A team of social workers has been meeting with DCFS management to improve policies and training related to emergency response work with the goal of improving results for workers, children and families.
The team made positive steps forward this week toward compromise with the executive engagement team (read the details of the progress below.)
The progress highlights a shifting dynamic within DCFS toward making positive change to address needed system reforms. The team of social workers is also looking at policy improvements around Supervising Children’s Social Worker roles and Safe Measures.
“We need to make sure all DCFS, CSWs and SCSWs
have the ER mentality and training — whether you are in FM&R or Adoptions or you are off-line.
Knowing how to assess risk helps the whole department. We have to have the right mind set and the right training to do the best work and have the best results for kids and their families.”
— Chy Chy Ekeochah
Children’s Social Worker III, Lancaster
Chair, Bargaining Committee
SEIU Local 721 Emergency Response Recommendations and the DCFS Executive Team Response:
SEIU 721: Sign in sheet to be used to verify ER enhancement training. There is not a need to add an additional document to verify this.
Response: Exec Team consents to the elimination of the signature form attached to the draft memo on alerts.
SEIU 721: Recommend a five (5) business day timeline for ARA/RA to review alerts and return cases.
Response: Exec Team consents to the 5 business day turnaround of alerts under review by the ARA.
SEIU 721: If time line is adhered to, members should be compensated at overtime rate to complete cases.
Response: Management reserves the right to review and approve overtime requests as necessary and appropriate.
SEIU 721: It will become ARA/RA responsibility to sign closing of referral.
Response: It is the responsibility of the ARAs to approve closing of all referrals meeting the alert criteria.
SEIU 721: Acknowledgement be made that workers want more resources to be devoted to closing all over thirty (30) day cases in ER and approving OT for those assisting with the backlog.
Response: The Deputy Directors will work with RAs to identify ER over 30 backlogs and establish a plan to eliminate such backlog.
SEIU 721: Assure that those worker assisting with backlog have ER experience and/or training.
Response: Exec Team agrees to extend ER training to back end workers.
SEIU 721: Expand ER training to the back end workers.
Response: Exec Team agrees to extend ER training to back end workers.