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Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare Report to the Community Report to the Community

January 13, 2006 January 13, 2006

Jan. – Dec. 2005Jan. – Dec. 2005Progress summary of 2005Progress summary of 2005

SafetySafety

PermanencePermanence

Well-BeingWell-Being

January 13, 2006

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Permanency Achieved for Children During 2005Permanency Achieved for Children During 2005A comparison to 2004A comparison to 2004

Permanence

20012001 20022002 2003 2003 2004 2004 20052005

ReunificationReunification 854854 11101110 907 (15.9%) 704 (14.7%) 907 (15.9%) 704 (14.7%) 677 677 (15.6%)(15.6%)

GuardianshipGuardianship 246246 371371 324 ( 5.7%) 198 ( 4.1%)324 ( 5.7%) 198 ( 4.1%) 232 232 ( 5.4%)( 5.4%)

AdoptionAdoption 265265 504504 584 (10.3%) 560 (11.7%)584 (10.3%) 560 (11.7%) 373 ( 8.6%)373 ( 8.6%)Subsidized Guardianship Subsidized Guardianship 101 ( 2.3%)101 ( 2.3%)Permanency CounselorPermanency Counselor: Voluntary TPR: Voluntary TPR 125* 125*

**The number of children who achieved permanency through the Permanency Counselor program are counted in the The number of children who achieved permanency through the Permanency Counselor program are counted in the number of adoptionsnumber of adoptions..

In 2005, 31.9% of the children who had an out-of-home placement achieved permanency In 2005, 31.9% of the children who had an out-of-home placement achieved permanency compared to 30.5% in 2004. compared to 30.5% in 2004.

The rate of reunification and guardianship has remained consistent since 2003. The rate of reunification and guardianship has remained consistent since 2003.

Although the number of adoptions has decreased there is increased efficacy in the timeliness Although the number of adoptions has decreased there is increased efficacy in the timeliness of adoptions within 24 monthsof adoptions within 24 months

(Percentages are based on total number of children in out-of-home care.)(Percentages are based on total number of children in out-of-home care.)

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Referrals to Ongoing Services and Safety Referrals to Ongoing Services and Safety Services 1999 to 2005Services 1999 to 2005

Safety Services safely maintains children in their homes

• Families transferred to Ongoing Services and Safety ServicesFamilies transferred to Ongoing Services and Safety ServicesOngoingOngoing Safety ServicesSafety Services Ratio: Ongoing to SafetyRatio: Ongoing to Safety

19991999 10361036 13921392 1 to 1.31 to 1.320002000 689689 13261326 1 to 1.91 to 1.920012001 632632 12961296 1 to 2.11 to 2.120022002 567567 12451245 1 to 2.21 to 2.220032003 508508 12021202 1 to 2.41 to 2.420042004 584584 10361036 1 to 1.81 to 1.82005 2005 566566 841841 1 to 1.51 to 1.5

The Safety Service program has safely diverted a significant number of families from The Safety Service program has safely diverted a significant number of families from entering the Ongoing program every year since it began. Prior to the advent of Safety entering the Ongoing program every year since it began. Prior to the advent of Safety Services in 1998, families were transferred to Ongoing Services. Services in 1998, families were transferred to Ongoing Services.

Since 1999 the data indicates that, overall, Since 1999 the data indicates that, overall, for every family referred to Ongoing nearly for every family referred to Ongoing nearly 2 were referred to Safety Services2 were referred to Safety Services..

Safety

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Comparison of Families Entering/Exiting Comparison of Families Entering/Exiting Ongoing ServicesOngoing Services 1999 to 20051999 to 2005

Families entering and exiting Ongoing Services

Year Families entering Families exiting Ratio: entering to exiting

1999 1036 788 1 to .8

2000 689 914 1 to 1.3

2001 632 830 1 to 1.3

2002 567 1120 1 to 2.0

2003 508 938 1 to 1.8

2004 584 721 1 to 1.2

2005 566 647 1 to 1.1

• Both the number of families entering and exiting Ongoing services has declined since 2002 .

• Since 2002, the ratio of families entering and exiting Ongoing services has gradually achieved equilibrium; in 2005, for every 1 family that entered Ongoing services, 1 family exited.

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Children in Out of Home Care 2001 to 2005Children in Out of Home Care 2001 to 2005

The data suggest that the rapid downward trend in children placed in out-of-home The data suggest that the rapid downward trend in children placed in out-of-home care first reported in 2002, may have reached a 3-year plateau as indicated by the care first reported in 2002, may have reached a 3-year plateau as indicated by the slower rate that children left out-of-home care between 2003 through 2005. slower rate that children left out-of-home care between 2003 through 2005.

Number of Children in an Out-of-Home Care Placement 1998 through 2005

60766778 6687

59174570

3489 3151 2825

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

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The areas highlighted in this report cover critical milestones in child welfare; The areas highlighted in this report cover critical milestones in child welfare; achieving achieving permanency, and ensuring the safety of children in their homes whenever possiblepermanency, and ensuring the safety of children in their homes whenever possible . The . The information provided indicates a common trend across the various data sets presented; the current information provided indicates a common trend across the various data sets presented; the current status of these milestones may be the net effect of the permanency and safety strategies status of these milestones may be the net effect of the permanency and safety strategies implemented by BMCW since 1998. These strategies include but are not limited to:implemented by BMCW since 1998. These strategies include but are not limited to:

Partnership with the private agencies who provide ongoing, safety, licensing and adoption servicesPartnership with the private agencies who provide ongoing, safety, licensing and adoption services

Partnership with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Child Welfare trainingPartnership with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Child Welfare training

Partnership with the Children’s Court Center; implementation of the Permanency Plan Review CourtPartnership with the Children’s Court Center; implementation of the Permanency Plan Review Court

Partnership with the Assistant District Attorney’s office to increase the number of TPR attorneysPartnership with the Assistant District Attorney’s office to increase the number of TPR attorneys

A Permanency Counselor at Children’s Court Center who facilitates voluntary TPRsA Permanency Counselor at Children’s Court Center who facilitates voluntary TPRs

Implementation of Safety Services and the diversion of families from Ongoing Case ManagementImplementation of Safety Services and the diversion of families from Ongoing Case Management

Implementation of Family Intervention Support and Services (FISS) and the diversion of families with Implementation of Family Intervention Support and Services (FISS) and the diversion of families with adolescents from Ongoing servicesadolescents from Ongoing services

Coordinated Services Team meetings, enhancing parent participation in case planning and including the Coordinated Services Team meetings, enhancing parent participation in case planning and including the inclusion of foster parents and adoption staff at the meetingsinclusion of foster parents and adoption staff at the meetings

Enhanced service provider networks, increasing the number of services available to parentsEnhanced service provider networks, increasing the number of services available to parents

Child Abuse Review Team: Multi-Disciplinary Team Staffing and the Child Fatality Review PanelsChild Abuse Review Team: Multi-Disciplinary Team Staffing and the Child Fatality Review Panels

Child Protective Center’s initial screening and forensic interviewsChild Protective Center’s initial screening and forensic interviews

Subsidized Guardianship WaiversSubsidized Guardianship Waivers

Mobile Urgent Treatment Team for Foster Families (MUTT-FF) providing support to foster familiesMobile Urgent Treatment Team for Foster Families (MUTT-FF) providing support to foster families

Assessment Homes, Centers and Placement Stabilization CentersAssessment Homes, Centers and Placement Stabilization Centers

SummarySummary

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BUREAU OF MILWAUKEE BUREAU OF MILWAUKEE CHILD WELFARECHILD WELFARE