The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan - Oklahoma Department of Human ...
The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan - Oklahoma Department of Human ...
The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan - Oklahoma Department of Human ...
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Oklahoma</strong> <strong>Pinnacle</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>:<br />
An Improvement <strong>Plan</strong> for Child Welfare Services<br />
March 2012<br />
INITIATIVES FOR PINNACLE POINT 3:<br />
Year One (SFY 2013)<br />
1. Set a standard for caseloads assigned to individual workers to help ensure workers have<br />
manageable caseloads and determine the appropriate timeframe for implementation.<br />
a. Child Protective Services (CPS) workers – no more than 12 open investigations<br />
and/or assessments<br />
b. Office <strong>of</strong> Client Advocacy (OCA) workers (conducting investigations for children<br />
in out-<strong>of</strong>-home placements) – no more than 12 open investigations.<br />
c. Family-Centered Services (FCS) workers (prevention) – 8 families.<br />
d. Permanency <strong>Plan</strong>ning (PP) workers (ongoing court involvement) – 15 children.<br />
e. Resource workers (foster care) – 22 resources/families. If Resource workers are<br />
responsible for completing home studies, the workload standard would be<br />
decreased accordingly.<br />
f. Adoption workers – 8 families and 8 children.<br />
2. Based on an internal workload analysis, OKDHS will request 200 additional CWS<br />
positions during the first two years. Additional child welfare supervisors and district<br />
directors are needed to supervise the additional CWS. <strong>The</strong> workload study (<strong>Pinnacle</strong><br />
Point 3 – initiative 11) will help determine if this number is accurate.<br />
a. During Year One, seek approval <strong>of</strong> 100 additional CWS positions and the<br />
appropriate number <strong>of</strong> child welfare supervisors and district directors.<br />
b. During Year Two, OKDHS will seek approval <strong>of</strong> 100 additional CWS positions<br />
and the appropriate number <strong>of</strong> child welfare supervisors and district directors.<br />
See <strong>Pinnacle</strong> Point 3 – Initiative 10.<br />
3. By September 1, 2012, OKDHS will develop a tracking system where all work assigned<br />
is counted, staff experience and turnover is considered and the complexity <strong>of</strong> cases is<br />
evaluated. This is subject to the review and approval <strong>of</strong> the Co-Neutrals.<br />
4. Effective September 1, 2012, training for new CWS will require successful completion <strong>of</strong><br />
a performance competency evaluation prior to caseload assignment.<br />
5. By January 1, 2013, OKDHS will stop the use <strong>of</strong> secondary assignments for visiting<br />
children in contiguous counties. Exceptions can be granted on a case-by-case basis if a<br />
strong relationship currently exists between the caseworker and children that would be<br />
harmful if broken. Exceptions must be documented in the child’s case file and approved<br />
by the district director.<br />
6. By June 30, 2013, OKDHS will purchase updated technology such as tablets and/or<br />
smart phones for child welfare staff.<br />
Year Two (SFY 2014)<br />
7. By July 1, 2013, OKDHS will improve the processes for selecting CWS and supervisors by<br />
incorporating realistic job previews and selection factors supported by workforce<br />
research, including a systematic assessment for selecting CWS.<br />
8. By July 1, 2013, OKDHS will create an intensive training program for child welfare<br />
supervisors, including a structured mentoring model for new supervisors.<br />
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