Narrowing the Gap: The California Consistency in Determining Findings Project
Channel: APS Technical Assistance Resource Center
Date: 2023-10-19

Within the state of California, APS’s goal is to have higher rates of consistency in APS professionals’ findings.  Even though APS has state regulations, the 58 counties within California reported data on findings that were inconsistent.  California concluded that these ranges far exceeded normal variations and were a reflection of inconsistent definitions and practices across counties. This webinar will dive further into the why, what, and how of this project, go over the tools that were provided to APS professionals to evaluate findings (The Guiding Principles of Consistency in Findings and California Consistency in Findings Matrix), demonstrate use of the tools including promising practices, and touch on how this project has narrowed the gap in determining findings statewide. 

Presenters:
• Jessica E. Burke, MPA, ASIST Suicide Prevention Specialist, APS TARC
• Dawn Gibbons-McWayne, MSW, LCSW, Program Manager, APSWI, Academy for Professional Excellence, San Diego State University School of Social Work