Report 2013-110 Recommendation 33 Responses
Report 2013-110: Child Welfare Services: The County Child Welfare Services Agencies We Reviewed Must Provide Better Protection for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: April 2014)
Recommendation #33 To: San Francisco Human Services Agency, City and County of
As part of its responsibility to help children remain safe at all points during the investigation of a referral, the San Francisco County CWS agency should perform statutorily required background checks and inspections before allowing children to be placed in a home.
1-Year Agency Response
Policy: The Criminal Clearance & Exemptions for Substitute Care Providers (SCP) and Informal Family Arrangements Policy and Desk Guide, were completed and published to staff on 11/14/2014. It provides detailed instructions for vetting temporary living situations and caregivers in emergency and non emergency situations. Furthermore, it specifies the requirements for performing statutorily required background checks and inspections required before allowing children to be placed in a home.
- See Supporting Documentation
- Completion Date: November 2014
- Response Date: April 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented
6-Month Agency Response
The policy and desk guides for ensuring that staff are performing statutorily required background checks and inspections before allowing children to be placed in a home is in final draft.
This item is included in the CSFR case review tool which will be used to monitor ongoing staff compliance.
- Estimated Completion Date: December, 2014
- Response Date: October 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
To date we have hired a Policy Supervisor who will develop policies and procedures requiring supervisory review of the hotline tool. The supervisor will come on board June 9, 2014. Additionally, we are in the process of redirecting 5 Protective Services Worker (PSW) positions to the Policy unit. We expect to have them on board by July 21, 2014.
Once the Policy Unit is established, it will develop policies and procedures to emphasize the required background checks and inspections prior to placing a child with a relative or non related extended family member.
Training Coordinator will provide child welfare staff and Licensing Unit additional training and support to ensure compliance.
We are waiting for approval to hire 6 Q.a. staff including 1 supervisor and 5 analysts to ensure compliance with new policies. Once established, Q.A. will perform random quarterly reviews to make certain that staff and supervisors are adhering to the policies.
- Estimated Completion Date: TBD
- Response Date: June 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2013-110
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.