Out-of-Home Care Reform: Input and Update
On July 1, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services, (CFS) began the process of improving the manner in which services for child welfare clients are purchased by the State of Nebraska. On that day, contracts were implemented with 5 lead agencies for the provision of Safety and In-Home Services to clients, a reduction from over 100 previous contracts. The new contracts contain incentives to encourage exceptional performance and contractor performance is tied directly to outcomes shown to help provide safety, permanency and well-being for children.
On September 5, 2008, CFS announced the next step in its ongoing efforts to improve services to children and their families. A very high level plan, "Framework Recommendations for Out-of Home Care Reform" (see attachment below titled "Out of Home Care Reform") was released to the public outlining the intention of CFS to expand the lead agency, performance-based approach to contracting to include all non-treatment care in child welfare cases and to require lead agencies responsible for that care to also provide limited coordination of the services provided to child welfare clients.
To gather information and suggestions about the framework recommendations, CFS publicized an e-mail address to receive comments electronically and scheduled fourteen public forums at ten different locations around the state as well as meeting with CFS staff. A great deal of information has been received, reviewed, and considered, and has proven to be very helpful as CFS moves forward with this reform. The attachment below titled "Out of Home Care Reform Announcement - Input and Update 11-07-08" highlights the input received and announces the next steps in this important effort. Also included below is a revised timeline ("Out-of-Home Care Timeline - Revised 11-07-08").
Out-of-Home Care Reform - Framework (9-05-08)
Reform of Out-of-Home
PowerPoint
Please feel free to contact us with your comments or suggestions on the reform of out-of-home services. Your input is valued and will be considered as this process continues to move forward. Please know that we will not be responding to each individual e-mail. Please use the following e-mail address OHC.Reform@dhhs.ne.gov
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