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E-Blast: Chapin Hall Focus Groups IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

January 24, 2017 11:52 AM

Dear Providers:

We are reaching out for field operations assistance with convening virtual field-level focus groups for the ongoing DFCS Chapin Hall foster care review. A short description is included below. Four regional focus groups (North, 2 in Metro, South) will be conducted and will consist of approximately six participants each. We want to be sure to include those front-line staff who are involved in placement decisions and foster home recruitment. Thus, we would expect participants to include case managers and supervisors, as well as placement staff and recruiters, if applicable.

The time commitment for participation will be no more than two hours. Participants may join by computer or phone. Please follow the link below to register for a focus group by Friday, January 27th. The focus groups will be held on Thursday and Friday, February 2nd and 3rd and we will confirm your group’s time by January 30th. Space is limited and depending on the level of interest, we may not be able to include everyone.

REGISTER HERE

DFCS has contracted with Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago to independently review and provide recommendations on its services to children in foster care. As part of the review, Chapin Hall will be conducting several focus groups with private agency field workers to better understand placement decisions and caregiver recruitment, both in policy and in practice. In particular, Chapin Hall will be gathering information related to the following questions:

  • What is the existing placement array, both public and private? How are caregivers recruited?
  • How are children/youth matched to available placements in both the public and private networks? What are some of those challenges? How has the process changed?
  • How does (or doesn’t) the current placement array meet the needs and priorities of children involved with the system?

This system review is a priority to current DFCS leadership and the focus groups are a critical element of the work the Chapin Hall team is doing.

REGISTER HERE

Thank you. If you have any questions, please contact Molly or Emily at Chapin Hall

The Office of Provider Management