core policy for child welfare workers, runs 260 pages. The Kansas Prevention and Protective Services Policy and Procedure Manual (2015) is 683 pages. The practice assessment is concerned with aspects of CPS policy that are specific to domestic violence-related cases, as well as issues of disparity that are so closely interconnected with the safety and well-being of battered mothers and their children. The assessment team does not have to consider every aspect of large and often complex policy documents that cover everything from the response to reports of child abuse and neglect to foster care and adoption. It will, however, pay attention to how agency policy seeks to organize its overall response in ways that reduce disparity. To identify the relevant policies, begin with CPS members of the assessment team and information developed during the mapping process (Toolkit 2). What guides CPS workers in domestic violence-related cases? Is there a domestic violence-specific supplement or section or policy? For example, the Oregon Department of Human Services has a specific set of guidelines, Child Welfare Practices for Cases with Domestic Violence (2015). The Minnesota counterpart is Guidelines for Responding to Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence (2012). Preparation Identify any domestic violence-specific policies or guidelines for CPS workers. Collect general policies governing CPS screening, assessment, and case management. Collect policies specific to cultural diversity and access and to addressing disparity. Decide whether the full team or a smaller work group will conduct the review. Provide a set of policies to each team member who will be reviewing them. Note: Policies can be paper copies or in an electronic format/PDF file. An electronic format is particularly helpful for searching general CPS policies to find specific references to domestic violence-related policy and procedure. Process Use the policy analysis checklist (Appendix 4.1). Read the policy and complete the checklist. Tip: If working with a paper copy, assign a different color to each of the four sections and highlight content accordingly: (1) principles, (2) procedures, (3) monitoring, and (4) addressing disparity.
core policy for child welfare workers, runs 260 pages. The Kansas Prevention and Protective Services Policy and Procedure Manual (2015) is 683 pages. The practice assessment is concerned with aspects of CPS policy that are specific to domestic violence-related cases, as well as issues of disparity that are so closely interconnected with the safety and well-being of battered mothers and their children. The assessment team does not have to consider every aspect of large and often complex policy documents that cover everything from the response to reports of child abuse and neglect to foster care and adoption. It will, however, pay attention to how agency policy seeks to organize its overall response in ways that reduce disparity. To identify the relevant policies, begin with CPS members of the assessment team and information developed during the mapping process (Toolkit 2). What guides CPS workers in domestic violence-related cases? Is there a domestic violence-specific supplement or section or policy? For example, the Oregon Department of Human Services has a specific set of guidelines, Child Welfare Practices for Cases with Domestic Violence (2015). The Minnesota counterpart is Guidelines for Responding to Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence (2012). Preparation Identify any domestic violence-specific policies or guidelines for CPS workers. Collect general policies governing CPS screening, assessment, and case management. Collect policies specific to cultural diversity and access and to addressing disparity. Decide whether the full team or a smaller work group will conduct the review. Provide a set of policies to each team member who will be reviewing them. Note: Policies can be paper copies or in an electronic format/PDF file. An electronic format is particularly helpful for searching general CPS policies to find specific references to domestic violence-related policy and procedure. Process Use the policy analysis checklist (Appendix 4.1). Read the policy and complete the checklist. Tip: If working with a paper copy, assign a different color to each of the four sections and highlight content accordingly: (1) principles, (2) procedures, (3) monitoring, and (4) addressing disparity.
CPS-Best-Practice-Guide-Formatted-6-27-16.docx