The Inside Scoop on CYFD

As a New Mexico domestic relations mediator and child protection worker (CASA and GAL), I attend training and blog in these areas with fair regularity.  I have previously written in broad outline form about the New Mexico child protection laws, timelines and policies, and now report on training conducted in August 2011 by CYFD)and the Albuquerque Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, in which CYFD gave a overview on CYFD policies and procedures from intake to placement.  


Although their numerical data was not completely clear, the CYFD (Children Youth and Families Department) representatives indicated they received 66,758 calls to Statewide Central Intake (SCI) in 2010.* SCI, as its name suggests, is the single state-wide screening entity for receipt and investigation into all calls concerning abuse or neglect in New Mexico.  By providing a central avenue for reporting, SCI can avoid the problem of one set of facts requiring investigation or other action in one jurisdiction. but not in another.  This in turn creates "consistency in the way reports are screened."

Screening criteria include whether:

• the alleged perpetrator is a parent, guardian or custodian of the child;
• the alleged perpetrator has access to the child; 
• the other parent being protective of the child; and
• CYFD database indicates previous historical information on the family;

Screening can also involve questioning the parents and children (usually but not necessarily with the parents' consent), and "collateral sources" such as teachers, police officers, medical providers, and anyone else who may have relevant information about the family.  In assessing these criteria, a "standard decision making tool" (SDM Tool) is incorporated into the decision to investigate or not investigate.  This, again, ensures uniformity of treatment. 

CYFD reported that SCI issued reports "screening in" 58% of those calls, and "screening out" 42%.  (In Albuquerque itself, 30% are screened in.)  Those cases "screened in" then moved forward for additional investigation by SCI.  CYFD further reports that after investigation, the substantiation rate is 22.5% for the State and 16.4% for Albuquerque.  Upon substantiation, the Department can offer in-home or other services services, help craft a safety plan, and/or take other action to help the parents adequately address the conditions that brought then family to the Department's attention.  If that cannot be done or fails, the Department files a petition to obtain custody of the children or to "bring them into the system." 

Children can also be brought in on a "24-hour hold."  In this case, such as incarceration of a parent or other emergency, there is no time to work with the family or even adequately investigate the matter at that moment.  

CYFD figures indicate there were 484 children in CYFD care and custody in 2010, and the number for 2011 is currently 563.  Although again CYFD figures are not clear, they appear to indicate there were 1,049 foster care families in 2010 managing about 2-3 times that many kids in 2010, compared to 2,610 children receiving in-home services during that time.

Criteria for becoming a licensed foster care provider include:

• all adults in the home pass state, local and national background checks for abuse neglect and criminal history;
• existence of a stable history;
• motivation for seeking the position;
• five personal references;
• primary caregiver(s) pass a physical exam;
• home safety inspection; and 
• all adults, grown children, and kids residing in the household be interviewed and no flags revealed.  

Unless the foster care is "treatment foster care"-- meaning that for "high needs" children who suffer special trauma and therefore require special therapy and other services--it is generally a "concurrent placement."  In this case, the family is also screened and slated to become an adoptive family in event the plan is changed from reunification to adoption.  This requirement applies with particular force for children four years and under, to promote healthy attachment.

Family placements are also treated as foster care and require similar screening and licensure, but may obtain a provisional license in the meantime.  Licensing for family or fictive kin placements currently takes about 60 days but is expected to increase to 120 days due to an increase in licensing rigor.   Additionally, CYFD represents that they must present as "squeaky clean" for a provisional license.  This heightened rigor reflects the fact that subsequent abuse and neglect is statistically higher in relative foster care. 


CYFD reported generally high levels of "placement stability," meaning a lack of movement from foster placement to foster placement.  It reported 80% stability in foster care placement, with the use of in-home services to foster care families.

If you are interested in child-related mediation or GAL (guardian ad litem) services, please contact Pilar Vaile, P.C. at (505) 247-0802, or info@pilarvailepc.com.

Pilar Vaile

Pilar Vaile, P.C.

Albuquerque, NM

Source:

Power point slides from 8/31/11 CYFD training hosted by the Bernalillo County CASA Offices, available from author upon request.

Notes:
* The number 72,172 is also stated in reference to "Jan-Jul 2011," but this figure seems unlikely.  similarly, all of the percentages provided do not match the raw numbers provided, whichever number they are divided into.  Accordingly, their numbers are used sparingly and the reader is urged to use caution in relying on them.