Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
FFY 2011 Annual Progress and Services Report
360
In FY11 Key Enhanced Safety Model implementation markers were achieved as part of
Strategy 2 in Illinois’ two year CFSR PIP; the specific action steps to be implemented
in FY12 are outlined below:
Action Step 2.1: Implementation of clear Enhanced Safety Model policies to ensure
staff have the conceptual framework and the necessary direction to successfully
implement the model. A new policy guide has been developed to reflect the core
competencies and basic components of the model; the guide will be disseminated just
prior to the beginning of the first training phase. An update of all rules and procedures
affected by the new model will also be conducted.
Action Step 2.2: Implement Enhanced Safety Model Training Phase 1: "Child
Protection Skills Training.” This first Training module supports the skill and ability of
child protection investigation staff to implement the revisions to Department Rule and
Procedure, Part 300. Training will be conducted July 2011 through November 2011.
Training will be conducted through a train-the-trainer model of delivery utilizing
designated child protection management staff utilizing web meeting and on-line
technology. Training will occur at the work team level with the direct participation of
the supervisory staff.
Action Step 2.3: Implement Enhanced Safety Model Training Phase 2: "Critical
Thinking in the Assessment of Child Safety." This module supports the skill and ability
of all DCFS and POS agency child protection and child welfare casework and
supervisory staff to learn and apply a critical thinking model to the gathering and
analysis of child safety assessment information. The module will also implement the
use of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) instrument to record and
document the assessment of risk, as distinct from the immediate threat to safety
resulting from maltreatment. The following key casework practice issues will be
addressed: quality of initial and ongoing assessments of risk and safety, including the
use of formal and informal assessment tools; monitoring safety plans, quality of
assessment and engagement during investigations, monitoring safety in in-home cases,
and quality of risk and safety assessment at case closure and to identify needed services.
Training for all statewide DCFS and POS agency staff will be conducted January 2012
through June 2012. Phase 2 Training will be conducted face-to-face in a classroom
setting through the Departments Learning Collaborative program. This phase will also
utilize the Departments Supervisory Training for Enhanced Practice Program (STEP) to
provide coaching and support to supervisors around the implementation of phase 2
concepts.
Action Step 2.4: Implement Enhanced Safety Model Training Phase 3: "Enhanced
Child Endangerment and Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP).”
This module supports the skill and ability of staff to use the enhanced safety assessment
protocol to conduct the assessment of child safety. This module will also instruct staff
on the use of the upgrades to the SACWIS information system to both record and
analyze safety assessment information, and to record and document the safety plan in
support of controlling safety threats and preventing repeat child maltreatment. Staff will
also learn how to use SACWIS as a tool in documenting the CERAP safety assessment,
CANS Risk Assessment, and other automated enhanced case planning and assessment
