Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP)
Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)
Title IV-E State Plan

Child and Family Services Plan

Federal regulations require each state to develop a comprehensive five-year Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and to publish annual updates on the progress made towards accomplishing the goals and objectives stated in the plan.

These plans guide the work we do with children, families, and our community partners.

• Child and Family Services Plan, 2004 to 2009 (pdf, 505kb)
• Vermont Final State Plan, 2004 to 2009

•  Child and Family Services Plan, 2010 to 2014

• 2008 Progress Report (pdf,888kb)
• 2007 Progress Report (pdf, 432kb)
• 2006 Progress Report (pdf, 393kb)
• 2005 Progress Report (pdf, 351kb)

Child and Family Services Review

The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is the process used by the federal government to evaluate state child welfare programs. In addition to ensuring conformity, the review is designed to help States improve child welfare services and outcomes for the families and children who receive services by identifying strengths and needs within State programs.

Going through this process gives us an opportunity to find out what is actually happening to children and families as they engage in our services. This helps us to improve outcomes for children and families.

2007 Federal Review

• 2007 Statewide Assessment
• 2007 Final Report
• 2007 Final Report - Executive Summary
• 2008 Program Improvement Plan

2001 Federal Review

• 2001 Statewide Assessment
• 2001 Final Report
• 2004 Final Program Improvement Plan
• 2005 Annual Progress and Services Report (June 30, 2005)

Supplemental Reports

• Family Services Division - 2005 District Review Annual Report

What does a review look at?

Outcomes for children and families in three main areas: safety, permanency, and child and family well-being.

It also looks at the infrastructure or systemic factors that supports the delivery of child welfare services. These include such things as staff training, a state's computer data systems to track cases, and the state's efforts to license and recruit foster parents.

How is a review conducted?

 Each CFSR is a two-step process consisting of:

• The Statewide Assessment
  The statewide assessment includes input from a variety of stakeholders. For the 2007 assessment, we conducted six stakeholder surveys--both online and through focus groups--and we received over 300 responses, which helped us gain important knowledge about our services.
• The Onsite Review
  Following the statewide assessment, an onsite review is conducted by a joint Federal and State team. This includes case record reviews; interviews with children, youth, and families engaged in services; and interviews with community stakeholders such as the courts, community agencies, foster families, caseworkers and service providers.  Our federal review was conducted April 9-13, 2007.

What happens after the review is completed?

At the end of the onsite review, if it is determined that we have not achieved substantial conformity in all the areas assessed, we will be required to develop a Program Improvement Plan. This two-year plan will include strategies for making improvements in all areas found to be in need.

We had our first federal review in May of 2001, and we successfully closed out our Program Improvement Plan in 2004. We worked hard to improve our services and made many gains in the areas of child safety, permanency, child and family assessments, quality assurance, and training. This next review will help us to determine where to focus our resources as we continue to improve our services.