Caseworker Caseloads and Supervisor Workloads. The CSA requires that DHS establish performance targets for caseworker caseloads and supervisor workloads (CSA Section 2.10). As noted in the October 2013 report, DHS’ ability to achieve progress in the most critical areas of reform hinges on reducing worker caseloads. Under the Pinnacle Plan, DHS committed to the following caseload standards: 4 Vacancy rates for jointly approved TFC homes are far lower: of the 102 jointly approved homes on July 1, 2013, four percent had been vacant for at least six months, and two percent for at least one year. These homes may be occupied by children in regular xxxxxx care or in therapeutic xxxxxx care. Of the 115 jointly approved homes on December 31, 2013, six percent had been vacant for at least six months and one percent for at least one year. CPS 12 Open Investigations or Assessments 0.0833 OCA 12 Open Investigations 0.0833 Family Centered Services 8 Families 0.125 Permanency Planning 15 Children 0.0667 Resource 22 Families 0.0455 Adoption 8 Families & 8 Children 0.0625 Supervisors 1 Supervisor Dedicated to 5 Workers 0.2 per worker The Pinnacle Plan identified a variety of activities to reduce caseworker turnover and improve the overall working conditions for the DHS workforce so they can better care for and meet the needs of children. These commitments include adopting a graduated workload assignment for new workers so that they would not receive a full caseload until nine months after completing CORE training and committing to “incrementally increase pay for child welfare staff so that salaries are more competitive with other states.” Finally, DHS committed to implement a 1:5 supervisor to caseworker workload ratio to ensure caseworkers receive the support and guidance they need, which is most critical for new workers. The Metrics Plan codified targets for the caseload standards and for the supervisor ratio identified in the Pinnacle Plan. One of DHS’ first steps to achieve these targets was to develop an accurate way to count caseloads. Counting a caseload for staff who have a single role and who work full-time in that role is straightforward. Counting a caseload for staff with mixed caseloads and responsibilities other than casework is more difficult. As counting caseloads is complex, the Co-Neutrals have employed an iterative process in working with DHS to develop an appropriate methodology. At the Co-Neutrals’ request, DHS submitted detailed caseworker caseload information for December 31, 2013. The point-in-ti...
Caseworker Caseloads and Supervisor Workloads. Establishing and maintaining manageable caseloads for child welfare caseworkers are essential to child safety, well-being, and permanency. DHS committed to achieve the following caseload standards for child welfare workers and workload standard for supervisors: CPS 12 Open Investigations or Assessments 0.0833 OCA 12 Open Investigations 0.0833 Family Centered 8 Families 0.125 Permanency Planning 15 Children 0.0667 Resource Family 22 Families 0.0455 Adoption 16 Children 0.0625 Supervisors 1 Supervisor Dedicated to 5 Workers 0.2 per worker This is the first report period in which DHS achieved the Target Outcome of 90 percent of caseworkers meeting their caseload standard. Compared to the state’s starting baseline performance of 27 percent caseload compliance, DHS has made substantial and sustained progress in this critical performance area, which has an immense impact on caseworkers’ and the department’s ability to achieve improvements for children and families in other areas of this reform. The Co-Neutrals find that during this report period DHS made good faith efforts to achieve substantial and sustained progress toward the Target Outcome for caseloads. DHS’ point in time caseload performance at the end of the period (June 30, 2020) was 93.8 percent, which exceeds the Target Outcome of 90 percent. The department reported 86.7 percent compliance on the final day (December 31, 2019) of the last six-month period. As shown in Table 6 below, DHS’ end of period performance outcomes reflect sustained progress over the last five report periods. Table 6: End of Period, Point in Time Caseload Compliance End of Period Point In Time December 31, 2017 June 30, 2018 December 31, 2018 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2019 June 30, 2020 Compliance of all Caseload Carrying Workers 70.5% met 71.6% met 86.1% met 86.9% met 86.70% met 93.8% met DHS reported its quarterly caseload performance at 93 percent, achieving and exceeding the 90 percent Target Outcome for the first time. This performance represents a significant increase from the last two quarterly periods (April – June 2019 and October – December 2019) when DHS sustained an average statewide compliance of 80 percent over these two three-month periods. Quarterly caseload data, compared to point in time (PIT) data, offers a more accurate representation of the workloads experienced in the field during the period, as it is much less subject to the temporary fluctuations historically depicted in the number of cases assigned on th...
Caseworker Caseloads and Supervisor Workloads. Establishing and maintaining manageable caseloads for child welfare caseworkers are essential to child safety, well-being and permanency. DHS committed to achieve the following caseload standards for child welfare workers and workload standard for supervisors: CPS 12 Open Investigations or Assessments 0.0833 OCA 12 Open Investigations 0.0833 Family Centered 8 Families 0.125 Permanency Planning 15 Children 0.0667 Resource Family 22 Families 0.0455 Adoption 16 Children 0.0625 Supervisors 1 Supervisor Dedicated to 5 Workers 0.2 per worker At the beginning of this reform effort, the great majority of caseworkers carried caseloads which far exceeded the established workload standards. Over the past six years, DHS has substantially reduced the number of workers who are responsible for carrying cases over the workload standard. At the close of this report period, in contrast to six years ago, the majority of workers were meeting workload standards, which is a significant achievement for the department. Critical work remains to improve caseloads for those districts in the state that continue to lag far behind the established standards. To advance its efforts to achieve substantial and sustained progress toward manageable caseloads, last year DHS committed to achieving the following three goals by December 31, 2018:
1. Eighty percent of caseworkers will meet the caseload standard;
2. The department will hire a sufficient number of staff to meet the caseload Target Outcome; and,
3. Ensure no caseworkers carry a caseload over 200 percent of the caseload standard. During this period, DHS’ progress toward meeting these commitments was mixed. DHS made modest progress toward the first commitment by increasing the percent of caseworkers who met the caseload standard this period, but that progress quickly reversed following the conclusion of the period. With respect to the second and third commitments, DHS lost ground when compared to last period. At the end of this period, the number of vacant caseworker positions increased relative to last period. The Co-Neutrals assess that DHS did not make good faith efforts this period to continue to achieve substantial and sustained progress toward the caseload Target Outcome. It is important to note that this judgment is focused on the current period only (January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018). However, since 2014 the department has made substantial progress improving caseloads. Following the close of this single period, department lead...
