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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12051995 - D3 d . TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-02 FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE - :ti: Contra FROM: ':� -' � j ' Costa November 27, 1995 STATUS REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE BLUE RIBBON County DATE: TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE ISSUES, EFFORTS TO �:r ...-----...-a r'+ couc+� INCREASE THE ETHNIC AND RACIAL DIVERSITY OF SUBJECT: THE TASK FORCE AND PROCESS TO BE USED TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO THE TASK FORCE SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. APPROVE the attached Work Plan for the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues, REQUEST the Task Force to make a further status report to the 1996 Family and Human Services Committee during the first quarter of 1996, and for this purpose REFER this matter to the 1996 Family and Human Services Committee, REMOVING it as a referral to the 1995 Family and Human Services Committee. 2. INCREASE the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues by one member to add an at-large seat intended to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the Task Force. 3. AUTHORIZE the Family and Human Services Committee to interview applicants for the currently vacant seats on the Task Force on December 11, 1995 and make recommendations for appointments to these seats to the Boards of Supervisors on December 19, 1995. BACKGROUND: On June 6, 1995, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from our Committee. Among the recommendations approved by the Board was the formation of a 14 member Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues. The Board also authorized our Committee to do whatever screening and interviewing was needed CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARDMMI/E/ APPROVE OTHERSIGNATURES : �eSAULNIER FITH ACTION OF BOARD ON December 5, 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) 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. ATTESTED 6'• ) 9 9 1 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Members, Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues (Via Supv. DeSaulnier' DEPUTY F&HS-02 before returning recommended appointments to the Board. On August 1, 1995, the Board of Supervisors made a number of the appointments to the Task Force and expanded the Task Force to 16 members. Also on August 1, 1995, the Board of Supervisors approved the Scope of Work and Responsibility of the Child Abuse Task Force. The first of these responsibilities was to prepare a Work Plan to be forwarded to our Committee for review and approval. On November 27, 1995, our Committee met with Paul Crissey, Chair of the Task Force, other members of the Task Force and staff. Mr. Crissey presented the attached Work Plan to our Committee and reviewed it with us. Mr. Crissey also noted the concern of the members of the Task Force about the lack of ethnic and racial diversity among the membership of the Task Force and the need to replace Dr. Jeffrey Bodmer-Turner who has resigned from the Task Force, representing the field of psychology. Danna Fabella, Assistant County Welfare Director and a member of the Task Force, suggested that the racial and ethnic concerns could perhaps be met by the commitment of the Task Force to go out to the community to hear concerns of parents and citizens regarding the child abuse system. It was noted that the education seat on the Task Force is still vacant. Duane Chapman, Homeless Services Ombudsman for the Health Services Department, indicated that he had in mind an individual from West County who worked with the West Contra Costa Unified School District and would be a valuable addition to the Task Force. It was also noted that there is a minority applicant for the psychology seat replacing Dr. Bodmer-Turner. Following extensive discussion of these issues, our Committee is recommending that the Work Plan be approved as submitted, that the Board of Supervisors add one seat to the Task Force as an at-large member who would help to balance the racial and ethnic diversity of the Task Force and that our Committee be authorized to recruit and interview applicants on December 11, 1995 and report our recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on December 19, 1995 for appointments to fill the psychologist seat, the education seat and the new at-large seat. -2- r. BLUE R I B BON TAS K F O RC E ON C H I LD ABU S E I S S UE S REPORT TO THE FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE November 27, 1995 The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues was created by the Board of Supervisors to conduct an examination of the existing system for receiving, investigating and processing allegations of child abuse systemwide, particularly as those allegations relate to child custody disputes, and in the delivery of services in Contra Costa County focussing on this system, and to make recommendations to the appropriate policy, makers for improvements in the system where improvements are deemed necessary. The Task Force met on September 27, October 11, November 1, and November 14 . The first three meetings discussed organizational issues, a decision-making process, concern over lack of diversity, and developing a Work Plan for report back to the Family and Human Services on November 27. With the meeting on November 14, the task force began implementing its Work Plan. The following Work Plan was developed in order to meet these purposes as set forth by the Board of Supervisors . Phase #1 . . .Meeting Purposes #1 & #2 Purpose #1 : To identify all parties involved in receiving, investigating and processing child abuse complaints. Purpose #2 : To outline the process which is followed in receiving investigating and processing child abuse complaints . Methodology: The Task Force will meet Purposes #1 & #2 through a series of presentations at Task Force meetings by appropriate members and others representing county departments and other entities that are components of the system as it currently exists. The tentative list of presentations includes, in order: 1) Mandated reporting 2) Law enforcement, District Attorney, schools 3) Medical and psychological services 4 ) Social services 5) Family and Juvenile Court 6) Probation Time Frame: Phase 1 will take from November through January. Meetings are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays in November, the second Tuesday in December, and the first, third and fifth Tuesdays in January. The schedule will be amended, if necessary, to complete Phase I by the end of January. Phase #2 . . .Meeting Purpose #3 Purpose #3 : To receive testimony from individuals and organizations who wish to provide evidence to the Task Force. Methodology: The Task Force will continue the policy of setting aside time at each meeting to take input from the public. In addition, written input will be accepted, and the Task Force will schedule a series of regional meetings in different parts of the county in order to hear from individuals and organizations . Time Frame: Regional meetings will be held in February and March of 1996 . Phase #3 . . .Meeting Purpose #4 Purpose #4 : To identify areas in which the child abuse investigation and processing system and child custody system may need improvement, who should be responsible for implementing the improvements, to define insofar as possible the cost of the recommended changes, and possible sources of funding those improvements in the system. Methodology: The Task Force will review input from Phases #1 and #2 and will invite additional testimony and input as it deems necessary, and will review similar efforts from other counties and statewide task forces. Through discussions, it will determine problem areas, strategies for improvement, appropriate areas of responsibility, and issues of financing such change. Time Frame: Meeting Purpose #4 will be the primary area of focus of the Task Force during March, April and May, 1996 . Phase #4 . . .Meeting Purposes #5 and #6 Purpose #5 : To make recommendations to responsible policy makers (such as the Board of Supervisors, Superior Court, District Attorney) for improvements in the child abuse reporting and processing system. Purpose #6 : Where additional action by the State Legislature is required in order to implement the Task Force's recommendations, to identify the need for additional legislation. Methodology: Task Force members will put into writing specific recommendations based on the accomplishments of Phases #1 through #3. These will be presented to the appropriate bodies at a series of pre-scheduled presentations . A final report, including all recommendations, will be presented to the Board of Supervisors. Time Frame: Phase #4 will take part of May and be completed during June of 1996 . All work will be completed and the Task Force disbanded by June 30, 1996 . Diversity Issue The task force is concerned with the lack of diversity among its membership. Correspondence has been sent to a number of ethnic/cultural/minority groups within Contra Costa County inviting input on methods to insure inclusion of their communities ' concerns as the task force moves forward with its Work Plan. The task force would like to discuss this issue further with the Family and Human Services Committee at the November 27 meeting. Opening in Psychological Seat Dr. Jeffrey Bodmer-Turner has resigned (see attached letter) . Your committee had interviewed three other candidates (Rosemary Chase, MFCC, William S. Knapp, Ph.D. , and Patricia M. Mackay, MFCC) at the time of Dr. Bodmer-Turner's selection. In addition, Carol L. Lee, Ph.D. has contacted staff inquiring as to how she could participate with the task force. Staff encouraged her to submit a letter of interest, which is attached to this report. Your direction is requested in how to proceed in filling this vacancy.