Report 2013-110 Recommendation 7 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 #7 To: Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services

To ensure that social workers are making reasonable and timely efforts to make in-person contact with children who are allegedly being maltreated, the Butte County CWS agency should develop clear policies for how frequently social workers must follow up with alleged victims in the event that initial attempts at contact are unsuccessful.

6-Month Agency Response

Child Welfare Program Manager has met with each investigation unit to discuss this recommendation and gather practices already in place regarding current process to make reasonable and timely efforts to make in-person contact with children who are allegedly being maltreated.

The Investigations (IR/ER) Policy and Procedure (No. CSD-14-20) was revised, effective September 25, 2014, to provide clear guidance to social workers regarding how frequently social workers must follow up with alleged victims in the event that initial attempts at contact are unsuccessful. Training regarding the new Policy and Procedure was provided to Child Welfare staff and Supervisors at the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting.

Copies of the October 2, 2014 Program Meeting agenda and the revised Investigations Policy and Procedure No. CSD-14-20 are attached.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented


60-Day Agency Response

Child Welfare Program Manager has met with each investigation unit to discuss this recommendation and gather practices already in place regarding current process to make reasonable and timely efforts to make in-person contact with children who are allegedly being maltreated. We have requested input from additional counties regarding their process in this area. Next steps include development of written policy.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending


All Recommendations in 2013-110

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.