TEAMS R34 #1 After-Action Reviews in Child Welfare Services

This project proposes to improve successful mental health service linkage in Child Welfare Services (CWS) by adapting and testing the After Action Review (AAR) team effectiveness intervention to augment the Child Family Team (CFT) services intervention. Despite being both required and a collaborative approach to service planning, CFT meetings are implemented with questionable fidelity and consistency, rarely including children and families as intended. By inclusion of child and family voice, the AAR-enhanced CFT should lead to increased fidelity to the CFT intervention and greater levels of parental satisfaction with the service and shared decision-making, thus resulting in enhanced follow-through with Action Plans and linkage to mental health care for children.

Inclusion Criteria:Inclusion Criteria for CWS leaders and/or caseworkers(For leaders) Employed as one of several CWS leadership positions: CWS Director, CWS Deputy Director, CWS Regional Manager; (For caseworkers) Employed as a caseworker in one of the two participating regions for the proposed study.Plans to remain employed for at least six months beyond study initiationSpeaks English or SpanishInclusion Criteria for formal and informal CFT membersMember of CFT with one of the participating CWS caseworkers. CFT members can include mental health services provider, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), educational representative, and other supportsSpeaks English or SpanishInclusion Criteria for parents/caregivers with active CWS casesParent/caregiver of child aged 6-17 with an open CWS caseInitial CFT meeting for open CWS case has not yet been held (Aim 3)Speaks English or SpanishInclusion Criteria for children with active CWS cases (for mental health service linkage data extraction only*)Child aged 6-17 with an open CWS caseMental health services need/s (identified by the CWS caseworker via CANS screening in advance of the initial CFT meeting, during which consensus is reached regarding the Action Plan and service referral)Exclusion Criteria:Individuals who do not meet inclusion criteria are not eligible to participate in this study.