What is the Assessment Oversight Group (AOG)?
Created and supported by DCYF leadership, and responsive to HB 1186, the AOG monitors and coordinates DCYF’s ongoing use of assessments and approves the use of new assessment tools. The AOG focuses on Child Welfare and Juvenile Rehabilitation assessments, which are inventoried in the left-hand navigation tree of this web page. Early learning assessments will be evaluated for inclusion later. DCYF’s Office of Innovation, Alignment, and Accountability (OIAA) provides logistical support to the AOG.
Why was the AOG established?
There are more than 40 assessment tools used in Child Welfare and Juvenile Rehabilitation.
These tools help the agency make critical decisions including, but not limited, to:
- Removal of a child from their biological parent
- JR parole eligibility
- Treatment or program eligibility and access
Overall, when applied correctly, these assessment tools can lead to effective, fair, and efficient decision-making. However, when not applied correctly, use of these tools can result in the following:
- Biased decision-making related to race, ethnicity, gender, and age
- Inefficient and ineffective use of time for staff and clients
- Unintentional trauma of clients being assessed
To address these risks, the AOG is working to ensure all Child Welfare and JR assessments are examined every 3 years. The long-term goal of the AOG is the creation of a singular assessment strategy for the agency.
Ongoing, the AOG will also be responsible for the following:
- Ensuring assessments are carried out in good faith to their original intent and design
- Reviewing and approving the selection and implementation of new assessments being considered by DCYF
How does the AOG align with DCYF priorities?
The AOG is a critical component to ensuring achievement of the DCYF Strategic Priorities. Agency goals of increasing transparency and coordinating Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement are also foundational to the AOG work. Major agency initiatives, including the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), the Thriving Families Campaign, and Juvenile Rehabilitation Community Transition Services, are carried out in coordination with the AOG’s work.