AG 1996 01 16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

]CASAR USCOUNh'I I~SOLUTION In response to an inquiry made by the Board of County Commissioners (hereinafter referred to as the "Board"), the Cabarrus County Social Services Board has supported staff of the Deparunent of Social Serv'ices in making a request of the State Division of Social Services for an improvement in policies govermng the investigation of reports that children are neglected or abused. The Social Services Board has requested the support of the Board of County Cmnmissioners in making this request. IN CONSIDERATION of the Social Services Board's request, the Board has determined that: WHEREAS, State law assigns responsibility to county departments of social services for investigating reports that children are neglected or abused and for providing protection to children where appropriate; and WHEREAS, county departments of social services carry out these responsibilities under the supervision of the State Division of Social Services in accordance with policies promulgated by the State Social Services Commission and the State Division of Social Services; and WHEREAS, the Board has as a paramount concern the well-being of our community's children: and WHEREAS, the Board is concerned that its agencies exercise the greatest caution in balancing thoroughness and effectiveness in protecting children who may be victims of neglect or abuse ~ith respect and support for the rights and responsibilities of parents and families: and WHEREAS. the Board is committed to the simplification and improvement of public policies so that these policies can better support the efficient and effective use of public resources: and WHEREAS. the Board has recognized through public comment and reports from Department of Social Services staff the need to improve State policies wlfich limit the screening and assessment of repons of alleged child neglect or abuse for validity prior to initiating an investigation, and prevent the curtailment of investigations prior to completion of all policy-mandated steps when information collected indicates clearly that children are not neglected or abused, as these policies lead to unnecessaD' interviewing of children and other intrusions into the family as well as the waste of scarce staff resources which are needed to protect children who are actually in danger: and WI-~EREAS. the Board understands that these policies impede the efficieut and effective resolution of about 10 percent of the child neglect and abuse reports received by the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services while contributing nothing to the protection of children: NOW. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that this sixteenth day of January, 1996, the Board requests the State Division of Social Services change, and as appropriate that it request the Social Sen'ices Commission change, policies governing child protective sen'ices investigations so that they i) permit as appropriate the screening and assessment of reports for validity prior to the initiation of investigations, and 2) allow the curtailment of investigations when information collected indicates conclusively that the children involved are not neglected or abused as requested by the Cabarrus Couno' Department of Social Services. Jeffrey L. Barnhart, Chairman Sue B. Casper, Commissioner Ame L. Fennel, Vice-Chairman Franklin C. Niblock, Commissioner Kenneth Mills. Commissioner Board of Co,-,,nty Commissioners