Hello Community Partners,
I am pleased to bring you another update on the status of our case management transition.
We are quickly approaching the end of the fiscal year and the time we will formally transition case management activities and functions to IMPOWER. As with any transition, it will take several months to operationalize what has been conceptualized. This is part of the science of implementation and to be expected. In partnership, BFP has worked closely with IMPOWER to anticipate and plan for the least disruption to our system of care and those we serve.
Ultimately, the enhancements our new case management agency will bring to the system of care will positively impact those we serve and address the ever changing needs of our children and families. This includes high fidelity wraparound and family team conferencing, intensive substance abuse treatment and training, and continuity of care. IMPOWER’s leadership has demonstrated their commitment to excellence. They have dedicated resources, staff and an extensive amount of time and talent to ensure a seamless transition.
IMPOWER is in the process of finalizing staff unit and care center assignments and is working diligently to retain as many case management staff and children currently on their caseloads as possible. Once finalized, the information will be disseminated to our guardians ad litem, DCF, and CWLS partners and applicable providers.
To date, two Program Managers who currently work within the system of care have been hired along with eight Supervisors. The Care Coordinator lead has been hired to oversee the three Care Coordinator Specialists. The Care Coordinator Specialists, along with the recently hired UR Lead and three UR Specialists, will convene family team conferences and manage service authorizations.
Additionally, 46 Care Managers have accepted positions and six Family Support Workers have accepted positions, with two FSW vacancies remaining. Also, there are eight of 10 over-hire care manager positions still vacant. The over hires are to ensure stability through the transition and to support the acquisition of skills and competency of the trainees.
One vital detail of transition is the transfer and implementation of technology. The plan is to recall all computers and laptops in the last week of June and prepare them for hand off on July 1 and 2. In addition, new tablets will be piloted through the first two weeks in June by BFP staff and then by a case management agency unit to explore a transition to these devices.
This week, I’m pleased to introduce another member of the IMPOWER leadership team, Mrs. Kelly Welch.
Kelly is IMPOWER’s Vice President of Quality Management. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the social services field, working with children and families in a variety of settings that include child welfare, case management, training, and quality management. She has a passion for ensuring quality casework and making a difference in the lives of children and families in need.
Kelly holds four child welfare certifications through The Florida Certification Board as a Child Welfare Investigator, Child Welfare Supervisor, Child Welfare Trainer, and Child Welfare Specialist II. She is further certified by the Agency for Healthcare Administration in Targeted Case Management and is a DCF certified QA Reviewer and Second Party Reviewer. Kelly has participated in numerous local and statewide QA reviews. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and is a member of the National Organization for Victims Assistance and the Florida Crisis Response Team.
Kelly will supervise the Quality Assurance Specialist and work closely with case management and utilization review staff to ensure that the highest level of case management services are delivered to Brevard’s families, in a timely and efficient manner.
Kelly is married to a Seminole County K-9 Deputy and has a daughter who will begin classes at the University of North Florida in June 2014.
Thanks to Kelly and everyone who has helped to make our transition a success!
Sincerely,
Patricia
