AG19911216 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mr. John Withsrspoon Page tvo November 27, 1991 In Cabarr~s County the ntunBer of child abuse and neglect complaints that have be investilated increased an average of 23I per year from 1987 through 1990. For the currant year, we anticipate that we will investigate some 681 reports involving approximately 996 Cabarms County children. This would represent an increase in investigations of 381 above lest year. The six social workers who carry responsibility for both conducting investigations and providing trea~ent semites in substan~ted cases of abuse or ~eslec~ nov have ave;a2e caseloads of 29 failles. State secede;ds for social ~orkers battling such cases call for caseloads of not more than 16 cases. ~r staff has a d~getous ova;load at this point. ~e are extra=ely pressed in our capacity provide both i~vesti;ation ad treatment semites. ~ the number of referrals much be luvesti~ated has stabilized at about ~0 per month in ;scent mouths, no decrease tn the caseload is anticipated. In iac~, a con~lnu~ increase should be expected. ~CO~ATiONS/~qUEST Me have developed a plan for utilizing the additional State Child Protective Services funding cud Federal Title IV-E funding we are receiving to add needed staff. ~e also plan an internal reorganization to make optional use of existing and added staff. Cabarrus County will receive some $66,686 ~n uaw State Child Protective Services funding annually ($33,343 from ?-1-92 to 6-30-92.) ~e also received $$8,022 lu ney Federal Title IV-E funding earlier in the year and ~ill have this amount on an ongoinE basis annually in futura. We ~rill thus have a total of $10&,?08 available on an annual basis ~hich can be utilized for additional child protective services ataff ($~1,365 is available in the current year.) Neithe~ revenue source has as yet been budgeted. ~e a~e proposing to add t~o Social ~orkers III (Grade 68) and one Social ~ork $~psrvtsor III (Grade ?1) beginning 1-1-92 and to reorganize the child protective services function of the agency from the existing single unit to two units. One unit ~ould carry responsibility for conductin~ investigations. The other u~it would have responsibility for providing treatment services in substantiated cases to protect children and address family problems. The attached charts labeled "Current and Proposed Child Welfare Progrem Oiianization" depict the proposal beinH made. This viii make the best of available resources because of the approach use follow'iai factors: 1. The existing unit contains six social ~otkers involved in investigations and treatment services and one par~-time social yorker assigned to intake. A~ addi~innal social worker ~ho Carries responsibility for the Home Remedies Program (ptovidinl intensive trea~memt services to abused/neglected children) has Been temporarily assi~med to the Child Placement Unit. State Standards call for supervisors in child protec~ive services to supervise not more than five social workers as intensive supervision is req~tredo Addition of a supervisor ia thus necessary in order to add additional social workers for child protective services.