Statewide Quality Assurance Report

Florida Department of Children and FamiliesCase Management Services - 2009-2010 Quality Assurance Reporthours, financial issues, etc. Case workers must also understand the importance of involvingfathers in case planning. Research shows that children growing up without fathers are morelikely to fail at school or to drop out, engage in early sexual activity, develop drug and alcoholproblems, and experience or perpetrate violence. (Best Practice: Next Practice, Family CenteredChild Welfare, National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice, Children’sBureau, 2002)Although the quality of practice case review data show improvements in efforts to engagefamily members and actively involve them in the case planning process, this area needssubstantial attention, especially with engagement of fathers. Case workers should encouragemothers to identify fathers early in the case. If this fails, they should use alternative means toidentify and locate fathers through interviews with relatives and family friends, child supportinformation, etc. Local administrators are encouraged to monitor and support familyengagement practices.Quality of Practice for Family Engagement for Case Planning# of Applicable PracticeStd# Standard # Cases Yes No Cases Rating36The mother was encouraged and supported to participate in making decisionsabout her child's needs and activities.1575 463 404 867 53%3751The father was encouraged and supported to participate in making decisionsabout his child's needs and activities.Concerted efforts were made to support the mother's engagement withservices.1575 251 375 626 40%1575 788 303 1091 72%53 Concerted efforts were made to support the father's engagement in services. 1575 414 307 721 57%Table III b-1Office of Family Safety | Page 13