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. Table 2: Pinnacle Plan Caseload and Workload Standard Commitments Role Standards Weight Per Case 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 Caseworker Caseloads and Data Sufficiency 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 appropri...
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: TABLE 3: PLAN CASELOAD AND WORKLOAD STANDARD COMMITMENTS Role Standards Weight Per Case 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 Family Specialist 22 Families 0.0455 Adoption 16 Children 0.0625 Supervisors 1 Supervisor Dedicated to 5 Workers 0.2 per worker Performance – Target Outcomes Point in Time Caseload Data – December 31, 2021 DHS reported that 88.4 percent of caseworkers (1,165 out of 1,317) met their caseload standard on the last day of the period, December 31, 2021, placing DHS in close range of the Target Outcome of 90 percent. Eighty-seven caseworkers (6.6 percent) were close and the remaining 65 caseworkers (less than five percent) were over the standard. DHS achieved the Target Outcome in its Point in Time (PIT) caseload data on the final day of the last three review periods as shown in Table 4 below. Compared to the state’s starting baseline performance of 27 percent caseload PIT compliance, DHS has made substantial and sustained progress in this critical performance area, which impacts 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. Table 4: End of Period, Point in Time Caseload Compliance End of Period Point In Time December 31, 2018 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2019 June 30, 2020 December 31, 2020 June 30, 2021 December 31, 2021 Compliance of all Caseload Carrying Workers 86.1% met 86.9% met 86.7% met 93.8% met 94.2% met 92.1% met 88.4% met Quarterly Caseload Data (October-December 2021) DHS reported its quarterly caseload compliance for the three-month period of October through December 2021 was 86.3 percent. 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 the last day of a period. 100% 90% 80...
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: Table 4: Pinnacle Plan Caseload and Workload Standard Commitments Role Standards Weight Per Case 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:
