ASFA TRAINING PROJECT PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES

Missouri

1. How would you rate your agency's staff in terms of their understanding of ASFA requirements? We are particularly interested in the level of understanding of managers, supervisors and workers. Please rate their understanding on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'comprehensive'.

a. Managers:

b. Supervisors:

c. Workers:

2. Based on your agency's experience to date, what skills do you think managers, supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA?

a. Managers?

• Collaboration with courts
• Using information management skills, especially to monitor time frames for each child
  

b. Supervisors?

Same as managers

c. Workers?

• Coordinating family support teams
• Concurrent planning
• Collaboration with courts
  
  

3. As part of your ASFA implementation has your agency undertaken any activities in the following areas:

• Agency structure? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Internal communication? No Yes
  If yes, please describe
  
• Performance appraisals? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Job descriptions? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
• Staff recruitment? No Yes
  If yes, please describe.
  
  

4. How do you handle staff training on ASFA?

a. Please describe the training.

• Statewide conferences for all agency personnel; court staff invited
• Memoranda concerning requirements and policy
  

b. Who does the training?

• Field specialists from middle management
• Staff trainers from agency training unit
  

c. Is the training just on ASFA or is it incorporated into other training that you provide?

Now it is incorporated into regular training.

d. Have you done any training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, please describe.

• Court staff were invited to agency training sessions and conferences
• Agency personnel were invited to training provided by The Office of State Court
• Administrators and the Juvenile Justice Association
• There is a Child Welfare Practice Committee that collaborates with the court over ASFA and other issues
• The agency funds several court staff positions that are devoted to ASFA work

5. How well does your information system support the work of managers, supervisors and workers in implementing ASFA? Please rate the support provided by your system on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'outstanding'

a. Why did you give your system that rating?

Use several computer systems for data collection and case management. Use a Lotus Notes case management system. Use a Legacy system that provides reports to field offices; needs to be modified to produce reports in a more timely way.

b. If a rating of 1 or 2 is given, probe as to the status of the SACWIS system.

Also, have a SACWIS that is not fully implemented.

6. What has worked best for you in terms of supporting staff as they implement the ASFA requirements?

• Use of family support teams
• Developing case plans that have ASFA outcomes built in
  

7. What do you view as barriers to your agency's support for staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

• Large number of cases
• Dealing with 45 judicial circuit that differ administratively
  

8. (For County based systems only.) To what extent does the fact that your state is county-based impact your ASFA implementation?

Missouri is state supervised; state administrated

9. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA?

No

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