The 2011 IFPS Survey report includes findings from exemplary IFPS programs nationwide, a new use of IFPS for safety related services, information about less intensive services that states are providing, and a directory for resources, training, and technical assistance.
The Survey was conducted via e-mail with a request, including a link to complete the survey online, sent to in-home contacts in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Only 5 states did not respond to the survey.
Exemplary IFPS Programs
With each IFPS nationwide survey, there have been some changes in the list of states that offer exemplary IFPS programs. There are fewer states (14) in 2011 that are deemed to have exemplary IFPS programs than in 2007 when there were 20 exemplary IFPS states. But there is currently more uniformity of standards in the exemplary IFPS states than there was in the prior survey. The following are the findings from states with exemplary IFPS programs:
- Exemplary IFPS programs are offered statewide to reach as many families as possible in the target population.
- At least a quarter of all families served by IFPS include older youth ages 12-17.
- All exemplary IFPS programs offer reunification as well as preservation services and most are based on the same model.
- In contrast with past surveys, key components of intensity are increasingly adhered to including the worker meeting with the family within 24 hours, 24/7 availability of the worker, worker availability on evenings/weekends, low caseload (2-4 families), brief length of service (4-6 weeks), and high number of face-to-face hours spent with families (average of 47 hours per IFPS intervention in 2011 compared with an average of 33 hours in 2007).
- Exemplary IFPS programs have written program standards, monitor compliance, and conduct program evaluations.
- An increasing number of IFPS programs use a clinical model (65% in 2011 vs. 40% in 2007) and provide follow-up services (66% in 2011 vs. 50% in 2007).
- An average of 91% of families remain intact at case closure with somewhat decreasing percentages at 6 and 12 months post-intervention.
The full report contains includes a detailed chart of states with exemplary IFPS programs that can assist you in building or strengthening an IFPS program.