HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08051997 - C122 ,i
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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS - 03
_ Contra
FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Costa
DATE: July 28; County 1997 �_
�tTA CUt1N�
SUBJECT: STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE ISSUES
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. CONCUR with the actions proposed by the County Administrator in regard to
the highest priority recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on
Child Abuse Issues as are reflected in the attached report and as are
supplemented by the written report from the Superintendent of Schools.
2. REQUEST the County Administrator to report to the 1998 Family and Human
Services Committee during the month of February 1998 on the status of the
implementation of the highest priority recommendations and for this purpose
REFER this matter to the 1998 Family and Human Services Committee,
removing it as a referral to the 1997 Family and Human Services Committee.
3. REQUEST the Health Services Director to report to the 1998 Family and
Human Services Committee during the month of February 1998 on the
feasibility of locating the MDIC permanently on the grounds of the existing
Merrithew Memorial Hospital and for this purpose REFER this matter to the
1998 Family and Human Services Committee, removing it as a referral to the
1997 Family and Human Services Committee.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURESI A Q_4P,0 0
MARK 9eGA616N'F=R DO— QF'R ER
ACTION OF BOARD ONAugust 5, 1997 APPROVED AS REC DED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
_UNANIMOUS(ABSENT IL AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: _NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC ATTESTED-Qin iczt ' 19.27
See Page 3 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88)
BY �?'/jw jt',�4� ,DEPUTY
F&HS - 03
BACKGROUND:
On November 5, 1996, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from the 1996
Family and Human Services Committee asking the County Administrator to forward
copies of the recommendations from the report to all affected departments,
consolidate their responses and provide a report to our Committee.
On June 9, 1997, our Committee received a preliminary report from staff on the
responses to the recommendations of the Task Force and directed that staff invite
the appropriate department heads to meet with our Committee on July 28, 1997. We
also asked that the Policy Forum formulate more complete responses to the
recommendations of the Task Force. We also asked the Health Services Director
to comment on the feasibility of locating the MDIC (Multi-Disciplinary Interview
Center) on the grounds of the Merrithew Memorial Hospital.
Attached is a report from the County Administrator on behalf on the Executive
Committee of the Policy Forum which identifies the highest priority recommendations
for action by staff, which indicates which department(s) will be responsible for action
and which indicates the status of the recommendation or the action which will be
taken and a timetable for completion of the action.
Also attached is a report from the Health Services Director responding to the request
from our Committee regarding the location of the MDIC and a separate
memorandum from the Superintendent of Schools outlining his Office's response to
the recommendations which affect the schools.
On July 28, 1997, our Committee met with the County Administrator, Presiding
Judge of the Coordinated Trial Courts, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner,
Superintendent of Schools, Health Services Director, Assistant Social Service
Director, Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues, members
of the Task Force and other interested parties.
Mr. Batchelor summarized the steps that are being taken by the Policy Forum to
review the recommendations which are judged to be highest priority by the Policy
Forum. Judge Spinetta noted one error in the report. The "status/action to be taken"
should be reversed for Recommendations 61 & 62. Judge Spinetta also noted
several concerns of the Trial Courts. He noted that on Recommendation #13 there
is no action for the Courts to take since they have such training in place. He also
clarified regarding Recommendation #53 that the Courts are not making such a
request of the Legislature.
Joe Ovick, Superintendent of Schools, distributed the attached memo which sets
forth the schools' response to several of the Recommendations which affect them.
Dr. Ovick reviewed each of their responses with our Committee. In regard to
Recommendation #27, Dr. Ovick noted that Senator Rainey has indicated a
willingness to carry legislation if this is judged to be necessary. However, he also
clarified that the problem is dealt with on a situation-by-situation basis now.
Denise Nolan, representing the Public Defender, noted Mr. James' concern with the
proposed addition of a new judicial position for juvenile matters, since this will have
staffing implications for his office, as well as for the District Attorney. Judge Spinetta
clarified that there is going to be a new judicial position. Therefore, there are going
to be staffing implications regardless of where the new position is assigned. The
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F&HS - 03
only issue is the allocation of resources among competing priorities. The Courts
believe that an additional emphasis on juvenile matters is appropriate.
Paul Crissey, Chair of the Task Force, noted that County staff dealing with child
abuse matters are dedicated to doing a good job. He noted that as a child advocate,
he is not likely to be satisfied with any proposed pace for the implementation of the
Task Force's recommendations. He did note that the tone of the County
Administrator's report was much more positive than was the last review of this matter
and that he was pleased with the direction things are going. He and other Task
Force members will continue to monitor the implementation of the Task Force's
recommendations. Mr. Batchelor suggested that since many of the actions are to
be completed by January 1, 1998 that a further report be made to the 1998 Family
and Human Services Committee in about six months.
Dr. Walker reviewed his memo regarding the placement of the MDIC on the grounds
of the current Merrithew Memorial Hospital. Several views were expressed
regarding the importance of a fixed site for the MDIC versus having a more mobile
facility which could respond where needed and reduce the transportation costs for
police agencies. Danna Fabella reviewed the reasons for a fixed site and noted the
experience of Sonoma County and Alameda County in this regard. Gary Yancey
noted that he fully supports the concept of a MDIC but noted that staffing an MDIC
has a price tag. It would require nearly a full-time staff member from his office.
Unless additional staff is provided he would have to reduce prosecution efforts in
another area in order to staff an MDIC. He also noted the problem with requiring
additional training of law enforcement personnel, given the variety and level of
training that is now required. Pleasant Hill Police Chief Mike Phalen shared his
concern with the proposed additional training requirements and noted the concerns
of a fixed site MDIC on behalf of the East and West County police agencies.
Judge Spinetta noted that the Task Force did not address at any length the causes .
of child abuse. The Court's experience is that the overwhelming proportion of child
abuse cases involve drug or alcohol abuse to some degree. At some point these
problems are going to need to be addressed if we are ever going to get a handle on
the growth in the number of child abuse cases that are being seen.
Our Committee is most impressed with the progress that has been made and with
the commitment of all of the participating departments and agencies to improve the
system for addressing child abuse problems and protecting our children. We look
forward to even more progress being made in the next six months and are, therefore,
recommending that the 1998 Family and Human Services Committee review the
progress to date in February 1998.
cc: County Administrator
Policy Forum Executive Committee (Via Sara Hoffman)
Paul Crissey, Chair, Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues
1431 Nicholas Drive
Concord, CA 94520
Sara Hoffman, Senior Deputy County Administrator
-3-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE COUNTYADMINISTRATOR
651 Pine Street, 10th Floor
Martinez, California 94553
Telephone: 335-1080
Fax: 335-1098
DATE: July 28, 1997
TO: Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier
Supervisor Donna Gerber
Family & Human Services Committee
Board of Supervisors
FROM: Phil Batchelor
County Administrator
Chair, Children's Policy Forum
SUBJECT: Referral to Children's Policy Forum Regarding Child Abuse Task Force
Report
The Family&Human Services Committee requested the Children's Policy Forum to review
the Child Abuse Task Force Report recommendations.
The Executive Committee of the Children's Policy Forum reviewed the report and identified
first priorities for action (attached). These priorities respond to 36 of the Task Force's
recommendations in the areas of Agency Information Exchange; Staff Qualifications and
Training; Public Information/Parent Training; Investigative/Prosecution Practices; SCAN
and SART; MDIC; Practices Regarding Removal of Children; Court Practices; and
Complaints. Each of the priorities identifies the involved agencies, the status of the action
or the action to be taken and the date by which the action will initiated or completed.
The Executive Committee of the Policy Forum would like to thank the Child Abuse Task
Force for its time and effort on this important issue. The recommendations were very
valuable in identifying areas where our agencies could work together more effectively in
dealing with instances of child abuse.
cc: Policy Forum Executive Committee
Paul Chrissy, Chair, Child Abuse Task Force
Attachment
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Health Services Department
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Administrative Offices
---- – 20 Allen Street
Ot +aa)II'\16G"F = –`�S Martinez,California 94553-3191
Phone: (510)
-
�,,,— Fax: (510)370-5098
p G
sr'4 COIIl`Z�
To: Family and Human Services Committee
Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, Chair
Supervisor Donna Gerber,Meniher
From: William B. Walker, MD
Health Services Director
Subject: Location for MMIC
Date: July 22, 1997
You have asked me to detennine whether the Merrithew Hospital campus might be available
to house the MDIC. My staff have discussed the space needs of the MDIC with Social Service staff
and understand that the MDIC will be located at least for the next year at Lions Gate. Because of
the requirements of the recently received grant for the MDIC an immediate location was required.
The planning for how to use the old hospital space has begun and is anticipated to require at
least the next six months before reaching conclusions. The request for the MMIC to be located on
the Merrithew campus was submitted by Dr. Jim Carpenter and is being analyzed along with the other
60 plus requests received.
Health Services Department staff have been involved with the MMIC planning since its
inception. We are anxious for it to become an integral part of the child abuse response system in our
County. We will work closely with the Social Service Department to determine the most accessible
and appropriate permanent location for the MDIC.
cc: Steve Peavler
Jim Carpenter, MD
Frank Puglisi
Carol Chan
C:\OFFICE\W P W IN\WPDOCS\A4EMOS\NIDIC.MEN,I
A-345A (4/92) Contra Costa County
Joseph A. Ovick, Ed. D., Superintendent of Schools
��� • • • The Ronald L.Stewart Center
• • ' • 77 Santa Barbara Road • Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(510) 942-3388
July 25, 1997
TO: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Blue Ribbon Ta ce o hild Abuse Issues
FROM: Joseph A. vi k,F.d.D.
Contra Co to County Superintendent of Schools
RE: Report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues
I am please to provide input to the County Board of Supervisors' Task Force report on child abuse
issues. The County Office of Education assumes the responsibility of the mandatory reporting of all
such incidences and takes that responsibility very seriously. If additional training and ongoing
communication can further refine the process to protect the welfare of our youth, the educational
community will participate wholeheartedly in this very important project. I personally look forward to
working with the leaders from across the county to ensure the safety of youth in Contra Costa County.
My comments on the report follow:
B. Schools
24. Recommendation: School districts should be encouraged to provide training to all staff at the
school district level to address child abuse issues.
Comments: Section 11166 of the Penal Code requires that all school personnel who work
directly with students on a regular basis must receive as follows:
1. An employment orientation on child abuse reporting requirements.
2. Must sign a statement that they have been informed of the child abuse and neglect law
and will comply with its provisions.
3. Attend a one—hour workshop on child abuse and neglect conducted by Child Protective
Services.
The Contra Costa County Office of Education is in full compliance with Section 11166 of the
Penal Code.
25. Recommendation: Provide cross training among personnel of various responding agencies,
including school districts.
Comments: During the 1996-97 school year, the County Office of Education's Student
Services Division implemented a cross training program that included staff from Child
Protective Services as trainers. The CPS workers provided quality training to the mandatory
reporters who work directly with students within the County Office of Education.
Blue Ribbon Task Force Report on Child Abuse Issues
July 25, 1997, Page 2
26. Recommendation: School district personnel should cross train with CPS to provide education
and training for school district personnel to promote greater understanding of child abuse
issues.
Comments: As a result of the CPS training provided to County Office of Education staff, it is
the intent to begin to implement this cross training model throughout the county so that all
school districts can benefit from this very successful program. CCCPAC (Contra Costa County
Personnel Administrators Council) and the Coordinating Council of Directors of Pupil
Personnel are involved in a joint effort to form a task force, co—chaired by Frank Davis, County
Office of Education Human Resources Director, and Bianca Bloom, County Office of
Education Alternative Education Director, which will offer school district personnel additional
training to promote greater understanding of child abuse issues.
27. Recommendation: School files should contain information on whom to contact should an
agency need to locate alternative family members for child placement as the result of a child
abuse investigation.
Comments: School files include emergency alternative numbers and names of individuals in
the event a parent or legal guardian cannot be contacted. Current law prohibits the exchange of
information in a student's file without parental consent. Additionally, educators are not
responsible for student out of home placement. This could be remedied by legislative action
that would allow an exchange of emergency numbers specifically for out of home placement
when a CPS worker is investigating a suspected child abuse.
1. Recommendation: Schools, religious institutions and other community organizations are
encouraged to take leadership roles in developing and teaching curricula regarding healthy
parenting illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, and violence prevention.
Comments: Health,which is part of the core curriculum for students in grades K-12, provides
a prevention curriculum that includes illegal drug use, alcohol use/abuse and violence
prevention. Guidelines for designing this curriculum are in the California Health Framework
adopted by the California State Board of Education in 1994. In addition to the health
curriculum, seventeen of the districts in Contra Costa County receive additional funding
through Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities and Tobacco Use Prevention Education
to provide programs that each prevention skills. The focus of these programs is to promote
positive youth development.
JAO:pm
Childabuse