Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

DCF Improves Readiness Assessment Process; However, Additional Changes Are Needed

Report 04-65, September 2004




Report Summary

The Department of Children and Families has made changes to address our prior recommendations, strengthening its process for determining community-based lead agency readiness to provide child protective services. The department also is making progress in improving its data and accountability monitoring systems.

However, the department needs to take additional action to strengthen the readiness assessment process and its ability to monitor lead agency viability. The department should

  • collect and track information on lead agency technical assistance requests to better identify statewide training needs;
  • better enforce statutory provisions requiring community alliance members to participate in the readiness assessment review;
  • continue its efforts to complete HomeSafenet implementation; and
  • implement a comprehensive, coordinated process for monitoring lead agency viability.


Related Reports
  1. Improved Fiscal and Quality Oversight Is Needed for the Independent Living Program
    Report 07-11 February 2007
  2. CBC Pilot Project Implementation Delayed But Proceeding; Other Initiatives Implemented
    Report 07-03 January 2007
  3. OPPAGA Report: Child Welfare System Performance Mixed in First Year of Statewide Community-Based Care
    Report 06-50 June 2006
  4. Additional Improvements Are Needed as DCF Redesigns Its Lead Agency Oversight Systems
    Report 06-05 January 2006
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, quality assurance monitoring, adoption, child care, child abuse, neglect, child protection, family services, foster care, abuse hotline, privatization, community based care protective services, program monitoring, children, foster homes, foster children, lead agencies, technical assistance, contract monitoring, contingency planning, readiness assessment, readiness instrument, families