Florida

Florida was unique in including a Local Implementation Team (Daytona Beach area) with representatives from child welfare community-based care, substance abuse prevention and treatment providers, domestic violence program, the drug court improvement program, housing and emergency services, etc. The Local Implementation Team served as a laboratory, and team structures remained fluid to accommodate broad community involvement. 

The major product goals and level of accomplishment were:

• State level Memorandum of Understanding (PDF 1.01 MB) - The memorandum was completed and released in July of 2004.
• Requirements established for localities to develop local level agreements (PDF 14 KB) – Contracts now require that local substance abuse treatment providers and lead agencies of child welfare services establish working agreements based on the model provided by the State and tailored to local needs.
• Integrated Collaborative Casework Practice: Screening and Assessment – Minimum Standards for Screening and Assessment (PDF - 59 KB) –addresses clinical considerations in testing for alcohol and drugs, and on applications to collaborative casework. 
• Integrated casework model for child welfare and substance service agencies (PDF - 59 KB) – incorporates communication guidelines and federal confidentiality regulations.
  • An Analysis of Preferred Practice Approaches in Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (PDF - 193 KB) – Comparative Practice Elements
• Revised guidelines for substance abuse Family Intervention Specialists(case managers who assist families involved in both the child welfare and treatment systems) – The revised requirements have been included in treatment providers’ contracts.
  
  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse CBC Readiness Self-Assessment Tool (PDF - 120 KB)
    
• Online Tool Kit– A community-accessible website was established for posting of products and tools. A logo was created to build recognition of the project.
  • Prevention, Progress & Permanency – Project Logo (PDF - 840 KB)
    
• Evaluation– Performance targets were added to the FY05 child welfare and treatment contracts and a monitoring system was designed. The treatment client data system was modified to identify all admissions of families receiving child protective services.
  • Proposed Performance Outcome Measures for Dependency Drug Court Graduates –- Outcome Measures (PDF - 316 KB)
  • Child Welfare Protection/Service and Family Substance Abuse Detection/Treatment Linking Practice to Outcomes – Outcome Measures (PDF - 29 KB)