Family Experiences with Children’s Services Study

Family Experiences with Children’s Services Study

The Dissemination and Outreach Core (DOC) of the Translational Center on Child Maltreatment Science (TCCMS) at Penn State University is excited to join forces with the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) and other partners. Together, we’re on a mission to create projects that help shape practices and policies for better prevention, detection, and response to child maltreatment. Through this partnership, we'll identify best practices for county children and youth services (CYS) and OCYF priorities, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of children and families across Pennsylvania.

We understand the importance of listening to the people who are directly affected by involvement with public agencies like CYS. Those with ‘lived experience’ provide valuable insights that can improve community programs, policies, and evaluation processes. Parents, whether biological, adoptive, kinship, or foster caregivers, as well as children and youth who have been part of the child welfare system, are a vital part of this conversation. Our project aims to hear their voices by using a web-based survey to gather perspectives from parents with recent experiences with Pennsylvania’s CYS, whether or not their children were placed in care.

What is the purpose of the study?

This study seeks to understand the experiences and perceptions of parents and caregivers who recently received services from a Pennsylvania County Children and Youth Services Agency.

Who is eligible?

• A parent/caregiver who experienced an open CYS case - either in-home services or involving the placement of their children in foster care
• Parent/caregiver must be at least 18 years of age
• One caregiver per household can fill out the survey

What is the process?

• Parents/caregivers will receive the survey information from their caseworker (on a postcard) at or near the time of case closure
• Survey is completed online (smartphone, tablet, or computer) using the unique survey code provided on the postcard
• Survey responses are deidentified and cannot be connected to a specific parent or caseworker
• Parents/caregivers who participate are eligible to receive a $20 gift card

What types of questions are asked?

Respondents will be asked about:

• Their personal characteristics: race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, number/ages of children
• Their case: what was alleged, the types of intervention that occurred, duration, loss of custody
• Beliefs about CYS
• Their relationship with their caseworker
• Participation in case planning
• Services needed and services received; barriers to accessing services

How will the information be used?

• To provide feedback to county CYS agencies about strengths and challenges related to parent engagement and case planning.
• This study will not be used to evaluate the performance of specific caseworkers.