IV-E Waiver Expedited Reunification

Funding: The Children's Bureau, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, administering funds from Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
Partners: Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) Division of Children Youth and Families (DCYF)
Program Description: The Expedited Reunification Project aims to quickly reunite families whose children have been in foster care for less than nine months. Its primary strategy is the creation of Child and Family Teams (CFTs) that include case workers, family and friends, and other significant people. The teams will work together with parents to create an action plan that includes home-based services such as counseling and skill-building, and, when necessary, substance abuse or mental health treatment. The four goals of the pilot program are: its four goals: (1) reduce children's length of stay in congregate and licensed foster care settings; (2) decrease the likelihood of re-entry into out-of-home care; (3) prevent the recurrence of child abuse and neglect; and (4) improve family well-being and functioning. Click here for complete project description.
CABHP's Role: CABHP serves as an external program monitor. We will evaluate the implementation of the project by analyzing the results of interviews, surveys, and other data. In addition, we compare client-level data for families receiving traditional services and for families randomly selected for the Expedited Reunification Project to measure how well the project has met its four goals, and issue interim and final reports.
Partnership Began: 2005
Project Leader: Brian Arthur
Related Links: Children's Bureau project description -- http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs_fund/cwwaiver/2006/arizona.htm
DCYF-- http://www.azdes.gov/dcyf/
DES-- http://www.azdes.gov/ASPNew/default.asp