Focus Groups and Surveys:  Everything We Need to

ConsiderAND

Focused Case Review:  What’s This All About?

Research!!Use the literature reviews to guide BOTH

including Bio-Parents Foster ParentsYouth, Courts: judges, attorneys etc,Community-based service providers, Tribal groups, Probation supervisors,Child Welfare supervisors social workers, probation officers.

Structured conversation with a facilitator 6 to, a maximum of, 12 participants. 1 to 2 hours. Allows key stakeholders to provide valuable

insights on current practices and what changes they recommend for systemic and practice changes and for training related to the focus area.

Engage stakeholders in the PQCR, CSA, and ultimately the SIP process.

Tools: use the research!

Needs to be a neutral party with good facilitation skills.

Viewed by the group as a person or authority who does not have power over the participants or practice and who will maintain confidentiality

Examples of non-neutral situations include: leadership or attendance by any management staff with personnel responsibilities for any participant of a focus group; and leadership or attendance by any staff who has contract responsibility for community partners participating in a focus group.

Invite participants early. Offer stipends, if possible. Conduct the focus group in a comfortable,

safe, and logistically accessible location. Conduct the focus group at the time that

best meets the participants’ availability. Provide child care. Provide transportation and/or

reimbursement for transportation. Consider ways to recognize the value of the

time participants spend attending the focus group.

Principles of continuous Quality Improvement form the foundation for the PQCR process

Research informs practice and guides the development of tools and analysis of data

A 360 degree perspective of practice provides a comprehensive view of services, and the impact on the focus area of the review Case reviews Interviews with probation and social workers Focus groups with key stakeholders

Tools need to be developed in line with the focus area and the research for the case review.

Separate tools for probation and child welfare need to be developed

Mock case review of the tool should be completed ahead of time, similar to the interview tool

Incorporate into the training the concept of a narrowly focused case review driven by the focus area of the PQCR

Provide orientation to the county’s case filing system for the review teams

Emphasis the case review is: Intended to provide background information on

each case and county policy/process Not an audit Just one part of the 360 degree perspective Not intended for use as a case conference

 

Provide key for County’s filing systemProvide SafeMeasures print out as an

orientation to the case, and documentation

Emphasize confidentiality of case information; sign agreement if necessary

Provide each team access to CWS/CMS to support case review process (may not be able to do this during the training but have available for the review week)

Each team will then have about 45 mins to 1 hour to use the case review tool and review a case provided by the county