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CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL. Theresa Costello, MA Director National Resource Center for Child Protective Services. AGENDA. Overview Resources and Reference Materials Training and Technical Assistance www.nrccps.org theresa.costello@actionchildprotection.org 505-301-3105 . CRP HISTORY.
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CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL Theresa Costello, MA Director National Resource Center for Child Protective Services
AGENDA • Overview • Resources and Reference Materials • Training and Technical Assistance • www.nrccps.org • theresa.costello@actionchildprotection.org • 505-301-3105
CRP HISTORY • 1996 CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act) Reauthorization • CAPTA established in 1974 • Established requirement for state plan detailing compliance with CAPTA requirements in order to receive CAPTA grant
CRP requirements • 3 panels per state by July 1999 (some states only 1 required) • Panels must review compliance of state and local CPS with respect to: • State CAPTA plan (CA/N reporting system, CPS system, confidentiality) • Other criteria panel considers important, which may include coordination with foster care and adoption programs and review of child fatalities and near fatalities.
CRP Requirements • Membership: Composed of volunteer members: • Broadly representative of the community in which they are operating • Include individuals with expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect
CRP Requirements • Meetings • Must meet at least quarterly • Functions • Examine policies, procedures and practices (2003 amendment) of State and local agencies and, where appropriate, specific cases • Evaluate extent to which State or local agency is meeting child protection responsibilities
CRP Requirements • Confidentiality • Critical to maintain confidentiality of individual case information; cannot be made public unless authorized by State statute • Public Outreach • Panels must get public comment to assess impact of procedures and practices on children and families in the community (2003 amendment)
CRP Requirements • Report • Panel produces annual report • Summary of the activities of the panel • Recommendations to improve the child protective services system at the State and local level • Key product of panel; distribute widely (Governor, legislature) • State agency response (2003 amendment) • Within 6 months of receipt of report • Describes whether or how the State will incorporate the recommendations of the panel
CRP Requirements • State Assistance • Provide access to information on cases the panel desires to review • Provide the panel staff assistance for the performance of the duties of the panel
CPS System • Panels can examine any of the following • Intake (screening) • Investigation (assessment) • Differential response • Safety decision making • Case findings (substantiated, not substantiated)
CPS System, continued • Family assessment (ongoing) • Case planning • Ongoing safety decision making • Case closure • Placement; placement stability • Service array and coordination • Staff training, qualifications, workload
Basic CAPTA requirements • See CAPTA manual page 28-34 • Reporting procedures for CA/N • Policies and procedures for substance exposed newborns • Plan of safe care for substance exposed newborns • Procedures for screening, risk and safety assessment • Triage procedures for children not at risk of imminent harm • Procedures to assure safety of all kids in a home
CAPTA requirements continued • See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34 • Immunity for good faith reporting • Confidentiality of records • Provisions for public disclosure • Public disclosure in fatality and near fatality • Cooperation of law enforcement, courts and state CPS agencies
CAPTA requirements, continued • See CAPTA manual pgs.28-34 • Expungement of records available to public • Appointment of guardian ad litem • Establishment of citizen review panels • Provisions for expedited TPR • Provisions not requiring reunification in certain cases • TPR for surviving children
CAPTA requirements, continued • See CAPTA manual pgs. 28-34 • Parental notification at first contact • Training for those with legal responsibilities • Procedures to improve training, retention and supervision of caseworkers • Procedures for referral of children under 3 to IDEA Part C • Criminal background checks for prospective adoptive, foster, relative and non-relatives living in the home
How do panels review CPS policies, practices and procedures? • Case reviews • Statewide data • Policy review • Procedure review • Surveys • Quality Assurance reviews • Community forums • Focus groups or interviews
Identified Technical Assistance and Training needs of CRP’s • NRCCPS Survey of State CRP coordinators • Scope of work (see page 6) • Annual report (page 8) • Retention of CRP members (page 5) • Orientation and training of CRP members (page 4) • Recruitment of members (page 2)
Big Picture • National effectiveness study in 2006 • Blake Jones • National Citizens Review Panel Virtual Community www.uky.edu/socialwork/crp • Fifth annual Citizens Review Panel Conference May 25-26, 2006 Louisville, Kentucky