Child Welfare System Performance Mixed in First Year of Statewide Community-Based Care Report No. 06-05

Since the transition to community-based care, foster children are obtaining permanent placements more quickly, but high percentages of children continue to be abused and must return to foster care. Increased numbers of foster children also experience frequent moves among foster care placements.

For the most part, community-based care has had a positive effect on state foster home capacity, with more foster homes and beds now available statewide and fewer foster homes over their licensed capacity. However, foster parents continue to express concerns about board rates and communication with providers.

Case managers have experienced some positive changes under community-based care, with lower caseloads and position vacancy rates. However, starting salaries are lower than professionals in other service areas and staff turnover is higher.

To help ensure that the transition to community-based care improves overall performance, the department should target critical outcomes that have not shown improvement, and provide additional guidance for lead agency quality assurance reviews of subcontractors.