SECTION 340:75-18-1. Purpose of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

  CQI is an on-going process of identifying, describing, and analyzing Child Welfare Services (CWS) program and system strengths and problems, and then testing, implementing, learning from, and developing solutions to the problems.

(1)   Evaluating achievement of outcomes for children and families. An annual Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is conducted by the CQI program to review CWS performance.

(A)   Desired outcomes include that:

(i)   children are first and foremost protected from abuse and neglect;

(ii)   children are safely maintained in their own homes when possible and appropriate;

(iii)   children have permanency and stability in their living situations;

(iv)   continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children;

(v)   the person responsible for the child's health, safety or welfare (PRFC) has enhanced capacity to provide for the child's needs;

(vi)   children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs; and

(vii)   children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.

(B)   Systemic factors identified as essential to effective service provision are reviewed, such as the:

(i)   Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS system), commonly known as KIDS;

(ii)   CWS case review system;

(iii)   training for CWS staff and providers;

(iv)   availability of services and resources;

(v)   DHS response to the community;

(vi)   quality assurance system; and

(vii)   foster and adoptive home recruitment and approval process.

(2)   Facilitating ongoing feedback and adjustment to programs and processes. CQI is a process that promotes circular feedback and communication among staff and stakeholders. Feedback loops permit an ongoing, bi-directional information exchange across DHS that in turn impact the change process. Sharing data with staff, consumers, and external stakeholders is equally important. Through data-based decision-making, the CQI process is subject to continued examination, evaluation, and refinement to address needs.

(3)   Providing ongoing support and training. The training is designed to provide time-intensive, small group, or one-on-one guidance to CWS staff to enhance child welfare practice as outlined by the CWS practice standards and the practice model.

(4)   Assessing and ensuring contractor compliance. As part of the CQI process, DHS conducts performance reviews of the CW service provider's contract with DHS and assesses the contractor's performance annually. Those providers include, but are not limited to:

(A)   therapeutic foster care;

(B)   psychiatric acute and residential treatment centers;

(C)   group homes;

(D)   specialized community homes;

(E)   residential maternity and infant homes; and

(F)   intensive treatment services.

[Source: Added at 18 Ok Reg 1425, eff 3-28-01 (preemptive); Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3565, eff 5-7-01 (preemptive); Amended at 29 Ok Reg 635, eff 6-1-12; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 839, eff 7-1-13; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1904, eff 9-15-15]