WRI Past Projects . . .

Child Welfare

Adoption Recruitment Posters — In 1998, WRI assisted the Erie County Department of Social Services in the design and printing of two posters recruiting adoptive parents.  This assistance was provided through funds from the New York State Department of Social Services.

Agenda for Children Tomorrow (ACT) Brochure — With support from The Fund for the City of New York, in 1998 WRI wrote, designed, and produced an informational brochure for ACT, which is a public-private partnership working with selected New York City neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life for families and children.  ACT is currently housed in the City’s Administration for Children’s Services.

Case Record Review: Atlanta ­–– In 2003, WRI assisted Children’s Rights, Inc. in its review of records of foster care cases in two Atlanta Counties, Fulton and DeKalb.  WRI edited and formatted the instrument used by case readers, assisted with the recruitment and hiring of case readers and supervisors, and coordinated the case reading process.

Case Record Review: Philadelphia — In 1996-97, WRI assisted Children’s Rights, Inc. in its review of records of child welfare cases in the City of Philadelphia.  WRI edited and formatted the instrument used by case readers, assisted with the recruitment and hiring of case readers and supervisors, and coordinated the case reading process.

Case Record Review Instrument — In 2001, WRI completed the development and design of a case record review instrument to collect information from the Florida Department of Children and Families. The goal of the project was to obtain information about the supervision and management of foster care throughout the state.  WRI provided this technical assistance for Children’s Rights, Inc.

Child Protective Services Field Operations Manual — In 1992, with funding from the State Department of Social Services, WRI developed a policies and procedures manual for child protective caseworkers in New York City.  WRI worked closely with staff of the Child Welfare Administration to produce a manual that meets the needs of workers for information and guidance in their day-to-day work.  Topics include intake and assessment, services, protective removal, legal activities, documentation, and case closing.  Appendices include forms, protocols, resources, and other helpful materials.

Community Profiles for New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services — In 1998, WRI assisted the Administration for Children’s Services in database development and programming to produce community profiles on all five boroughs for use by the Office of Community Planning and Development.

Congregate Care Child Care Manual — In 1999, WRI assisted the New York City Administration for Children’s Services in the development and production of a manual for child care and social work staff working in ACS congregate care facilities.  The manual covers aspects of daily life and policy such as confidentiality, transportation, education, recreation, behavior management, and supervision.

Desk Aids for New York City Caseworkers — WRI developed a desk aid on family conferences and updated existing desk aids for use by staff in all five borough offices of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in 2002.  The desk aids present information on placement, investigation, Instant Response Team (IRT) protocol, and information and referral. The desk aids are one-page colored laminated sheets that present information and procedures in a concise, accessible form.

Evaluation of the Families Together Project — In early 2001, WRI completed its evaluation of the Families Together Project, conducted at St. Christopher-Ottilie Services for Children and Families.  This three-year initiative funded by the federal Administration on Children, Youth and Families had several objectives related to empowering families to take responsibility for their own service plans, speeding family reunification for children and youth who are likely to return to their parents or relatives, expediting the choice of adoption or guardianship as a permanency planning goal for children who are least likely to return home, and other related issues.  The use of Concurrent Permanency Planning and Family Group Conferencing as methods of practice was stressed and evaluated for replication by other agencies.

Evaluation of Special Needs Adoption Training — In 1996-97, WRI worked with the Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs in New York City to document the impact of special needs adoption training provided to PRACA staff by Spaulding for Children.  WRI developed the participant questionnaires for both immediate and long-term feedback and conducted interviews with administrators and caseworkers.  This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Forums on Adoption and Safe Families Act — At the request of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services in 1999, WRI provided technical assistance in arranging for regional forums to train local district and voluntary agency staff on implementation of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA).  WRI identified training sites and made arrangements for sessions in Long Island, Manhattan, Albany, Yonkers, Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse.  WRI produced participant packets and other conference materials (e.g. name tags, registration posters, markers) and managed the registration process for each forum.

Foster/Adoptive Parent Recruitment Public Awareness Campaign — In an effort to recruit more foster and adoptive parents across New York State, the Office of Children and Family Services conducted a public awareness campaign in spring 2002.  WRI designed a poster to be distributed widely in public places and wrote and designed an accompanying brochure with information on becoming a foster parent and adopting a child.  The theme of the campaign is “A child is waiting…open your heart, open your home.” The materials are available in English and Spanish.

Foster Care/Adoption Services Manual — In 1993, WRI completed a policies and procedures manual for staff working in foster care and adoption.  With funds from the State Department of Social Services, WRI developed the manual for staff of New York City's Child Welfare Administration.  The manual presents all aspects of placement including how a child is placed, the home study process for certification or approval of foster homes, permanency planning, legal activities, documentation, service provision or referral, and the closing of a case.

Foster Care Manual for St. Christopher-Ottilie — In 2000, WRI completed work on the Foster Care Manual for caseworkers and supervisors at St. Christopher-Ottilie Services for Children and Families.  WRI staff worked with the agency to develop, write, and design the manual, which addresses key casework activities such as placement in foster care, early assessment and intervention, casework contacts and ongoing assessment, planning for permanency, linking families with services, homefinding, foster parent recruitment and training, and working with children and youth in foster care.

Foster Care Team Manual for Niagara County — To assist Niagara County with its foster care program, in 1999 WRI completed a manual for use by caseworkers, supervisors, and foster parents.  WRI worked closely with foster care staff and foster parents to develop content, including addressing the concerns of all parties involved with foster care placement, and to standardize procedures across offices.  This project was funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

Guidebook for the Assessment and Treatment of Adolescent and Pre-Adolescent Sexual Abusers and Sexual Abuse Reactors — In 1998, WRI developed this comprehensive document on assessment and treatment services for adolescent sexual abusers in New York State.  At the request of the Office of Children and Family Services, WRI conducted research in the field and surveyed 85 providers throughout the state on service modalities, age of clients treated, type of programs offered, geographic regions served, and related topics.  The document includes a comprehensive bibliography and lists of relevant state and national organizations.  A companion document provides a directory of the 85 providers and grids displaying their services in a convenient format.

Handbook for Parents: Tompkins County  — This handbook, When Your Child is in Foster Care, was written for parents whose children are about to be or have been placed in foster care.  The handbook describes different types of placement, explains how children are placed in foster care, and provides information on the rights and responsibilities of parents.  WRI edited, designed, and printed this handbook for the Tompkins County Department of Social Services in 2001.

Handbook for Parents: Monroe County — In 1994, WRI edited and designed this handbook addressed to parents whose children are in foster care.  Developed by the Monroe County Department of Social Services, the publication is two handbooks in one:  the first on foster care itself—what it is, working with the foster parents and caseworkers, visits with the child in care, and preparing for the child's return home—and the second on the Family Court—why foster care involves the court, types of hearings, court orders, and the parent's legal rights.

Handbook for Relatives and Friends: Tompkins County — In 1999, WRI edited and designed a handbook for relatives and friends considering providing a home for children needing to be placed outside their own home.  The handbook, which contains information on the options available to relatives and friends, was funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for use by Tompkins County Department of Social Services.

Handbook for Youth in Foster Care: Madison and Oneida Counties — In 1997, WRI assisted the Madison County Department of Social Services in the development and production of a handbook for youth from age 11 who are in or about to be placed in foster care.  The handbook, which was developed with the help of the teens themselves, presents topics on the first day in foster care, how people become foster parents, what happens in court, visiting the biological family, having friends over, smoking, the use of alcohol and drugs, driving, dating, spending money, and similar subjects of interest to teens.  A similar handbook was adapted for Oneida County in November 2000.

HomeRebuilders Training Conference Materials — Through a contract with the New York State Department of Social Services, WRI provided technical assistance to the HomeRebuilders demonstration project.  Six voluntary child caring agencies participated in HomeRebuilders along with the New York City Child Welfare Administration, and the State Department of Social Services.  The focus was on consistent, comprehensive family services from foster care placement through aftercare to return children home safely and permanently.  In 1994, WRI edited, designed, and produced all materials for a training conference including a program brochure, agenda and presenter materials, signs, and name tags.

Integrated County Planning (ICP) Demonstration Project — WRI assisted the New York State Office of Children and Family Services with its efforts to establish an inclusive, integrated county-level planning process focused on improving outcomes for all children, youth, and families.  Working with an interagency team, WRI surveyed counties and 10 state agencies that address the needs of children and families to obtain information on their planning process and requirements.  This information was presented in a Planners Forum convened in Albany, New York in October 2001.

Institutional Abuse Manual — In 1996, WRI developed a manual of policies and procedures for New York State Department of Social Services investigators of alleged abuse and maltreatment of children in residential care.  The goals of the manual are to help achieve greater statewide consistency in the investigative process, including the determination of cases; to help reduce the number of cases overturned in the expungement process; and to improve the rate of success in fair hearings.  The ultimate goals are to improve the care and treatment of children in residential care and to improve safety in the facilities.

Managed Care in Child Welfare Services — In 1999, WRI conducted research into issues and practices related to managed care approaches in child welfare services.  At the request of the Office of Children and Family Services, WRI explored the effectiveness of managed care approaches within New York State and, where relevant, in other states.  The resulting Source Book included the effect of the new welfare reform legislation on programs, practices, and financing of services.

New York City Foster Parent's Guide to Adoption — WRI edited and designed this guide, which is directed at foster parents who wish to adopt the children in their care.  Available in English and Spanish, the guide explains the adoption process, including agency approval, adoption subsidy, and legal issues, and provides tips and encouragement.  Funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the guide was printed in 2000.

New York State Foster Parent's Guide to Adoption –– WRI edited and designed this guide, which was written for foster parents who wish to adopt the children in their care.  The guide explains the adoption process, including agency approval, adoption subsidy, and legal issues, and provides tips and encouragement.  Funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the guide was printed in 2002.

New York State Foster Parent Manual — In 2002, WRI assisted the New York State Office of Children and Family Services in writing and designing this statewide foster parent manual.  The manual presents useful information reflecting current policy, regulations, and practices in foster care.  It includes guidance on issues like discipline, health care, working as a team with birth parents and caseworkers, and day-to-day life with foster children.  A work group composed of state, regional, and local staff; voluntary agency staff; trainers; and foster parents provided oversight for the manual.

Permanency Planning Guide — WRI assisted the New York City Administration for Children’s Services in developing a guide to permanency planning that includes an overview of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, an explanation of concurrent planning, and casework tools for assessing progress, making diligent efforts, and other aspects of working with families for permanency.

Preventive Trends Newsletter — For seven years, WRI provided support in the design, editorial content, and production of Preventive Trends, the newsletter of the New York State Department of Social Services Division of Family and Children's Services.  Reflecting the division's programmatic concerns, the publication covered developments in child abuse and neglect, foster care and adoption, and domestic violence.  The newsletter was published quarterly until August 1993, with approximately 4,000 copies of each issue distributed statewide.

Proposals to Provide Child Welfare Services in the Bronx — In 1998, WRI assisted the Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs (PRACA) in submitting two extensive proposals to the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to provide preventive and foster care services in the Bronx.  Based on the Family to Family concept, with stress placed on the clustering of services as a way of supporting families in their community and preventing long-term foster care, the ACS RFP required agencies to present their plans for fulfilling the model within the Bronx.  WRI provided development, editorial, and production assistance.

SAFE Team Brochure — In 2001, WRI edited and designed a brochure on the SAFE Team for Chautauqua County Department of Social Services.  The SAFE (Strong Alliances for Family Empowerment) Team is a group of CPS workers who are assigned to a family in a child protective case.  WRI also provided digital files so that the county can update and print the brochure as needed.

Sarah and Roy's Activity Book — Sarah and Roy's Activity Book About Their Journey to a Foster Home is an interactive coloring/activity storybook about two young children on their way to a foster home.  To be used by caseworkers, therapists, and others involved with children at the time of placement, the book covers aspects of leaving the birth home and adjusting to foster care.  The packet also includes an activity book entitled My Own Story, designed for children who have been placed in foster care to help them clarify and document their own experiences.  WRI provided editing, design, and production assistance for these materials, which were developed for the Onondaga County Department of Social Services in 1994.

Special Delivery Newsletter — WRI edited, designed, and produced this newsletter for foster and adoptive families and children and the programs that serve them throughout New York State.  Produced for the New York State Department of Social Services until Fall 1994, Special Delivery served as a vehicle for children and parents to tell their unique stories; a focus on waiting children, in particular, provided an opportunity to make their availability known.  The newsletter also gave information about current developments in child welfare.