	Background

CFSA is responsible for protecting thousands of foster care children who  have been at risk of abuse and neglect and ensuring that critical services  are provided for them and their families. CFSA Undertook Actions to Address Most ASFA Requirements Reviewed and Met Half of the Selected Performance Criteria

CFSA took actions to address six of the nine ASFA requirements and met  or exceeded four of the eight performance criteria we included in our  study. Table 1 summarizes the ASFA requirements directly related to the safety  and well-being of children and identifies whether CFSA met them. CFSA Has Established Many Foster Care Policies but Lacks Others, and the Extent of Implementation and Documentation Varies

CSFA has established many foster care policies but, caseworkers did not  consistently implement the six we examined. In addition, CFSA’s  automated system lacked data on policy implementation for 70 percent of  its foster care cases. CFSA Has Enhanced Its Working Relationship With the D.C. Family Court by Working Collaboratively, But Hindrances Remain

CFSA has enhanced its working relationship with the Family Court  through its commitment to promoting improved communication and by  expanding its legal support services for court activities. CFSA participates  in various planning committees with the Family Court, such as the  Implementation Planning Committee, and assists in providing service  referrals on site at the Family Court. These hindrances  include scheduling conflicts between the court and CFSA, an insufficient  number of caseworkers, caseworkers who are unfamiliar with cases that  have been transferred to them, and the unclear roles and responsibilities  of CFSA caseworkers, attorneys, and judges.
Why GAO Did This Study

The District of Columbia (DC) Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is responsible for protecting thousands of foster care children at risk of abuse and neglect and ensuring that critical services are provided for them and their families. Representative Tom Davis, Chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, asked GAO to discuss the extent to which CFSA has taken actions to address the requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 and other selected performance criteria, adopted and implemented child protection and foster care placement policies, and enhanced its working relationship with the D.C. Family Court.

What GAO Found

CFSA took actions to address six of the nine AFSA requirements related to the safety and well-being of children and met or exceeded four of the eight performance criteria GAO included in this study. CSFA has established many foster care policies, but caseworkers did not consistently implement the six GAO examined. In addition, CFSA's automated system lacked data on policy implementation for 70 percent of its foster care cases. CFSA has enhanced its working relationship with the Family Court. Frequent dialogue now occurs between CFSA's top management and the Family Court, CFSA has expanded its legal services to support court activities, and CFSA participates in various planning committees with the court. However, hindrances remain, such as scheduling conflicts between the two entities; unclear roles and responsibilities of caseworkers, attorneys, and judges; and caseworkers who are not familiar with cases that have been recently transferred to them.