t Vermont » Systems integration

Agency integration, 2016

• Child welfare

  Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division

  Centralizes child welfare administration services at the state level.

• Integration level

  Single agency integration

• Juvenile corrections

  Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division (FSD)

  Centralizes administration of delinquency services at the state level.

Coordination, 2014

• Uses for coordination
• Does not use for coordination

• Data sharing

  Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.

• Committees or advisory groups

  Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.

• Formal interagency MOUs

  Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts

• Informal interagency agreements

  Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.

• Statute and/or rules

  Rules that mandate systems integration efforts

Summary

In Vermont, the Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division (DCF) oversees both child welfare and juvenile justice services allowing for consistent data sharing about dual status youth at the state level.

Since Vermont has a statewide justice and child welfare system, state-level and local memoranda of understanding, formal collaborative funding agreements, and administrative rules are covered under the statewide administrative rule rendering separate agreements unnecessary. In fact, under DCF the same social workers and staff provide services to youth involved in both juvenile justice and child welfare. Information about dually involved youth is already fully integrated in DCF's rules and information systems creating a highly collaborative environment.

There are also examples of local committees that address dual status issues and local prevalence research on dual status youth. All information about youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice is housed in the same data system which allows all history in either system to be seen and dual status youth to be routinely identified at intake. Case management for dual status youth is easily coordinated at the local level through information sharing and regular case-level multi-disciplinary planning meetings because DCF administers all services.

The judiciary also coordinates services for dual status youth. The Family Division of Vermont's Superior Court handles all delinquency and dependency cases and consolidates delinquency and dependency matters with one judge. There are joint hearing appearance requirements and specialized caseloads for probation officers and social workers, who in some cases may be the same person. Vermont's commitment to coordination of services for dual status youth is further illustrated through specialized training on dual status issues provided when social workers are hired and discussions on the topic at the Annual Youth Justice Summit.

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