The process developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services known as the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR's).

by

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Abstract

The study examined the process developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Administration for Children and Families-Children's Bureau) in 2000 known as the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR's). The Child and Family Services Reviews consisted of two phases. The first was known as the Statewide Assessments and conducted by the states that provided the Department of Health and Human Services with data related to abuse and neglect, foster care placements, and adoptions. Not all states underwent the process at the same time. Different states were selected at different times and, on average, they would be required to participate in the Child and Family Services Reviews at least once every five years.

Although funding for child welfare government programs could be traced back to the 1930's, it took over 70 years for the federal government to institute an instrument and process for evaluating states' competency and effectiveness in administering and implementing such programs.

Information the instrument attempted to capture during the CFSR's relied heavily on biased opinions voiced by federal stakeholders who were conducting the evaluations. Qualitative data that were collected and interpreted by evaluators during the on-site portion of the Child and Family Services Reviews were not always concrete, factual, and measurable.

Closer analyses of other demographic and economic data sets that clearly defined population trends and financial needs such as the number of single-parent households with children who were under 18 years of age and the number and location of individuals receiving benefits such as food stamps, temporary cash assistance/temporary assistance to needy families, and supplemental security income could prove very useful in identifying where the greatest number of at-risk youth and their families resided.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Statement of the Problem4

Statement of Purpose4

Research Questions5

Hypothesis5

Rationale for the Research5

Significance of the Study6

Limitations6

Selection of Participants7

Assumptions7

Definition of Terms8

Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)8

State-wide Assessment8

Relative Risk9

Effect Size9

Formula Grants9

Discretionary Grants9

Physical abuse9

Physical neglect10

Program Improvement Plan (PIP)10

CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW11

Overview11

Definitions of Abuse and Neglect12

Physical and Psychological Effects13

Abused and neglected children14

Eating disorders, antisocial behaviors, and personality disorders15

Social Service Programs17

Family Preservation Program17

Cost-benefit analysis18

Child Protective Services (CPS)20

Continuation of maltreatment20

School-Linked Services22

Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)25

Policies and Procedures28

Methods of Evaluation30

Importance of evaluation31

Evaluation designs32

Cost-effectiveness approach34

CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY37

Overview37

Participants and Sampling Procedures38

Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)39

Instrument Design42

Methods ...