FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 6, 2006
Contact: Susan Morgan, (907) 269-4996, Cell (907) 632-6107
Jeff Kasper, (907) 465-8194, Cell (907) 321-3158
Alaska successfully completes child protection Program Improvement Plan
Office of Children’s Services congratulated for meeting or exceeding all goals and “exemplary” quality assurance process
Printer Friendly Copy (PDF, 43KB)
( Anchorage, Alaska) — Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services received notification from the federal Department of Health and Human Services last week that it successfully completed its Program Improvement Plan (PIP), which makes major system improvements to its child protective services system.
“We have surpassed benchmarks set in the PIP, and I am also pleased to announce that we have moved toward an entire reform of our system,” said Tammy Sandoval, Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Children’s Services. “The children and families we serve have benefited from the key reforms initiated by OCS over the past four years, including a more family-focused approach to better protect Alaska’s children.”
The federal Administration for Children and Families conducted an on-site review of Alaska’s Office of Children’s Services and resulting outcomes for those served in June 2002. As a result of the review, in September 2003 OCS entered into a two-year Program Improvement Plan with specific action steps, tasks and goals. OCS received an extension in 2005 to complete the PIP.
“ Alaska not only completed all action steps and tasks leading to systemic change, but also met the established goals for improvement,” wrote Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families in a congratulatory letter to Health and Social Services Commissioner Karleen Jackson.
Horn added that during the PIP time period, Alaska exceeded goals for reducing the rate of repeat maltreatment; increased successful and timely reunification of children with their parents; decreased the length of time children wait for a permanent adoptive home; and increased the stability of foster home placements. The Office of Children’s Services also successfully implemented major systemic initiatives, such as instituting a Statewide Continuous Quality Improvement review system, a new safety appraisal system and a new State Automated Child Welfare Information System.
Horn called Alaska’s work to implement the quality assurance process “exemplary.”
Sandoval said the continuous quality improvement review system will allow the state to monitor itself on an ongoing basis and continue to make strides in caring for Alaska’s children and serving their families.
“We’re changing our method of conducting safety assessments, are working to improve data collection and evaluation, and continually strive to lower rates of repeat maltreatment and removal of children from their homes,” Sandoval said. “We’ll keep working in all those areas. Systems reform has been a priority for OCS and will continue to be,” Sandoval added, “OCS is committed to the safety of children — even though we’ve completed the PIP, there is still more work to be done.”
-30-
Fact Sheet: Program Improvement Plan Goals Exceeded (PDF 49KB)
Follow Alaska_DHSS on Twitter
Connect with us on Facebook