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October 31, 2023

Understanding the CFSR process

Have you wondered how the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) works? Let’s break it down to better understand the process, as well as how each item within the CFSR is reviewed and measured.

First, the CFSR team requests a random sample of local branch office cases from The Office of Reporting, Research, Analytics, and Implementation (ORRAI). Cases are reviewed and selected based on specific criteria, and then assigned to a reviewer who has completed the CFSR training. The CFSR team then schedules interviews with parents, resource parents, children, case workers, and other people with knowledge about the case. The reviewer conducts interviews, reads through the case file, and searches the database. To ensure consistency, each review must pass at least two levels of quality assurance completed by the CFSR team. If needed, changes are made, and the review is then sent along to the next CFSR team member. Multiple levels of review are important to ensure the instrument is applied in the same way for every case.

What is applicability?

• Many CFSR items have specific requirements regarding applicability based on the circumstances of the case being reviewed.
• Examples include specific dates the reviewer must consider, or whether an individual needs to be assessed as a parent for an item based on the case plan and their involvement in the case. Several permanency items in the instrument are not applicable if the case under review is an in-home case.
• Applicability criteria ensures we are only assessing cases that help us understand case practice themes for each item.

What are ratings and how do they work?

• Reviewers are looking for concerted efforts based on how hard the agency worked to meet the requirements.
• Each CFSR item is given a rating of strength, area needing improvement, or not applicable. 
• Each measure must hit certain benchmarks to earn a strength rating. Some items measure multiple factors.
• It takes just one missing element for an item to be rated as an area needing improvement. Criteria for a strength rating often considers the agency's efforts to achieve each item.

Future emails will explore what reviewers must find in case files and interviews to rate each item as a strength.

For more information about the CFSR Reviews and the Onsite Review Instrument (OSRI) please visit: https://www.cfsrportal.acf.hhs.gov/

About the Data Bytes Newsletter 

Data Bytes aims to make data approachable and easy to understand in the context of daily job responsibilities so that Child Welfare staff feel comfortable using data to measure progress and understand areas for improvement. Data is a critical part of Child Welfare federal reporting responsibilities and drives the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program.  

Each month, you’ll receive two Data Bytes newsletters from the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) team. The first is a broad look at concepts to build an understanding of Child Welfare data all employees can benefit from, regardless of job responsibilities. The second is intended to familiarize and prepare Child Welfare staff on the upcoming federal CFSR review and improve comfort with using qualitative data.