In 2008, Family Services began a transformation process that has substantially changed the way we do the work. This has included:

• Centralizing the intake and acceptance of child abuse and neglect reports;
   
• Implementing a “differential response” to accepted reports of child abuse and neglect;
   
• Increasing the use of supportive, engaging interventions with families early on (e.g., Family Safety Planning, Family Time Coaching, Shared Parenting Meetings, and Family Group Conferencing);
   
• Placing children with relatives and family friends whenever possible; and
   
• Implementing the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument (YASI) and the Safety and Danger Assessment and Risk Assessment (SDM).

These changes have led to:

• A continued increase in the number of calls received reporting suspected child abuse and neglect: from 12,829 in 2007 to 15,500 in 2011.
   
• Nearly double the number of families receiving a child abuse investigation or assessment: from 2,564 in 2007 to 4,908 in 2011. The focus is on intervening earlier, so we can better help families to successfully and safely parent their children.
   
• A continued reduction in the number of children in DCF care and custody: from 1,293 in 2008 to 1,037 in 2011.
   
• A dramatic increase in the number of families receiving safety-related services, with the goal of keeping children safe at home — from 90 in 2007 to 468 in 2011.

The Family Services Practice Model

Our work is guided by our Practice Model, which describes what we want to accomplish with the children, youth and their families who need our support and how we will perform that work. It includes the:

1. Core values we bring to our work;
2. Policies that guide us;
3. Practices that define the professional work of our agency; and
4. Processes we use to get this work done effectively and respectfully.