Orange County Grand Jury
• 2010-2011
• Agency Response
Lunch n Learn*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Even though there has been a 22% decrease in personnel assigned to Emergency Response Units I and II (2008-2010), the needs of children who are referred to Emergency Response Units I and II in Orange County are being met. Response: Agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Conduct workshop(s) jointly with law enforcement to enhance the role of each and ways to seek more efficient interaction when working together on child abuse cases. Response: The recommendation has been implemented. Children and Family Services (CFS) Senior Social Workers (SSWs) are out stationed in police departments throughout Orange County. They participate in roll call as a reminder to officers that they are there to offer assistance on child abuse cases and they frequently respond with officers. The Child Abuse Services Team, (CAST) attends police briefings regarding child abuse reporting and utilization of CAST. CFS also conducts "Lunch n Learn" and the CAST Quarterly Law Enforcement meetings hosted by the District Attorney's office. One of the functions of the meetings is to identify opportunities to develop and conduct joint workshops with law enforcement.
F2
While case load has not increased in ERU, workload has increased due to increased reporting requirements. Response: Agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Review and analyze procedures concerning the transportation of children in social workers personal automobiles in terms of liability and possible alternatives. Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. CFS will examine the feasibility of implementing this recommendation over the next three months. Analysis will include: potential and perceived impact on staff, discussions with Risk Management regarding potential liability, and an exploration of possible alternatives.
F3
Response time to address child abuse, both 10 day and immediate, consistently exceeds mandated State requirements. Agrees with the finding. Response: The percentage of children who receive a monthly visit for whom a visit was
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Continue analyzing the ERU reporting requirements using social workers from both units to reduce redundancy and increase efficiency. Response: The recommendation has been implemented. CFS established a workgroup to review Emergency Response (ER) reporting requirements in an effort to reduce redundancy and to increase efficiency in the program. The workgroup is also identifying tasks that clerical staff can complete to further assist the SSWs. The workgroup has met three times this year and continues to meet frequently to streamline work processes and maintain effectiveness. ER management met with County Counsel to identify ways to streamline the court reports, which are required when a child is brought into protective custody. ER management continues to work with ER SSWs and welcomes their input on ways they can more efficiently perform their duties.
F4
required, exceeds State standards. Agrees with the finding. Response: The interaction between Emergency Response Units I and II, the Child Abuse
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Registry, Child Abuse Services Team, Intake and law enforcement are working effectively. Agrees with the finding. Response: Mandated in-service training for social workers (40 hours every two years) is
No recommendations for this finding
F6
perceived by some social workers as redundant. Agrees with the finding. Response: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Social Workers sometimes use their personal vehicles to transport minors when removing them from their home, causing them concern about their liability. Agrees with the finding. Response: Responses to Recommendation R.1 through R.3
No recommendations for this finding
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.