If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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... |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Agency reports increase in child abuse reports | wexwimpy | Foster Parents | 0 | October 13th 05 07:41 PM |
Grandma reports birth child abuse | Todd Gastaldo | Pregnancy | 0 | April 21st 05 07:05 PM |
State-sponsored mass immunologic child abuse/child neglect | Todd Gastaldo | Pregnancy | 0 | May 20th 04 04:43 PM |
HHS Releases 2002 National Statistics on Child Abuse and Neglect | wexwimpy | Foster Parents | 1 | April 2nd 04 03:11 PM |