Starting with this issue, we will be doing a feature story routinely on a select group or section of staff that have specific duties, and with whom many of you may interact at various points in time. These features will allow us to put a face to a name, and hopefully will help you understand when to call and whom to call if you have an issue needing attention. Thank you to the Anchorage management team for being our first featured group! Click here for full article
In the 13 years that I have worked with OCS, this opportunity has only arisen once. While managers come and go, it is very rare when an entire management team comes on new together. While some people might have reservations about that, this is an opportunity for collaboration, energy and initiative.
Every five years Alaska is required to develop a Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP). The CFSP is a five-year strategic plan that sets forth the vision and unique action steps for how Alaska will accomplish its goals and mandates in order to strengthen the child welfare system.
At the request of the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA) union, the State of Alaska, Department of Administration, has completed a job classification study on the front-line Office of Children’s Services workers and managers. A classification study is a job analysis-based review of the work being performed with the goal of updating and revising the job class series to ensure like work for like pay.
Many aspects of our practice at OCS undergo consistent and quality reviews to ensure improvement — and hence better outcomes for families. One area that has not received much attention until recently is intake. Over the past several years, OCS has regionalized intake operations to increase timeliness for ensuring child safety, increasing the expertise and knowledge of those who provide the intake service, and to help our remote field offices focus on the work that demands that workers be in the field, not manning the phones.
The Independent Living Program has funding and support for youth aging out of foster care. These federal (Chafee Act) funds require states to provide independent living services and supports to youth who are “likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age,” are “aging out of foster care” or have aged out of care and are between the ages of 18 and 21.
Over the past 14 years I’ve been privileged to serve Alaskans through my work at OCS. I’ve been witness to as many tragedies as I have successes. It is work that never leaves you lacking an emotion, and a day never passes when you feel as if time is passing slowly.
Ever wonder how OCS Safety and Permanency measures compare to the National Standard and to our own goals?
