CAPTA: Lessons Learned

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CAPTA Lessons Learned

• WV Birth to Three

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Setting the Stage

• The Department of Health and Human Resources is
  the umbrella agency for
• Bureau for Public Health
• WV Birth to Three
• Bureau for Children and Families
• Child Protective Services

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CAPTA Legislation

• 2003- Child Protective Services and WV Birth to
  Three entered into discussions on how to
  implement CAPTA in West Virginia
• Key decisions
• Child Protective Services will not implement
  screening option
• All children will be referred directly to WV
  Birth to Three
• Training of CPS personnel and WV Birth to Three
  personnel should occur regionally/locally in
  regards to referral process to WV Birth to Three

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CAPTA Implementation - CPS

• Child Protective Services
• Utilized WV Birth to Three referral form to
  design Referral to WV Birth to Three Program
  form to insure key referral information is
  provided at referral
• The West Virginia CPS system provided training to
  CPS personnel on new policies and procedures

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CAPTA Implementation- WVBTT

• One statewide training to local lead agencies
  (Regional Administrative Units)
• Regional training to field focusing on service
  coordinators
• Training to WV Birth to Three Trainers and
  Regional Technical Assistance Coordinators

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Data Analysis- First Look

• Approximately 1000 children under the age of
  three were found to have substantiated abuse-FY
  2002
• As a result of CAPTA, WV Birth to Three has
  experienced significant increases in referrals
  with CPS as primary referral source
• 2001/2002- 89 referrals with CPS as primary
  referral source
• 2006-2007- 515 referrals with CPS as primary
  referral source

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Data Analysis Second Look

• Even though WV Birth to Three has seen an
  increase in the numbers of referrals under CAPTA,
  only 25 of the families referred proceeded to
  IFSP
• Research sited on NECTAC nationally only 13
  of children with delays who are involved in child
  welfare receive early intervention
• Referrals are clustered in certain counties
• Highest referral rate- 33 of total referrals in
  that county to 0 of total referrals

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CAPTA - Lessons Learned

• Families involved in Child Welfare are in crisis
  and it may be difficult for them to understand
  the purpose and possible benefit of early
  intervention services
• Child Protective Service workers have a high turn
  over rate resulting in on going training needs on
  CAPTA and linkages to community services and
  supports available to young children
• On- going training, communication and
  collaboration is essential to success

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Regional Administrative Unit II

• Successful strategies
• Met with local CPS coordinators to share
  information and identify barriers to
  collaboration
• Offered joint training to CPS/Foster Care Workers
• Shared data on numbers of referrals by county in
  the region

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Childrens Justice Task Force

• Designed one hour training focusing on
• Brain development
• Effects of early environment on development
• CAPTA legislation (child abuse and neglect,
  maternal substance abuse)
• McKinney- Vento Homeless Act
• Referral to WV Birth to Three
• What is Part C early intervention
• Suggestions for how we can work together

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Current Strategies and Activities

• Local lead agencies continue to contact and
  provide regional and local training Child
  Protective Service/Foster Care Workers
• Encouraging local leads to offer training jointly
  with CPS and WV Birth to Three personnel to
  enhance the working relationships
• WV Birth to Three State office provided training
  to the local lead agencies on the revised CAPTA
  training
• Local lead agencies are so busy, having this tool
  will greatly assist in the training occurring

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Current Strategies and Activities

• Collaborate with State CAPTA coordinator to move
  training content to Web CT course for CPS workers
  and early intervention providers
• CPS/Foster Care training is mostly provided on
  Web CT
• Web CT course can be used for new employees and
  as refresher course

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Questions?????????