Making Child Welfare Work
Table of Contents
 FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1:
A NEW APPROACH TO SYSTEM REFORM
The Advocates
The Strategy
The Parallel to Mental Disability Cases
The Venue
CHAPTER 2:
LITIGATING FOR SYSTEM REFORM
Developing Strategy for a Child- and Family-Focused System
Discovery
Negotiating a Settlement
The Consent Decree: Creating a New Kind of Partnership
The Fairness Hearing
CHAPTER 3:
IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
"An Unnatural Act"
Resolving Ambiguities
Bottom-Up Implementation Planning
Phasing in Implementation: Planning by Doing
Assessing the System
Barriers to Implementation
Consultation on Child-by-Child System-Building
CHAPTER 4:
WALKING THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION
DHR Training
ACT Training
Other Training—A Lesson in Partnerships
ACT in Practice
Educating the Juvenile Court System
Shifting Control from the State to the Point of Service
Financing the New System of Care
Conversion
Actions to Achieve Conversion
CHAPTER 5: R.C. IN ACTION: NEW PARTNERSHIPS
Recognizing a Child's and Family's Strengths
Reaching Agreement About Children's Needs
Defining a Child's Needs
Securing the Child's Protection
Changing Service Design Based on Changing Needs
Out-of-Home Placement
Strengths/Needs-Based Permanency
CHAPTER 6:
CRAFTING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
Some of the Services Created in Alabama
Resource Development
Flex Funds The New Way of Paying for Services
How Collaborative Service Design Works
Designing New Standards that Fit the Model
The Challenge for Providers
RFPs and Vendor Agreements
Developing New Ways of Contracting for Services
How Providers Diversified
CHAPTER 7:
THE LAWYERS' CONTINUING ROLE
Building Key Constituencies
Representing Children and Families
The Struggle for Enforcement: Strengthening the State Office
Securing an Adequate DHR Budget
The Challenge Ahead
CONCLUSION
LESSONS FROM R.C.
APPENDIX I: GOALS AND PRINCIPLES
APPENDIX 2: RIGHTS OF CLASS MEMBERS
APPENDIX 3: DEFINITIONS
APPENDIX 4: POLICIES
1. Telephone and Mail Contacts
2. Placing Children in Close Proximity to Their Home
3. Placing Siblings Together
4. Visiting With Family Members
APPENDIX 5: QUALITY ASSURANCE
APPENDIX 6: CHECKLISTS
1. Key Elements of a Strong ISP (Quality Checklist)
2. Conversion Checklist
THE BAZELON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW
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