New Jersey Department of Children and Families Focusing on the Fundamentals Annual Update

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1 New Jersey Department of Children and Families Focusing on the Fundamentals 2006 Annual Update

2 In 2006, New Jersey made significant investments in its most vulnerable children & families. Governor Corzine and the legislature championed the creation of a new cabinet level department focused solely on children & families. New Jersey invested in more services for children and families and in hiring and training more staff to serve those children & families. New Jersey set ambitious targets to lay the foundation for strong child welfare practice. New Jersey met or exceeded all of its targets for December But much work remains

3 Overview The Division of Youth & Family Services (DYFS) supervises more than 50,000 children, most (80%) living at home. 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 65,896 68,613 67,579 65,772 64,916 64,068 64,719 67,212 68,454 67,201 61,779 61,621 65,235 60,640 60,951 64,694 64,962 62,365 62,651 63,341 58,921 59,782 59,969 61,208 61,262 58,100 59,815 60,622 61,143 58,963 59,165 55,902 54,414 54,335 54,018 54,000 53,698 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Jan. 2, '04 Feb. 6, '04 Mar. 5 '04 Apr. 2, '04 May 7, '04 June 4, '04 July 2, '04 Aug. 6, '04 Sept. 3, '04 Oct. 1, '04 Nov. 4, '04 Dec. 3, '04 Jan. 7, '05 Feb. 4, '05 Mar. 4 '05 Apr. 1, '05 May 6, '05 June 3, '05 July 1, '05 Aug. 5, '05 Sept. 2, '05 Oct. 7, '05 Nov. 5, '05 Dec. 2, '05 Jan. 6, '06 Feb. 3, '06 Mar. 3 '05 Apr. 7, '06 May 5, '06 June 2, '06 July 7, '06 Aug 4, '06 Sept. 1, '06 Oct. 6, '06 Nov. 3, '06 Dec. 1, '06 Jan. 5, '07

4 14,000 12, ,000 12, ,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Overview There are more than 10,000 children in the custody of DYFS, living in out of home placement. 12, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,3 9 0 Apr. 2, '04 May 7, '04 June 4, '04 July 2, '04 Aug. 6, '04 Sept. 3, '04 Oct. 1, '04 Nov. 4, '04 Dec. 3, '04 Jan. 7, '05 Feb. 4, '05 Mar. 4 '05 Apr. 1, '05 May 6, '05 June 3, '05 July 1, '05 Aug. 5, '05 Sept. 2, '05 Oct. 7, '05 Nov. 5, '05 Dec. 2, '05 Jan. 6, '06 Feb. 3, '06 Mar. 3 '05 Apr. 7, '06 May 5, '06 June 2, '06 July 7, '06 Aug 4, '06 Sept. 1, '06 Oct. 6, '06 Nov. 3, '06 Dec. 1, '06 Jan. 5, '07 Jan. 2, '04 Feb. 6, '04 Mar. 5 '04

5 Overview Most children in out of home placement live in family settings. NJ DCF DYFS Children in Placement by Placement Type (Total = 10,379, Jan , point in time) Independent Living 158 2% Group & Residential % Resource Family % Kinship %

6 Overview The children in placement range in age from newborns up to age and 17 Yrs 13% 18 and Older 3% To 2 Yrs 23% 13 to 15 Yrs 17% 3 To 5 Yrs 16% 10 to 12 Yrs 12% 6 to 9 Yrs 16%

7 Initial Response The process begins with a call to the child abuse HOTLINE NJABUSE If the call involves an allegation that a child is unsafe or a family requests DYFS services, a REFERRAL goes out to a DYFS investigator.

8 Initial Response In 2006, DYFS handled a historically large number of referrals to the field & a greater percentage of those referrals involved child protection allegations. NJ DCF Referrals 70,000 60,000 12,015 50,000 14,007 # of Referrals 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 19,595 29,730 43,065 53,819 Family Services Child Protective 0 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006

9 Initial Response The surge in referrals began in August 2005, peaked in March 2006, and maintained a high rate through the fall and winter of NJ DCF Referrals from Hotline to DYFS Field Offices 8,000 Total Number of Referrals 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 6,525 6,235 6,864 5,617 6,480 5,511 4,202 4,493 4,870 5,700 4,888 4,502 Year 2004 (49,235) Year 2005 (Total 57,077) Year 2006 (Total 65,880) 1,000 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month

10 New Jersey established caseload standards based on best practices. Standards were set for each type of staff by office. Intake: 10 new referrals & 15 families Permanency: 10 children in out of home placement & 15 families Adoption: 18 children Investments in Staff Lowering Caseloads New Jersey achieved its caseload targets for December Supervisory Staff: 1 supervisory staff for every 5 caseload-carrying staff (including trainees) The caseload standards track active caseload carrying staff. Trainees, whether they can or cannot carry cases, are not included as active caseload carrying staff. Staff on leave and staff in support roles (non-caseload carrying) are excluded.

11 Investments in Staff Caseloads - Intake New Jersey achieved the December 2006 target. NJ DCF DYFS Intake Caseload Compliance By Office Dec-06 Actual 65% Dec-06 Target 42% Sep-06 57% Jul-06 60% Mar-06 17% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% % of offices meeting interim intake standard

12 Investments in Staff Caseloads Permanency New Jersey achieved the December 2006 target. NJ DCF DYFS Permanency Caseload Compliance by Office (note: Adoption staff began to be counted separately in Dec. 06; previously they were permanency staff.) Dec-06 Actual 60% Dec-06 Target Sep-06 Jul-06 60% 61% 58% Mar-06 40% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% % of offices meeting permanency standard

13 Investments in Staff Caseloads Adoption New Jersey achieved the December 2006 target. NJ DCF DYFS Adoption Caseload Compliance (note: adoption staff previously included in permanency prior to December) Dec-06 Actual 65% Dec-06 Target 35% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% % of offices meeting interim adoption standard

14 Investments in Staff Caseloads Supervisory Staff New Jersey achieved the December 2006 target. NJ DCF DYFS Supervisory Staff Caseload Compliance Dec-06 Actual 95% Dec-06 Target 80% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% % of offices meeting supervisory staff standard Supervisory staff include both supervising family service specialist 1 & 2 s. Supervisors on leave are excluded.

15 Caseload Data-Statewide Totals Dec-06 Active Caseload Carrying Other Staff Total Trainees with Cases Trainees without Cases Staff on Local Office Intake Permanency Adoption Impact Leave TOTAL Atlantic Bergen Central Bergen South Burlington East Burlington West Camden Central Camden East Camden North Camden South Cape May Cumberland Essex Central Essex North Essex South Newark Center City Newark Northeast Newark South Newark West Gloucester East Gloucester West Hudson Central Hudson North Hudson South Hudson West Hunterdon Mercer North Mercer South Middlesex Central Middlesex Coastal Middlesex West Monmouth North Monmouth South Morris Ocean North Ocean South Passaic Central Passaic North Salem Somerset Sussex Union Central Union East Union West Warren Statewide

16 Intake Caseload Dec-06 Workload Intake Met Intake Std Local Office Assignments Families Avg Assignments Avg Families Interim: 15 families/10 new assignments Atlantic Yes Bergen Central No Bergen South Yes Burlington East No Burlington West No Camden Central Yes Camden East Yes Camden North Yes Camden South No Cape May Yes Cumberland No Essex Central Yes Essex North Yes Essex South Yes Newark Center City No Newark Northeast Yes Newark South Yes Newark West Gloucester East No Gloucester West Yes Hudson Central No Hudson North Yes Hudson South No Hudson West Yes Hunterdon Yes Mercer North Yes Mercer South Yes Middlesex Central Yes Middlesex Coastal Yes Middlesex West Yes Monmouth North Yes Monmouth South No Morris No Ocean North Yes Ocean South No Passaic Central Yes Passaic North Yes Salem Yes Somerset No Sussex Yes Union Central No Union East Yes Union West Yes Warren No Statewide 65%

17 Permanency Caseload Dec-06 Permanency Workload Met Perm Std Local Office Families Children Placed Avg Families Avg Children Placed 15 families/ 10 children out of home Atlantic Yes Bergen Central Yes Bergen South Yes Burlington East Yes Burlington West No Camden Central Yes Camden East No Camden North Yes Camden South Yes Cape May Yes Cumberland No Essex Central Yes Essex North No Essex South Yes Newark Center City No Newark Northeast Yes Newark South No Newark West Gloucester East Yes Gloucester West Yes Hudson Central No Hudson North No Hudson South No Hudson West Yes Hunterdon Yes Mercer North No Mercer South Yes Middlesex Central Yes Middlesex Coastal Yes Middlesex West Yes Monmouth North No Monmouth South Yes Morris No Ocean North No Ocean South Yes Passaic Central Yes Passaic North Yes Salem Yes Somerset No Sussex No Union Central No Union East Yes Union West Yes Warren No Statewide 60%

18 Adoption Caseload Dec-06 Workload Adoption Met Adoption Std Local Office Children Under Supervision Avg Children Supervised Atlantic Yes Bergen Central No Bergen South No Burlington East No Burlington West No Camden Central Yes Camden East 37 9 Yes Camden North Yes Camden South Yes Cape May No Cumberland No Essex Central No Essex North Yes Essex South Yes Newark Center City Newark Northeast Newark South Newark West Yes Gloucester East No Gloucester West No Hudson Central No Hudson North Yes Hudson South Yes Hudson West Yes Hunterdon No Mercer North No Mercer South Yes Middlesex Central Yes Middlesex Coastal Middlesex West 47 9 Yes Monmouth North Yes Monmouth South Yes Morris Yes Ocean North Yes Ocean South No Passaic Central Yes Passaic North No Salem Yes Somerset Yes Sussex Yes Union Central Yes Union East Yes Union West Yes Warren Yes Interim: 18 children Statewide 65%

19 Supervisory Caseload Supervisory Staff Supervising Family Service Specialist 2 (SFSS2) SFS S2 on leave Supervising Family Service Specialist 1 (SFSS1) SFSS1 on leave TOTAL Active & Trainees Ratio Atlantic Bergen Central Bergen South Burlington East Burlington West Camden Central Camden East Camden North Camden South Cape May Cumberland Essex Central Essex South Essex North Newark Center City Newark Northeast Newark South Newark West Gloucester East Gloucester West Hudson Central Hudson North Hudson South Hudson West Hunterdon Mercer North Mercer South Middlesex Central Middlesex Coastal Middlesex West Monmouth North Monmouth South Morris Ocean North Ocean South Passaic Central Passaic North Salem Somerset Sussex Union East Union West Union Central Warren Compliance (1=Yes) STATEWIDE Total 95%

20 Investments in Staff Increased Training NJ DCF Training Academy Training Delivered (CY 2005 v. 2006) 1. /& * 1/ 0* 1(29& 31(2 9 & 8. /3(42 5' '68 (.2* /1!,,,,-! -,# $,, # $-,"!!, $ #, $ -!! # of Staff Trained 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 NJ DCF Training Academy Comparison of Training Delivered 3,760 8,009.( / 0,-,- 0 CY 2005 CY 2006 %&'()%*+*') # $ "!!

21 Investments in Staff Reducing caseworker separation rates Note: New Jersey s current rate exceeds best practice & may stabilize or even slightly increase over time. NJ DCF Separation Rate (caseload carrying staff) 16.0% 14.0% 14.0% 12.0% 10.0% 10.8% 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% Nov 04 - Oct 05 Nov 05 - Oct 06 *Note: It takes 2 months for separation data to settle, so Nov and Dec 2006 data are not yet available, which is why this analys is com pares Oct 2006 with Oct 2005.

22 Foster and Adoptive Families Expanded capacity to license new resource families. NJ DCF Newly Licensed Foster & Adoptive Families # of Families CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 *Note: The 2006 total is subject to increase due to end of the year data entry.

23 Foster & Adoptive Families Targeting an increase in the pool of available families. Resource Family - Non-Kin Cumulative Total % 15% 24% 32% 39% 46% 62% Jul-06 Aug-06 Sep-06 Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Feb- Jun 2007 Target

24 Foster & Adoptive Families New Jersey experienced its first annual net gain in three years in the number of licensed resource families. NJ DCF Resource Families Licensed Net Gains/Losses by Month & Total CY net # of homes Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec TOTAL

25 Out of State Placements Working hard to keep our children closer to home. DCBHS Authorized Out of State Placements 2006 (Total placements for CY 2006= 3,726) # of children Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2006 Monthly Totals (as of the first of each month)

26 Adoptions New Jersey exceeded its target for finalized adoption for NJ DCF Adoptions # adoptions finalized MSA Target *Note: MSA refers to the modified settlement agreement for the federal law suit. The 2006 total is subject to increase due to end of the year data entry Actual

27 Adoptions New Jersey lowered the number of legally free children awaiting adoption, breaking through the historic barrier of more than NJ DCF Children Legally Free for Adoption (2006) 2,500 2,000 2,260 2,250 2,154 1,919 # of children 1,500 1, Jan 06 Jul 06 Sep-06 Dec-06

28 Adoption Lots of work remains, but New Jersey has moved children farther along in the process towards adoption. NJ DCF Legally Free Children Awaiting Adoption as of Dec 2006 Total = 1919 (Compared to Sept 2006 Total = 2154) Awaiting Court Hearing 17% Awaiting Decision by Current Foster/Kin Family 3% Awaiting Adoptive Home 21% Awaiting Home Study & Packet Finalization 59%

29 Adoptions New Jersey is proud of its significant investment in subsidized adoption. 12, DCF-Division of Youth and Fam ily Services Subsidized Adoption Placem ents , , , , , , , , # of Subsidized Adoptions 8, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , D e c M a r J un- 0 1 S e p- 0 1 De c M a r J un- 0 2 S e p- 0 2 De c M a r - J un- S e p- D e c M a r - J un- S e p Calendar Year (Quarterly Basis) De c M a r J un- 0 5 S e p- 0 5 D e c M a r J un- 0 6 S e p- 0 6 De c - 0 6

30 Kinship Legal Guardianship (KLG) New Jersey is proud of its significant investments in supporting permanency through extended family. NJ DCF Kinship Legal Guardianship July 05 Sept 05 Dec 05 Mar 06 Jun 06 Sept 06 Nov 06

31 Investing in Children & Families New Jersey is expanding its services to support children and families. Outstanding Requests for Proposals (RFPs) Home Visitation Initiative Differential Response Pilot Initiative Out of Home Specialty Services for Youth Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Programs Youth Supported Housing Planned Investments Expanded child and family visitation Expanded family engagement services Expanded medical services for children in out of home placement and more to come.