PAST PUBLICATIONS (1998 - 2005)
For descriptions of WRI publications before 1998, see Projects.
Foster Care Team Manual: Allegany County
To assist the Allegany County Department of Social Service with its foster care program, WRI edited and developed this manual for caseworkers, supervisors, and foster parents. November 2005.
Caring for Children with Special Needs
This manual is intended for caregivers (parents, foster parents, others) of children with HIV. Topics include information on HIV, keeping the child healthy, eating healthy foods, giving medicine, living with HIV, helping an adolescent deal with HIV, health and mental health issues, legal issues, and resource information. WRI provided design and production support to the NYS Department of Health. February 2004.
Eligibility Manual for Child Welfare Programs
This manual is intended for staff in public agencies across New York State who are determining eligibility for child welfare programs—Title IV-E, TANF-EAF, Title XX Below 200% of Poverty, and Medicaid. The manual includes forms, checklists, and reference materials. WRI edited and designed the manual. December 2003.
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. It was written for the Tompkins County Department of Social Services. December 2001.
Handbook for Youth in Foster Care: Oneida County
This handbook was adapted from a handbook developed by WRI for the Madison County Department of Social Services for youth from age 11 who are in or about to be placed in foster care. The handbook presents topics on the first day in foster care, how adults become foster parents, what happens in court, visiting the birth family, having friends over, smoking, the use of alcohol and drugs, driving, dating, spending money, and similar subjects of interest to teens. The handbook was funded by the New York State Department of Social Services. November 2000.
Foster Care Manual: St. Christopher-Ottilie
WRI staff worked with St. Christopher-Ottilie Services for Children and Families (SCO Family of Services) to develop, write, and design this 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. July 2000.
Foster Care Team Manual: Niagara County
To assist the Niagara County Department of Social Service with its foster care program, 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. December 1999.
WRI edited and designed this handbook for relatives and friends providing a home for children who need to be placed outside their own home. The handbook, which contains information on the options available to relatives and friends, was written for the Tompkins County Department of Social Services. March 1999.
Congregate Care Health Services Manual: New York City
This manual was written for staff caring for children in congregate care facilities in New York City. Covering both medical and mental health services, the manual presents policies and procedures related to intake, health care maintenance, communicable diseases, medical conditions, emergencies, child abuse and maltreatment, medication administration, and discharge. Included in the appendices are lists of providers as well as medical standards and protocols. WRI helped develop, edit, and design the manual for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. December 1998.
Guidebook for the Assessment and Treatment of Adolescent Sexual Abusers
WRI developed this comprehensive document on assessment and treatment services for adolescent sexual abusers in New York State. WRI conducted research in the field and surveyed 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 an accessible format. The project was funded by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. January 1998.
REPORTS AND PAPERS
Achieving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Enhanced Supervision
As part of the New York State Program Improvement Plan submitted to the federal government, WRI wrote a report and set of recommendations on casework supervision for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. A statewide workgroup of managers from local departments of social services examined the current state of casework supervision (including underlying conditions that affect performance) and developed a set of recommendations to improve supervision and, ultimately, outcomes for children and families. December 2004.
Profile of YMCA Teen Participants
The YMCA of Greater New York asked WRI to help develop a profile of the youth entering all programs at the Y. As a result, a participant intake survey was developed and administered to all entering youth from the spring to the fall of 2004. WRI analyzed the data and produced this report, which provides a “snapshot” of the participants—their age, gender, and ethnicity; what programs they attend; and their attitudes toward school, work, and community. October 2004.
Locating Absent Fathers Report
To help the New York State Office of Children and Family Services learn more about how child welfare workers search for absent fathers when a child is placed in foster care, WRI administered a survey on the actions and strategies they use in their attempts to find absent fathers. The report included a section on New York City data and another on statewide data. July 2004.
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 ten state agencies that address the needs of children and families to obtain information on their planning process and requirements. The final report describing survey results was written by WRI and used in a Planners Forum convened to work toward an integrated planning process. October 2001.
Survey and Report on HIV Services
WRI developed a survey and wrote a report of findings regarding the medical and support service needs of 20 HIV-positive Hispanic women in New York City’s Lower East Side. As clients of Betances Health Unit, the women were asked questions about their access and use of services, perceived value of services received from Betances, and demographics. The findings provided information on the types of HIV/AIDS-related primary medical care and support services required by Hispanic women with HIV. The goal was to help the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) make better informed policy decisions concerning the types of services offered by its grantees. 1998.
EVALUATIONS
Evaluation of the YMCA Teen Action Program
The Teen Action Program of the YMCA of Greater New York was designed to develop or improve leadership skills, interpersonal competence, literacy, workplace skills, and the healthy life style of teens ages 11–14. The program provided case management, individual counseling, and group work with activities such as setting goals, writing resumes, job seeking, negotiating conflict, making decisions, and providing leadership. WRI conducted program evaluations for four years. 2000–2004.
Evaluation of the Families Together Project
This three-year initiative funded by the federal Administration on Children, Youth and Families was aimed at empowering families to take responsibility for their own service plans, speeding family reunification when appropriate, and expediting adoption or guardianship for children who are least likely to return home. WRI conducted the evaluation, which examined five areas: start-up; staff and foster parent recruitment and training; product development; participant outcomes; and organizational issues. The evaluation examined the program at St. Christopher-Ottilie Services for Children and Families (SCO Family of Services). March 2001.
Evaluation of the YMCA Year 2000 Youth Survey
WRI was asked to analyze data collected from approximately 1,000 youth attending 10 YMCA of Greater New York (YMCA of GNY) programs, and compare the results with data collected in the previous six months by the YMCA of USA. YMCA of GNY was particularly interested in the self-assessment of the impact of its educational and job readiness programs. January 2001.
Evaluation of the YMCA Youth Skills Certification Program
To help New York City youth develop employable skills, set goals, and grow in self-esteem, the YMCA of Greater New York created the Youth Skills Certification Program in partnership with AT&T. Teen participants were offered 10-week courses in computer literacy, customer service, home and property improvement, and sports officiating and instructing. WRI evaluated the effectiveness of the programs for four years. 2000–2004.
OTHER MATERIALS AND TOOLS
Family Meeting Materials Toolkit
At the request of the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, WRI researched and reviewed literature and materials for six family engagement models in use around the country. Each model is designed to encourage family members to participate in planning for the future of their children entering foster care. This “tool kit” included procedures, policies, evaluation instruments, sample forms, and training curricula. 2005.
Desk Aids for New York City’s Caseworkers
These desk aids for New York City child protective services staff in all five boroughs present information on foster care placement, instant response protocols, and contact information. The desk aids are one-page colored laminated sheets that present information in a concise, accessible format. WRI edited and designed the desk aids for the NYC Administration for Children’s Services. 2002.
Curriculum for Foster Care Caseworkers
As part of the federally-funded Families Together Project, this curriculum covers early engagement of families when a child is placed in foster care and the use of Service Plan Reviews and Family Group Conferences. This is a skill-based approach to enhance casework practice in working with families to achieve permanency for children placed in foster care. WRI helped develop the materials and designed the package for St. Christopher-Ottilie Services for Children and Families (SCO Family of Services). Fall 2000.
Bibliography of Innovative Program Models
WRI conducted research into innovative model programs in foster care, adoption, and preventive services for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. The resulting product was an annotated bibliography and list of national and state resources and organizations. June 2000.
Agenda for Children Tomorrow (ACT) Brochure
This brochure describes ACT, a public-private partnership working with New York City neighborhoods to improve the quality of life for families and children. WRI edited and designed the brochure with support from Fund for The City of New York. November 1996.
Finding Funds for AIDS Projects in New York City
This third edition of a comprehensive directory of funding sources for AIDS-related initiatives provides information on funding by foundations, corporations, community grantmakers, and government. After the first edition was published in 1990, WRI conducted technical assistance workshops to facilitate agency access to funding. Supported by the New York State AIDS Institute, New York Community Trust, United Way of New York City, National AIDS Memorial, Michael Palm Foundation, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. April 1998.
Public Health Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
WRI assisted the NYS Office of Child Support Enforcement with its campaign to help prevent teen pregnancy by informing teens about child support and other responsibilities. WRI’s activities included developing a brochure and other materials to accompany a 15-minute video, writing a study guide to be used with the video, developing a distribution plan for the video and study guide, and identifying potential sources of additional funding to support the project. October 1989.
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Forums on Title IV-E Eligibility
WRI coordinated logistics for forums in six regions across New York State on Title IV-E court-related eligibility requirements. WRI staff obtained the training sites, accepted registrations, and entered participant information into an online database. In addition, staff reproduced informational materials included in the packets for each participant, and provided registration and general on-site assistance at each of the forums. Fall 2004.
Case Record Reviews
Children’s Rights, Inc. (CRI) conducted reviews of records of foster care cases in the City of Philadelphia (1997) and in two Atlanta Counties, Fulton and DeKalb (2003). WRI edited and formatted the case record review instruments used by case readers, assisted with the recruitment and hiring of case readers and supervisors, and coordinated the case reading process. In 2001, we helped design a similar instrument for use in Florida. 1997, 2001, 2003.
Child Welfare Financing Training
WRI provided logistical support for a series of six training sessions around the state on child welfare financing for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. WRI obtained the training sites, designed and ordered the necessary materials, and coordinated the registration process. 2002.
Technical Assistance to HIV Programs
WRI assisted New York State authorized agencies that provide substance abuse and harm reduction/needle exchange programs to clients with HIV/AIDS in New York City. This technical support included building/enhancing the infrastructure of the agencies by diversifying revenue sources and improving cash flow, identifying potential funders, and developing additional resources and capacity to integrate client services with existing programs for families and children. The project was funded by the NYS Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. 2001.
Technical Assistance to Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs
WRI assisted the Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs (PRACA) in New York City by documenting National Planning Committee meetings for a proposed Institute for Applied Research. WRI also helped with proposal development. The project was funded by the Ford Foundation. September 2000.
Conference on Community Justice
WRI provided logistical support for a statewide conference on restorative justice as applied to the juvenile justice system. WRI designed the conference materials and arranged for the site, national speakers, and panelists. The Community Justice Conference was held by the NYS Council on Children and Families in Albany. The subsequent evaluation conducted by WRI indicated that the conference was very well received. September 1999.
Forums on Adoption and Safe Families Act
WRI provided logistical support for regional forums to train child welfare staff on the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA). WRI identified training sites and made arrangements for sessions throughout New York State and produced participant packets and other conference materials (e.g. name tags, registration posters, markers) and managed the registration process for each forum. Fall 1999.
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. August 1998.