Office
of Children’s Services completes Program Improvements
November 30,
2011 marks the completion of OCS’s two-year, federally required Program
Improvement Plan (PIP). The PIP incorporated key strategies and action steps
designed to address areas needing improvement in Alaska’s child welfare system
as identified during a 2008 federal Child and Family Services Review conducted
by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. The on-site review
included an analysis of Alaska’s child welfare data; a Statewide Assessment
developed by OCS; on-site reviews of 65 cases (from Anchorage, Juneau and
Bethel); and interviews with local and state stakeholders. ; The PIP entailed
working with stakeholders and staff at all levels of the agency in order to
accomplish numerous initiatives and strategies aimed at enhancing nine specific
outcome areas related to safety, permanency and well-being of children in the
child welfare system. OCS is demonstrating steady improvement in all nine areas
as a result of these efforts. Full Article
Alaska Early Childhood Coordinating
Council (AECCC)
The Alaska
Early Childhood Coordinating Council (AECCC), co-chaired by commissioners Mike
Hanley from the Department of Education and Early Development and William J.
Streur, from the Department of Health and Social Services, was established in
the fall of 2010. The purpose of this group is to “promote positive
development, improved health outcomes, and school readiness for children
prenatal through age 8 by creating a culturally responsive, comprehensive, and
accessible service delivery system that links service providers, empowers
families, and engages communities.” The goal of the AECCC is to support the
creation of a unified, sustainable system of early care, health, education, and
family support for young children and their families. Full Article
We are "Better Together"!
When partners in child
welfare value and respect one another, the children of Alaska benefit. On Dec.
5–7, 2011, OCS staff, allies, alumni and the Resource Family Advisory Board
came to Anchorage in a collaborative effort to strengthen their partnership,
improve communication and develop relationships with the intent to positively change
the foster care system. Guided by the “Better Together” curriculum outline, our
facilitators Tess Thomas and Karen Jorgenson walked us through the powerful
results possible when stakeholders work together. There was a strong emphasis
on the importance of good communication between partners, including active
listening as well as patience and courtesy when dealing with misunderstandings.
Everyone present grew in appreciation for the unique work of each individual involved
in Alaska’s child welfare system. Full Article
What
it means to be a mandatory reporter
All Alaskans are
responsible for the welfare of the children in our communities. In that respect
all citizens are encouraged to contact the Office of Children’s Services (OCS)
about suspected abuse and neglect of a child. Alaska state law, however, requires that individuals in certain professions make
reports to OCS immediately if they have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse
or neglect; failure to make a report is punishable by law. These people have a
legal obligation to report and hence are considered “mandatory reporters.” All
reporters are a crucial link to protecting Alaska’s most vulnerable citizens —
infants, children, and youth. Full Article
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