Family Resource Network
Service Array
What is Service Array?
When children are victims of abuse and neglect, efforts to strengthen and support their families are critical. Historically, service to these children and families were largely limited to a "menu" of services from which caseworkers could draw. In many areas, caseworkers had to limit plans and goals due to the small array of available services. Communities were less likely to have a sense of ownership for child outcomes or to provide long-term support for families, since key stakeholders were not involved in creating solutions. The result was an inability to create individualized case plans, which made it less likely that family safety could be ensured.
A process for assessing and enhancing the service array in child welfare has been developed and is being used across the state of West Virginia to improve services for children and families. The process involves assessing the area's capacities to meet the individualized needs of children, your and families.
Then based on this assessment, A Resource and Capacity Plan is created to meet all the needs of children, youth and families who have come into the child welfare system. The plan entails five elements:
- reforming current practice
- improving the systemic culture
- enhancing current services
- identifying needed new service
- incorporating a continuous quality improvement process to evaluate the effects of changes on outcomes for families and children
For the process to result in improvements in the system, community stakeholders
must be involved throughout all the steps.
Key stakeholders include:
- providers of child welfare services
- birthparents, foster parents, family care givers and youth who have experience with the child welfare system
- court, legal and law enforcement officials, CASA volunteers
- behavioral health service providers
- educators
- child abuse prevention advocates and staff
- elected officials and administrators
- business, media and faith community representatives
- other public sector staff and community based
Your help is needed to create our Resource and Capacity Development Plan. The next Service Array meeting will be Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at the Berkeley County DHHR.
For more information or to help us improve services for children and families, contact the FRN Program Director at 304-263-0603 ext. 228, or by email.