Linkages Program

1. LinkagesProgram

3. MarkTwain

8. Calaveras County Demographics • 2007 estimate Population of 47,722 • 17.7% increase 4/1/00- 7/1/06 • 3.7% of Population under 5 years old • 18.4% of Population under 18 years old • 17.1% of Population 65 years old and over • 50.5% of Population is Female • 93.2% of Population is Caucasian • 0.9% of Population is African- American • 1.7% of Population is American Indian & Alaska Native persons

9. Demographics , Cont’d • 6.5% Unemployment Rate 2007 • 8.3% March 2008 • $46,052 Median Household Income • 9.3% Persons below poverty 2004 • 8,958 Children Ages 0-17 • 825 Referrals Oct ’05- Sept.’06 • 12-Children Services Social Workers • 4 Emergency Response • 8 Continuing

10. History of Linkages in Calaveras County • March 2005- Phase II County • Planning Team developed Policy & Procedures • Linkages Cases-Parent qualifies for 1 additional month of aid following the month of removal of children • Linkages meetings were held monthly to review cases • CWS had 1 full time screener & used ISAWS to screen potential cases at intake

11. History, cont’d • Most Of The Original Team Members Are No Longer With The Agency • Child Welfare Had 50-60% Turnover Of Staff Within 1 ½ Years • Program Was Stagnant Due To Lack Of Oversight And Program Lacked Purpose • No Ongoing Training

12. History, cont’d • CFPIC contacted County – “Who is your Linkages Coordinator?” • County Appointed CWS Supervisor To Revive The Linkages Program • CFPIC Forwarded Documentation County Had Sent To CFPIC Previously • County Then Completed Self-assessment And Work Plan • New Linkages Committee Reviewed Mission And Vision Statements

13. Linkages Focused Targeted Population In CWS And In CalWORKs Currently Serving CWS Cases With A Case Plan

14. Target Population Defined Target Population to be: • In CWS And In Calworks • Serving CW Cases With Case Plan • Other Populations Served: • Sanctioned Cases • Drug Felon- Parent Participating In Prop 36 • Safety Net-parent’s 60 Month CalWORKs Timed Out. • Fleeing Felons-(pending Court Outcomes I.E., Clearing Warrants, Serve Time, Fines, Prop 36)

15. Current Practice One-Door Model • Using existing WTW Appraisal Form • Eligibility • Welfare-to-Work • Child Protective Services Developed Tracking Tool • Accessed on intranet “Linkages” Department Folder

18. Successful Measures • FM Case Closure Successful Completion of Services • FR Reunify with Parent Case Closure • ER Case Closure • VFM Case Closure • CalWORKs Cash Aid Discontinued due to Earnings • WTW 6 Months Post Job Retention Completed

19. Tracking Tool • Fewer Meetings • Communications Between Departments • Case Workers Are Able To Insert Comments Into Document And Track Progress Of Their Clients

20. How is Linkages Unique To Our County? • Formalized our Agency’s Current Practice • Co-Location with CWS/WTW/Eligibility • Not 100% of a Social Worker’s Caseload • Some Committee Members are cross-trained in accessing data systems- MEDS/CITRIX-WTW program/ISAWS • Line Staff are involved in the Linkages Committee

21. SAVINGS CalWORKs Eligibility Staff Staff Time To Process A New CalWORKs Application • Clerical to process a client, file clear & SFIS     45 Minutes • Intake interview                                              90 Minutes           • WTW meeting after intake interview                15 Minutes • Early Fraud                                                    15 Minutes • Eligibility mail out letters/ telephone calls            /Case comments 15 Minutes • Review and process for supervisor review       60 Minutes • Supervisor review                                          30 minutes Approximate Total Staff Time to Process a CalWORK’s Application is 5 to 6 hours

22. SAVINGSChild Welfare Services Staff Time to Process a Referral • SW to process referral 1 .5 Hours • Staffing with Supervisor and ER Team 15 min • ER SW respond to referral make collateral contacts/Driving time 2 Hours • Clerical Staff Set-Up case and process 30 min • SW Complete Child/Parent Interview 4 Hours • SW complete Referral Documents 1 Hour Approximate Total Staff Time to Process a CWS Referral 7 to 8 Hours

23. 26 Linkages Cases 4 unsuccessful - 7 active =84.6% Success Rate 75% of Unsuccessful Linkages cases received an additional referral upon CWS case closure 25% of Unsuccessful Linkages cases resulted in Termination of Parental Rights Non Linkages Cases 54 Foster Care Cases and 56 FR/FM Cases were Analyzed All cases had a FR/FM component active since 3/17/05 and have been closed VFM Cases were omitted Analysis of Linkages vs. Non-Linkages Cases

24. SUMMARY • Linkages Child Welfare Cases Were Closed One Month earlier than Non-Linkages • Average Of 1.8 Fewer Months For A Parent Involved With The Linkages Program To Reunify With Their Child.

25. 100% Of Successful Linkages Cases Have Not Received A Subsequent CWS Referral Upon Case Closure

26. Future? • County Will Continue to Experience Resource Savings • Reduction in Overall Re-Entry into Agency Programs • County Intra-Net Will Give Our Agency the Ability to Communicate With Our Service Providers.

27. This Presentation Brought To You By The Calaveras County Linkages Committee • Dave Godzina CWS Supervisor & Chair of Linkages Committee • Adele Baroni WTW Supervisor • Robin Bunting WTW Case Manager • David Hoos CWS Social Worker • Debbie Schiffilea CWS Social Worker • Jeanette O’Brien CWS/WTW Staff Services Analyst • Kathy Houle Program Manager Eligibility • Mikey Habbestad Program Manager CWS WTW • Sandy Morrill Deputy Director CWHSA

28. “Jacob” A “Linkages Success” Story by Jacob

29. Thank You