CFSR Round 3 Instruments, Tools, and Guides

This instrument template’s four sections are designed to enable states to gather and document information that is critical to analyzing their capacity and performance during the statewide assessment phase of the CFSR process. This template is offered in Adobe fillable format and Microsoft Word nonfillable format. We encourage the state to use this document "as is" to complete the assessment, but the state may use another format as long as the state provides all required content.

This document provides guidance and examples to assist states in providing relevant data to evaluate systemic factor functioning pursuant to the Child and Family Services Plan and the CFSR statewide assessment.

This instrument is used to review cases during the onsite review component of the CFSRs.

This document describes changes made in January 2016 in the hard copy OSRI to match it with the corresponding changes in the Online Monitoring System (OMS).

This is a one-page chart used for entering all OSRI item and outcome ratings for one case.

States use this worksheet to list cases to be eliminated from the review sample, and the reasons for elimination.

This document briefly summarizes the 18 items in the Onsite Review Instrument and Instructions and the 18 systemic factor items.

This document provides guidance on setting up and conducting case-related interviews for the OSRI.

This brief provides an overview for CFSR reviewers of the practices that may lead to a Strength rating in a case and the expectations or special considerations that should be given to particular case circumstances in evaluating case ratings.

This brief is intended to strengthen how CFSR Reviewers determine, during case reviews, whether or not the agency (1) made concerted efforts to assess the needs of children, parents, and foster parents to identify the services necessary to achieve case goals and adequately address the issues relevant to the agency’s involvement with the family, and (2) provided the appropriate services. It builds upon instructions provided in the Reviewer Brief above (Understanding the Federal Expectations for Rating Cases), and draws on information in the field of child welfare/social work regarding needs-based assessments and service plans.

This document provides guidance to CFSR participants reviewing a case that was opened for both in-home services and foster care during the period under review.

Recognizing the importance of states continuing oversight activities to ensure that they are adequately serving vulnerable families and children especially during this pandemic, the Children’s Bureau provides some suggestions in this document related to case reviews that will help agencies maintain their oversight capacity and stay connected in a remote-work environment.

This instrument is used to conduct local and state-level interviews during the onsite component of the CFSRs. It identifies questions that may be asked during stakeholder interviews across seven systemic factor sections.

This supplemental provides alternative language and phrases that interviewers can apply to all the Stakeholder Interview Guide questions, if needed.

This document provides guidance and examples to assist states in providing relevant data to evaluate systemic factor functioning pursuant to the Child and Family Services Plan and the CFSR statewide assessment.