Title
Receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services outlining 2024 outcomes and program updates for the Family and Children’s Services Intake and Emergency Response Units.
Presenter: Eva Jeronimo, Deputy Director of Family and Children’s Services
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, Homelessness and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services outlining 2024 outcomes and program updates for the Family and Children’s Services Intake and Emergency Response Units.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County Family and Children’s Services (FCS) offers child protective services, foster care services, and adoption services to children and young adults in Monterey County. The mission of FCS is to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. Service goals strive to keep children and youth safe and within protection of a permanent family.
In 2024, FCS received 5,411 reports of child abuse and neglect, which is an average of 451 reports a month. Of those reports, 2,130 (39%) were referred to the Emergency Response Unit for further investigation. This means that staff in the Intake Unit are spending the majority of their time on calls that do not meet the threshold of abuse or neglect, as defined by the California Penal Codes. FCS, in collaboration with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC), has been hosting in-person Mandated Reporter trainings in Monterey County in order to help address this issue. In addition, FCS is in the process of updating the Intake and Emergency Response manuals to clarify the roles and responsibilities of these units and provide ongoing training.
Since entering into a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), FCS has completed all 27 corrective actions identified, and the CAP has been closed effective January 21, 2025.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Mont...
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