Case Planning for Educational Stability

1. Case Planning for Educational Stability The Pennsylvania Example

2. 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

3. Agenda • History and Development • How it Works • County-Level Implementation • Judicial Rules • Barriers and Solutions • Discussion

4. How the Screen Came to Be • Cross Agency Discussion and Collaboration related to: • Special education concerns • School stability concerns • Legal entitlements

5. Development of the Screen • Development, Structure & Input • Infrastructure Supporting Screen: Education Liaisons in each county receive specialized ongoing training and serve as resource to caseworkers • Accountability • Reviewed/Signed by Supervisor • Subject to citation by State’s audit/review

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

7. Implementation • Roll-out plan • Responses from the field

8. 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.

9. Education Screen – Section 7

10. Education Screen Tool (7A and B)

11. 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.

12. Elements of the Screen

13. Elements of the Screen

14. 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.

15. Elements of the Screen

16. Elements of the Screen

17. Using the Screen to Collect Data • Demographic Information • Child Welfare Data Elements • Linking to State Education Data • Data Matching

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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”

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. CYF Contracts Unit • Contracts office can amend provider contracts with policy is finalized • Kept updated on an ongoing basis will all progress

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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!

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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 Caregivers www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/education/index.aspx • Next step – resources about education for human service workers – including this screening tool

34. 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

35. January 1, 2012 Goal for full implementation in Allegheny County !

36. Contact Information Cindi Horshaw Office of Children, Youth and Families 625 Forster Street, Room 103 Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 783-7287 chorshaw@pa.gov Jessica Feierman, Esq. Supervising Attorney Juvenile Law Center 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 625-0551 jfeierman@jlc.org Samantha Murphy, MSEd, NCC Resource Services Manager/Education Liaison One Smithfield Street, First Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-350-2441 Samantha.Murphy@alleghenycounty.us Cynthia K. Stoltz, Esq. Administrator Allegheny County Children’s Court 440 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-350-0368 cynthia.stoltz@alleghenycourts.us