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Cecil County Department of Social Services- Child Protective Services

Cecil County Department of Social Services- Child Protective Services. Kristen Berkowich AHS 8100. Mission. We will aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults. .

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Cecil County Department of Social Services- Child Protective Services

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  1. Cecil County Department of Social Services- Child Protective Services Kristen Berkowich AHS 8100

  2. Mission • We will aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.

  3. Our mission is based on the following principles: • Work is indispensable for achieving independence. • Partnerships and alliances with business and the community are critical to our customers’ ability to achieve and maintain independence. • Families should be the first resource for the emotional and financial support of their children and other family members. • Assistance is provided to people while honoring individual and group differences. • Empowerment is essential to the provision of human services.

  4. Demographic Information • Investigates allegations of physical or sexual abuse and neglect of children under age 18. Legal mandates require children in neglect cases to be seen within 5 days and in abuse cases within 24 hours. Child must reside in Cecil County or incident of abuse/neglect must have taken place within Cecil County • In 2012, there were 1,900 referrals

  5. Policies & Procedures

  6. Initial Response • A. A time period established in this regulation starts when the local department has sufficient information to begin an investigation, regardless of the form in which that information is received. • B. The local department shall attempt to obtain from a reporting source the information set forth in Regulation .04D of this chapter. • C. The local department shall enter identifying information into MD CHESSIE, CIS and, as available, add to or correct information already entered. • D. The local department shall use MD CHESSIE, CIS, AMF, and available case records to obtain information concerning the child, caretaker, or household or family members, and other individuals as appropriate.

  7. Cont. • D. If a local department receives a report of suspected child abuse or neglect alleged to have occurred in Maryland, it shall: • (1) Promptly acknowledge receipt of the report in writing to each source of the report, making provision for the protection of the identity of the reporter; • (2) Indicate that the local department will take appropriate action; • (3) Immediately notify the local law enforcement agency of a report accepted for investigation; and • (4) If an initial notification is not in writing, send written notification to the local law enforcement agency by the end of the next business day following the day of the report.

  8. Investigation • A. During an investigation, the local department shall gather appropriate information to: • (1) Assess immediate safety and risk of maltreatment of children who are household or family members or in the care or custody of the alleged maltreator; • (2) Determine if child abuse or neglect is indicated, unsubstantiated, or ruled out; • (3) Determine if maltreatment, other than that initially reported, is indicated, unsubstantiated, or ruled out; • (4) Determine what services, if any, are appropriate; and • (5) Determine if the local department should initiate the process of voluntary placement as defined in Family Law Article, §5-525(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, shelter care, or file a CINA petition.

  9. Cont. • B. If necessary, the local department shall seek further information from a reporting source, parents, other relatives, and other appropriate community agencies such as schools, hospitals, clinics, or police. The local department may seek police or court involvement if necessary to complete its investigation. • C. If the local department is denied entry to a child care center or family day care home to conduct an on-site investigation, the local department shall contact the Office of Child Care of the State Department of Education's regional manager in an attempt to gain entry under COMAR 07.04.01 and 07.04.02.

  10. Cont. • D. Initial Interviews—Reports of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect. • (1) Before an initial interview with an adult, the local department representative shall present identification as a local department representative. • (2) Before an initial interview with a child, the local department representative shall identify himself or herself to the child in a manner appropriate to the child's developmental level. • (3) During an initial interview with the individual identified in a report as being responsible for suspected abuse or neglect, the local department representative shall provide information concerning: • (a) The nature of the reported child abuse or neglect; and • (b) The local department's child abuse and neglect investigation process.

  11. Cont. • E. Danger to a Child. • (1) If the local department considers a child to be in danger of immediate harm or injury, the local department: • (a) Shall make the least disruptive and traumatic arrangements necessary for the child's protection and care including but not limited to: • (i) Relative placement; or • (ii) Encouraging the family to seek a protective order, if appropriate to limit the alleged maltreator's access to the child; • (b) May, in the best interest of the safety and protection of the child, remove the child from the home with or without the consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian; and • (c) Shall obtain court authorization for shelter care, if possible, before removal, or as soon afterward as possible, under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-815, Annotated Code of Maryland, and shall notify the child's parents, guardians, or custodian of a scheduled hearing. • (2) If the local department is denied access to a child and has reason to believe the child is in serious immediate danger, the local department shall request the assistance of a law enforcement officer, who may use reasonable force to gain access to, and ensure the protection and safety of, the child.

  12. Structure • Nicholas Ricciuti- Director • Nancy Simpers- Chairman, Social Services Board • Susan Bailey- Assistant Director, Services • Patricia Brown- AD, Child Support • Michele Smith- AD, Family Investment • Diana Klusak- Coordinator, Human Services • Charles Reedy- AD, Administration

  13. Cont. • Each CPS team consists of 5 workers. There is a supervisor, 2 CPS assessors, & 2 foster care workers. When a referral comes in, the case is assigned to a CPS assessor to investigate. Depending on the severity, the assessors may go out together. If the child or children are removed from the home the foster care team takes over. One of the foster care workers are assigned to the natural parents and the other is assigned to the foster parents. Both foster workers work with the child. The foster care team often work as partners, going out together to see the child.

  14. Governance • The head of the governing body of Child Protective Services is the Director, Nicholas Ricciuti. There are Assistant Directors and Supervisors that work under Mr. Ricciuti; together they all define expectations, make sure that policies and procedures are followed and monitor performance. They also write grants and find funding sources for the various programs.

  15. Funding • Funding for Child Protective Services comes from the Governor’s Office for Children. The Governor sets the budget for the Children’s Cabinet Fund.

  16. Relationship • CPS works closely with several agencies • Health Department • Child Advocacy Centers • Youth Bureau • Local police agencies • Governor’s Office for Children

  17. Strengths, Trends & Challenges • Local LMB has a goal of reducing child maltreatment • Governor focused on reducing infant mortality rate • CPS referrals on the rise, mostly due to substance abuse • Budget cuts • Reduction in work force

  18. My Role • I am currently working with CPS in collaboration with the local LMB to write a plan to reduce child maltreatment. The largest contributing factor to child maltreatment is substance abuse. My goal is to use the recent drug assessment study, other state’s plans and current statistics to write the plan.

  19. References • http://www.dhr.state.md.us/accreditation/edition8/cecil/pacr/pacr1/pacr102.pdf • http://www.dhr.state.md.us/blog/?page_id=3957

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