Section

Practice Reform will always be a work in progress, but its initial implementation will be complete by April of 2008. We expect the following results over time:

• Fewer children will be removed from their homes
  • Children will be placed more frequently with relatives and less frequently in institutions
  • Children will be placed more frequently with siblings
  • Children will spend less time within the DCS system when they are in the DCS system and when they are in the DCS system they will be moved less frequently from caregiver to caregiver
  • Children will be adopted at a higher rate
  • Children will more frequently be reunited with their original families
  • Improved DCS casework through caseload reduction and intensive training for every caseworker in the State
  • Improved morale and lower turnover among Family Case Managers.
  Community and extended family ties built through the development of strong family teams will create a safety net of each child that lasts beyond DCS involvement with the case and reduces the number of children who return to the system