetings to inform policy and to improve practice, child safety, permanency and well-being.
A brief overview of the legislative foundation for service plan reviews from a national and state perspective is provided in this paper, as are examples of best practices in case reviews in local districts and other states across the country. Finally, recommended strategies for strengthening the SPR process are outlined.
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