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IC~,BARRLIS COUNffI <br /> <br />October 26, 1992 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />John Witherspoon, Co~~r / <br />J~emquCe°s°tk~o~°~iwa: ~eorc~a~or~ s~~III for Child Protective Services <br /> <br /> I am writing to request that the Board of Commissioners authorize at <br />its first November meeting the creation of two new Social Worker III <br />positions at the Department for the provision of Child Protective <br />Services. Continuing caseload increases have created a serious overload of <br />our staff. We are having increasing difficulties in meeting our legal <br />requirements and this situation poses risks to children. We have available <br />new Federal and State funding so that the requested positions can be added <br />without the appropriation of additional County funding. <br /> <br />PROBLEM <br /> <br /> County departments of social services are required by State law (GS <br />7A-542 and 108A-14) to investigate reports that children are neglected or <br />abused and to provide protective services where appropriate. <br /> <br /> The Department has continue to receive an extremely large and <br />increasing number of reports of child abuse and neglect. The 850 reports <br />involving 1366 children received during the year ending 6/30/92 <br />represented a 71% increase above the number received the previous year. <br />During the first quarter of this year, the number of reports received each <br />month exceeded the average number received each month last year by 16%. <br />We have seen additional trends of concern including a higher substantiation <br />rate (37% for July - September as opposed to 24% for all of FY92), a larger <br />percentage of children under six who are more at risk (69% for July - <br />September, a 31% increase above the same period a year ago), and an <br />unusual incidence of more severe cases of abuse and neglect. We have <br />seen more serious injuries to children and more complex and difficult <br />family problems involving such issues as substance abuse, domestic violence <br />and inadequate housing. All of these factors contribute not only to a <br />larger number of investigations which must be performed but also to larger <br />numbers of cases which must be provided more intensive services on a <br />longer term basis. <br /> <br /> Department o! Social Services <br />P.O. Box 668 * Concord, NC 28026-0668 * (704) 786-7141 <br /> <br /> <br />