|
DCFS Info Memo 2006 - 02 January 23, 2006 STATE OF WISCONSIN
This memo identifies the essential information needed in the eWiSACWIS system for purposes of measuring child welfare program performance for the Program Enhancement Plan (PEP). The performance measurement strategies in the federally-approved PEP specify that eWiSACWIS data be used as the primary measure for national performance standards relating to child safety and permanency and selected Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) performance outcome items addressed by the PEP. Other data, including the results of local agency case reviews through the Quality Service Review (QSR) process, is also being used for PEP measurement purposes. For purposes of federal reporting and PEP performance measurement, the eWiSACWIS system is the official record for child protective services (CPS) and out-of-home care placement information. Certain child safety and permanency data elements in eWiSACWIS are tied to federal reporting requirements for the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS). Other data elements used for PEP measurement are part of the basic case management features in eWiSACWIS. The essential child safety data elements include:
The essential child permanency data elements include:
Attached is a specific list of the pages in eWiSACWIS that the essential child safety and permanency data elements are drawn from. Timely and accurate completion of these pages is critical to meet federal reporting requirements and effectively measure Wisconsin child welfare program performance for the PEP. Some key factors affecting data quality for local agencies include completion of required pages for each service episode, updating pages as case circumstances change, timely approvals of casework by supervisors, and accurate entry of service ending, placement discharge and case closure reasons. Incomplete data entry and delays in approving casework can result in federal reporting errors and distort program performance and put Wisconsin at greater risk of federal financial penalties. Information from eWiSACWIS is also being used as a secondary measure for selected CFSR outcome items in the PEP, including family assessment, case planning and the well being of children. DCFS recognizes that local agencies vary in the use of some features of eWiSACWIS, so QSR case review results will be used as the primary PEP measure for these items, supplemented by eWiSACWIS data where practical. DCFS has developed eWiSACWIS reports for the full range of PEP performance items that are available to local agencies through eWReports. The reports show summary information for individual counties and all-county comparisons. DCFS has also developed a Reports Dashboard that shows the national performance standards (Federal Outcome Reports) for individual counties and all-county comparisons in an easy-to-read graphical format that allows the information to be sorted in several ways. The most important PEP reports will be added to the Reports Dashboard as resources permit. All PEP and Federal Outcome reports include Excel worksheets that list the cases included in a performance measure for the specific report period. Agencies can use the Excel worksheets to determine the impact of specific cases on agency performance. Additional information about the PEP reports, Federal Outcome reports and Reports Dashboard is available on the eWiSACWIS knowledge web: Technical assistance to local agencies to utilize the performance reports and address data quality issues is available through the eWiSACWIS Help Desk for counties and Area Administrative staff. Questions about report design should be addressed to the DCFS central office.
Attachment: |