The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Integrated Assessment (IA) program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Placement Stabilization, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Any child (up to 17 years of age) and his or her parents/legal guardians entering the child welfare system.

IA was created by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to improve child welfare workers' capacity to evaluate and address key factors in foster care placement. When a family enters DCFS' care and is assigned a caseworker, children and their families are assessed to determine current level of functioning, needs, and strengths. IA assists the caseworker when evaluating critical safety and risk factors by focusing a clinical lens on the medical, educational, developmental, behavioral, and emotional needs of children in care, as well as for the adults who care for them. IA pairs the assigned child welfare caseworker with the IA Clinical Screener immediately following the child's placement in substitute care.

Overview

• The entire assessment process (over the 45 days) requires approximately 25-30 hours per case, including report writing and supervision. This number may vary depending on the number of family members and caregivers involved, and travel time to appointment.

Intake & Case Assignment

• A Program Coordinator assigns the case to the Intake Coordinator and the Clinical Screener.
• The Intake Coordinator will retrieve the case referral information identifying critical dates and contact information, and all Child Protection referral information.
• The Intake Coordinator will give this information to the Clinical Screener.
• The Intake Coordinator arranges all appointments for interviews.
• The Clinical Screener will receive and review information sent by the Intake Coordinator.
• The Clinical Screener also reviews any case information from the assigned Caseworker.

Assessment of Clients - Interviews

• The Clinical Screener reports problematic case issues and critical case data to their Program Coordinator and the IA Intake Coordinator on a regular basis.
• The Clinical Screener will discuss the information reviewed with their Clinical Supervisor throughout the IA interview process.
• The Clinical Screener requests Intake Coordinator assistance obtaining additional records identified during the assessment and determined clinically necessary.
• These include records from previous child welfare history, medical records, law enforcement reports, etc.
• The Clinical Screener will collaborate with the client's Child Protection Worker and assigned Caseworker regarding all case information.
• Using the appropriate IA interviewing tool based on the age and role of the individual being interviewed, the Clinical Screener teams up with the assigned Caseworker to conduct screens/interviews in the parent/guardian's home and the caregiver's home. (If safety is an issue, interviews will be conducted at the Caseworker's office.)
• The Clinical Screener completes all necessary screens/interviews for the parent or guardian, stepparent, significant other, caregiver, and children, including early childhood developmental needs for children age 0-5.
• Immediately following each interview, the Clinical Screener reviews their information, questions, concerns, impressions, and recommendations with the assigned Caseworker.
• The Clinical Screener reviews ongoing case information with their Clinical Supervisor and seeks consultation around high-risk issues.
• The Clinical Screener drafts the IA report based on information, documentation, interviews, impressions, and recommendations generated with the assigned Caseworker throughout the process.
• The Clinical Screener communicates with the assigned Caseworker and their supervisor regularly throughout the process.
• Clinical Screener submits Draft of IA Report to Clinical Supervisor and makes recommended revisions.

Staffing the Report

• Following their supervisor's feedback and approval, the Clinical Screener meets with the assigned Caseworker and their supervisor to review and discuss the contents and findings of the assessment and drafted Integrated Assessment Report.
• The Clinical Screener revises the IA draft incorporating feedback from the assigned Caseworker and their supervisor and completes the final IA Report.
• The Clinical screener scores the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment measure.
• The Clinical Screener attends and participates in the Family Meeting, which is co-facilitated by the assigned Caseworker and their Supervisor.
• Together, with the family, recommendations are developed resulting from the assessment and meet the child's needs for permanency and well-being.
• The Clinical Screener completes the Primary Care Physician Summary Report, Recommendations Checklist, and CANS assessment measure, (these document all assessment and treatment recommendations for the child) and forwards to the IA program Intake Coordinator along with final IA Report including signatures of the Screener and the Clinical Supervisor.

Integrated Assessment (IA) was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Current client functioning, their strengths, supports and resources as well as issues involving neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, mental health, physical health, development, substance abuse, and behavior problems.

Age range: 0 – 17

Developmental Delays:

This program was not developed for children with developmental delays, and has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Integrated Assessment (IA) was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Current client functioning, their strengths, supports and resources as well as issues involving domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, physical health, and parenting.

Integrated Assessment (IA) was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

The number of contacts varies depending on family composition and the type of substitute placement. Contacts consist of interviews, parent/child observations and feedback session to discuss assessment results.

Recommended Duration:

The program occurs during the first 45 days of the child entering the state's custody. The duration of the interviews, screenings and family meetings with the child, parent, or substitute caregiver varies. All initial assessments, which include any developmental screenings and medical examinations, are completed within 45 days of the Court's order for temporary custody. Interviews with the parent/guardian, stepparent, and any involved significant other commences immediately upon case assignment. Child and substitute caregiver (foster parent) interviews begin 7 days after case assignment in order to allow time for adjustment. All interviews and clinical screenings are completed by day 20 after temporary custody begins. The report is drafted by the Clinical Screener, assigned caseworker, and their supervisor by day 30, allowing time to meet with the family and substitute caregiver to discuss the results of the assessment and develop the case service plan by day 45 of temporary custody.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home
• Foster Home

This program does not include a homework component.

Integrated Assessment (IA) does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

In addition to program personnel (e.g., Clinical Screeners, Intake Coordinators, etc.), office space and supplies, including computer, printer, fax, and telephone equipment for report writing and correspondence are needed. Funding is needed for transportation costs related to conducting clinical interviews and meetings with child welfare staff to discuss case issues and final report, and participate in family meetings, especially when the Clinical Screener needs to travel long distances to the families' homes.

Intake staff function as clerical support, and hold a Bachelor's degree. Clinical Screeners and Clinical Supervisors hold licensure in clinical social work or clinical psychology, and/or certification in a recognized specialty area such as early childhood development. While many Clinical Screeners and Clinical Supervisors have direct child welfare experience, they have also worked in clinical social service or mental health settings. In addition, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DFCS) requires all Clinical Screeners and Clinical Supervisors to successfully complete a pre-service program training developed and delivered by the Department. Clinical Screeners and Clinical Supervisors are also Child Welfare Employee Licensed (CWEL) and Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP) certified in the state of Illinois.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Paul Langevin, MSW
  Integrated Assessment Program
  phone: (312) 965-0561

Training is obtained:

Training is regionally based throughout the state.

Number of days/hours:

• Pre-service: Four (4) days 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily.
• Actual program: Four (4) days 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Integrated Assessment (IA).