Public Private Partnerships Provide Safe, Stable Environments for Children
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 23, 2008) – Partnerships between public and private child service providers and agencies are providing safe, stable homes environments for foster children in southwest Missouri.
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri and Springfield Partners joined Wednesday with state child services staff to celebrate a newly released report on performance based outcomes that confirms those involved in the partnerships excel at meeting children’s safety, permanency and stability needs in Greene, Stone, Taney, Christian, Lawrence and Barry counties.
“This process has been a great private public partnership. By basing the contract on outcomes, it is child focused and unique,” said Vince Hillyer, president of Boys & Girls Town of Missouri. “This is the future of all state contracts as it relates to children and families. If the tax payers are going to pay for services, then we need to fulfill our promise to get results.”
Marilyn Nolan, president of Alternative Opportunities, Inc., a member of Springfield Partners, agreed.
“Our experience is showing that together, tax payer resources are being wisely spent through the investment in public private collaborations, which result in positive outcomes for children and families,” she said.
It has been four years since the General Assembly passed House Bill 1453, “The Dominic James Memorial Foster Care Reform Act.” The tragic death of the 2-year-old Springfield boy led to the landmark legislation that revised state statutes relating to Missouri’s child welfare system. It continues to be a reminder that we must be vigilant in providing safe, quality comprehensive care and treatment for children and their families.
Missouri Children’s Division of the Department of Social Services began implementing contracts with qualified private child service providers and agencies for some direct services for children and their families in July 2005 as part of the reform. Boys & Girls Town of Missouri was the first Springfield area provider to partner with the state, with a contract that became effective in October 2005. Springfield Partners began its program in September 2006.
Contracted providers are reviewed annually by Children’s Division and the courts based on objective performance-based criteria to determine whether the partnerships are in the best interest of children and their families. The review focuses on three key areas:
- Safety: Children are first, and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect; and children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible.
- Stability: Children are experiencing fewer moves between foster homes and benefit from developing stronger relationships with providers and family members leading to positive, stable lives.
- Permanency: Children have been placed in permanent living situations; and the continuity of family relationships and connections are preserved for children.
The Children's Division established a pilot project within the Greene County office to assess their performance in these three areas consisting of two supervisory units staffed with the same caseload sizes as a private contractor. These units exceeded each of the outcome targets for foster care re-entries, stability, permanency and safety. Thirty-four percent of the children served within the second year of the contract obtained permanency, exceeding the 24% target set for the Springfield region.
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri and its partnering agencies also met or exceeded these targets areas. The other agencies involved in the consortium are Presbyterian Children’s Services, and Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.
Springfield Partners, which began its public private partnership in 2006, exceeded outcome targets for foster care re-entries, stability and permanency. It partners with Alternative Opportunities, Inc., Lutheran Family and Children’s Services, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch and Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, all nationally accredited organizations, built on a long association of partnering on behalf of children and families in responding to provide performance-based services.
“This public private approach has resulted in increased resources for families and communities, as well as supporting communication towards system improvement,” said Children's Division Director Paula Neese. “We look forward to continuing and growing this relationship with our private partners in southwest Missouri.”
“I want to offer a cautionary note. The success of this contract should not get people thinking that it is solving all the issues that surrounded the Dominic James case,” Hillyer said. “There are so many difficult situations out there. The folks working with these families and children are well trained and work as hard as anyone I have seen. But, you cannot guard against all possible issues.” |
