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-   -   CPS office slow to respond to reports of child abuse or neglect:Less than half - 49 percent - of reports of child abuse and neglect wereinvestigated on time in Pima County from January through March... (http://www.parentingbanter.com/showthread.php?t=50647)

fx April 29th 07 07:48 AM

CPS office slow to respond to reports of child abuse or neglect:Less than half - 49 percent - of reports of child abuse and neglect wereinvestigated on time in Pima County from January through March...
 
CPS office here slow to respond to reports of child abuse, neglect
SHERYL KORNMAN
Tucson Citizen

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/49839.php

Less than half - 49 percent - of reports of child abuse and neglect were
investigated on time in Pima County from January through March,
according to records requested by the Tucson Citizen.
Statewide, 73 percent were investigated on time in the same period, data
provided by the state Division of Children, Youth and Families show.
Under state law, an investigator must respond to the most serious
allegations of abuse or neglect within two hours. Other categories of
calls have different response requirements.
Child Protective Services did not have a breakdown of how many of the
missed deadlines in Pima County involved the most serious allegations.
The recent deaths of three young Tucson children - Ariana Payne, 4;
Tyler Payne, 5; and Brandon Williams, 5 - whose homes CPS had visited,
have put a spotlight on the local office of the state's child welfare
system.
The local head of CPS attributes the lack of timely response here to a
shortage of investigators at any one time.
The child welfare office here is fully staffed, with 219 employees, said
Lillian Downing, the CPS program manager here. The state Department of
Economic Security's Division of Children, Youth and Families oversees CPS.
However, Downing said, "There are times when investigative units can
have as many as half of their positions not available for investigations."
CPS investigators are not available because of vacation, illness,
maternity leave, transfers and promotions, she said in an interview last
week.
CPS statewide is working to correct operational shortcomings found in a
performance audit two years ago.
The agency has until August to comply with the recommendations from the
state's auditor general.
The 2005 audit found:
● Some reports were not investigated.

● Many reports that were investigated did not meet statutory or agency
requirements for timeliness or thoroughness.

● Meaningful changes were needed, including streamlining the
investigation process and establishing effective oversight and
accountability.

Downing's boss, Ken Deibert, who took over as deputy director of DES
five months ago, said CPS employees statewide are being retrained to
conduct more extensive, thorough field investigations and to use a more
efficient data reporting system.
Training should be completed by the end of May, he said.
CPS also is improving training for its supervisors, he said.
On Tuesday, Arizona House Government Committee Chairman Kirk Adams
announced the panel will hold closed-door hearings this summer on the
three Tucson children's deaths.



CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPING PROGRAM....

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...


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