Casey Family Programs sent the information below to NACHSA today announcing a Timely Permanency Through Reunification collaborative. County child welfare agencies and their court partners are eligible to apply. Casey will conduct a Question and Answer conference call on May 21, 2008 from 2-4pm EDT. Dial-in Telephone Number:  1-866-248-0561

Room Number *6664509*

Frequently asked questions may be found on pages 35-37 of the application. The application materials may be found by clicking here or on the Casey website at www.casey.org.

Breakthrough Series Collaborative on Timely Permanency Through Reunification

Applications Due July 11, 2008

Casey Family Programs is sponsoring a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) on Timely Permanency Through Reunification. Twenty (20) teams of Public child welfare agencies/Tribal agencies along with a court partner will be brought together to share knowledge, challenges and successes over the course of two years.   Participating jurisdictions will identify, develop, and test potentially promising strategies for improving practice in their child welfare and court systems that will ultimately support and improve timely permanence through reunification.  The teams will be selected through a competitive application process. 

Each team will be a partnership between a public child welfare agency or tribal social service agency and the respective court within the jurisdiction. The agency and court will complete the application process together and participate throughout the BSC as a team.  It is our expectation that the Senior Leader team for the jurisdiction will include a leader from the child welfare agency and a judge from the court system.  In addition, the Core team will include a court partner who will also be engaged in the rapid tests of change (PDSAs) and practice change efforts.

Participating jurisdictions will identify, develop, and test potentially promising strategies for improving practice in their child welfare and court systems that will ultimately support and improve timely permanence through reunification focused in these component areas:

• Committing to Reunification as the Most Desirable Permanency Outcome
• Recognizing and Reducing Disproportionality and Disparate Outcomes
• Making Sound Decisions on Permanency
• Engaging the Family Network as Partners
• Using Out-of Home Placements to Support Reunification
• Using Services and Supports as a Foundation for Reunification
• Recruiting, Preparing and Supporting a Qualified Workforce
• Continuing to Support the Family after Reunification
• Collaborating with Cross-System and Community Partners