Since 2008, when a report on Quality Improvement activities across DHS was published, an enhanced quality improvement process has been in place for the delivery of direct services at DHS. The primary focus on these efforts have been in child welfare; activities range from a Quality Service Review process to Child Fatality and Near-Fatality reviews. An overview of these activities, and their outcomes, is provided in this report.
PA Department of Public Welfare
American Public Human Services Association
When youth in child welfare reach their 18th or 21st birthday, they are no longer eligible for child welfare services. Unfortunately, they are also too often unprepared emotionally, financially or academically for college, the workforce, and independent living. In recognition of this issue, and the needs of these youth, DHS created the Independent Living Unit that offers a range of options to provide supportive services and real-world training and employment opportunities.
Eighty percent of youth in child welfare foster care leave the child welfare system within six months of turning 18. Unfortunately, many are not ready for the challenges of adulthood. Youth who age out of the child welfare system are likely to have lower levels of education and employment and higher levels of public assistance, juvenile justice involvement. This research report describes a quantitative analysis of almost 1,500 youth who aged out of Allegheny County’s foster care system, as well as a qualitative analysis based on interviews with youth. It provides a summary of finding as well as policy and practice recommendations.
The second year of the agreement that allows the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) and Department of Human Services (DHS) to integrate data brought opportunities to improve school performance of children involved in human services. For example, the Administration for Children and Families Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services awarded DHS a grant to develop new ways to use data to address truancy and improve the educational stability of children in care. DHS was also one of four agencies selected to receive a grant from the MacArthur Foundation to study the relationship between public housing residency and students’ academic performance and outcomes.
This publication details the challenges and achievements of the second year of DHS’s data sharing agreement with local school districts.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to read Improving Education and Well Being Outcomes: June 2011 Update.
In 2008, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services hired four Youth Support Partners (YSP), young adults with lived experiences in human services, to serve as positive role models and peer supports for young people involved in the system. From that beginning, the Youth Support Partners program has expanded to include a manager, four supervisors and 15 YSPs. The YSPs have developed effective relationships with the youth while earning the respect of colleagues and others involved in the lives of the youth (e.g., judges, caseworkers and providers).
System of Care Initiative: Building Creative Partnerships – Involving Families in Program Evaluation
Between 1993 and 2011, Allegheny County Department of Human Services received three SAMHSA grants to implement systems of care designed to support youth with serious emotional disturbances who were involved in multiple child-serving systems. Evaluation was a critical piece of these grants, which prioritized family empowerment and inclusion. In keeping with this priority, and its values, DHS involved families in evaluation in three ways: 1) family members were hired as evaluation staff; 2) family members served on evaluation committees; and 3) family members were provided training and technical assistance opportunities regarding training. This report describes the experience, its challenges and rewards, and makes recommendations about ways to increase the success of such involvement by family members.
Click here to view the full report.
This report summarizes the development, implementation and evaluation of a crisis intervention training program designed to teach police officers how to identify and intervene appropriately and safely with individuals with mental illness.
Northwestern University
This report provides an overview of Allegheny County’s Juvenile Justice Related Services, created to ensure that adolescents in the juvenile justice system who are struggling with behavioral health issues receive coordinated services tailored to their individual needs.
Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
With funding from Casey Family Programs, 30 students from grades seven through 12, involved with DHS’s child serving systems, attended studio classes at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh. Participating in classes in ceramics, design, digital arts or photography, the students not only learned skills, but also built confidence and self-discipline.
This report describes Allegheny County’s criminal justice case review process, including factors that have contributed to its success and proposed solutions to ongoing issues.