Contract period: 2002-05
Between the fall of 2002 and spring of 2005, the Public Strategies Group (PSG) assisted the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) in formally launching a new child welfare system. The new system was designed to measure results that count, not process. It gave each front line worker a set of goals to shoot for and shows, regularly, how well he or she is doing. On a broader and very public scale, the redesign measures statewide progress on the same expectations.
In just 18 months, the redesign saved the state $10 million, and has met or exceeded the performance improvement plan that was put in place as the result of a 2002 federal review of the state's system for responding to child abuse and neglect. Most importantly, results for kids improved.
As of September 2006:
• Most abused or neglected children are not removed from the home. Of these children, 90.3 percent remain abuse-free for six months following the original maltreatment. The federal goal of 93.9 percent is within reach. The state's performance target of 89.7 percent has been exceeded.
• Of children who are removed to foster care, the safety standard is near perfection. Iowa exceeds the standard. Of these children, 99.8 percent are free from abuse. Federal standard: 99.4 percent.
• When children must spend time away from home, the goal is to place them correctly the first time and avoid constant movement. Of children in placement, the goal is for 86.7 percent of them to have two or fewer placements. Iowa has nearly reached the standard at 85.5 percent.
• When children are reunited with parents, the goal is to have a stable family unit. In Iowa, 89.5 percent do not "bounce back" into foster care. The federal standard is 91.4 percent. Iowa's performance target of 82 percent was exceeded.
• Iowa's poorest performance area regards timely reunification. Of all children removed, 56.3 percent are reunified within a year. The federal target is 76.2 percent.
• Iowa's strongest performance area regards timely adoption. Of children who cannot be reunified, 43.7 percent are adopted within two years of removal. The federal standard is 32 percent.
DHS reports seeing a triple benefit from the hard work of the many people involved in the redesign and innovation efforts: child welfare dollars are focused on achieving results for families and knowing what results we are achieving; children are safer, more stable, and with more permanency in their lives; and, our employees have a clearer understanding of work expectations which is resulting in a more stable workforce.
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