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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05211996 - D2 To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-02 Contra SE L J ^_ FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE s Costa County DATE: May 13, 1996 SUBJECT: REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE ISSUES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. ACCEPT the attached report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues. 2. REQUEST the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues to present its final report to our Committee on August 12, 1996 and to make it available in advance of that meeting so that it can be distributed to interested individuals in preparation for its consideration by our Committee. BACKGROUND: On March 19, 1996, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from our Committee on the work of the Child Abuse Task Force which asked the Task Force to make a further status report to our Committee on May 13, 1996. Attached is the requested report which our Committee reviewed with the Chair of the Task Force, Paul Crissey, on May 13, 1996. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BO COM ITTE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER May 2 1, IU90 VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT Di St.1 I I ) 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 May 21, 1996 Contact: PH T HELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: County Administrator UP SORS AND COUNTY A N TRA R Karen Mitchoff, Chief of Staff to Supervisor DeSaulnier and Staff to the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues Members of the Task Force (Via Supervisor DeSaulnier's Offic BY Y F&HS-02 Mr. Crissey reported that the Task Force has completed Phase 1, which was to gather information on how the various pieces of the system work. He noted that the Task Force has almost completed Phase 2, which is designed to gather information from the public through holding several public hearings in various parts of the County. Once the public hearings are completed, the Task Force will consider recommendations to make to the Board of Supervisors which will lead to the presentation of a final report to our Committee and subsequently to the full Board of Supervisors. We anticipate that the final report from the Task Force will be presented to our Committee on August 12, 1996. Mr. Crissey went on to describe some of the challenges with which the Task Force has been confronted in attempting to complete its work. Danna Fabella from the Social Service Department and a member of the Task Force noted a commonality among much of the testimony which has been provided to the Task Force in that many people are angry at government in general and that there is a lot of anger directed at some decisions that have been made by the family court as well as at the Social Service Department. Matt Barnes also commented on his experiences as a member of the Task Force. -2- D2 BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON CHILD ABUSE ISSUES REPORT TO THE FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE May 13, 1996 Introduction The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Child Abuse Issues began meeting in September of 1995 and has met semi-monthly since that time. Status of Progress on Work Plan Phase I, which addressed Purpose Nos. 1 (identify all parties involved in receiving, investigating and processing child abuse complaints) and 2 (outline the process which is followed in receiving, investigating and processing child abuse complaints) was completed in early April. The Task Force is currently in the middle of Phase II (holding meetings in the three geographic areas of the county for the purpose of receiving testimony from the public) Meetings were held on April 30 at Ambrose Community Center (east county) and May 4 at the Contra Costa Water District. On May 23,'a public meeting will be held at the Richmond Library Community Room (west county). At the next meeting of the Task Force (May 14), the members will discuss the possibility of a fourth public meeting. Membership At its meeting on March 12, 1996, this Committee approved the Task Force moving forward with interviews of applicants for the one vacant Parent/Consumer position. Ms. Cheryle Bernard-Shaw was selected to fill this position, and the Board of Supervisors ratified the Task Force's selection at its March 19th meeting. CPS Investigation of a Task Force Member Ms. Donice Davis, the other Parent/Consumer representative, informed the Task Force at its April 9th meeting that her family had been the subject of a CPS investigation. She was very concerned about this and felt the investigation was instigated in retaliation because she has been outspoken and critical of both the child abuse system and the Task Force. Since that time, the investigation has been closed, and the file indicates that the allegations were unsubstantiated. The Task Force will be meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 1996, at 4 p.m. , and Ms. Davis has requested time on the agenda to make comments on this matter. Conclusion As mentioned in our previous status report to you, we believe our work will be completed by the end of July, 1996. The Task Force has received both written and oral information on the system from its members and is currently receiving written and oral testimony from the public. We expect to begin work on Phase III in early June and have a report with recommendations available for review of your committee at its first meeting in August. Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Conviete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' wstrum before addressing the Board. Name: i�fi.�J , C�RC, P� I Phone; Citr Iv I CU1�I kms 1 am speaking for myself_a ok-Ri bb 9 N laaine of orpnisatioN CHECK ONE: I wish to speak on Agen& Item My commarts will be: general -for- w _ I wish to Weak on the subject of _ i do not wish to speak but leave these annnients for the Board to consider: Request to Speak Form ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT Complete this form and place it In the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: ► T� 3F-)Phone;e� I am speaking for mirself_or organization: CHE{:K ONE: 6ian'c oN of orsanisati 1 wish to on �ROM # My comments will be: general_.for-.MainK _- _,. i wish to speak on the n,bW of 1 do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: Request to Speak Form �. ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT Complete this form and place h In the box near the speakers' m um before add 'ng Board. . Name: City: cly I am speaking for m self..,!or organization: 6snne of organisatsoN DOCK ONE: _ 1 wish to speak on Agenda Item My comments will be: general ior._"ain_st _ /4 " I wish to speak on the ssi *d of ( �-u� (<�k 6, "'r-AiF-«E,�-- . s " I do not wish to speak but leave these cotnmertts for the Board Request to Speak Form n.,?- ( THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' nostrum before addressing the Board. ,�aune: 0(9�� Vol I1ddress: City: lam �for or ng mysel#� speaks 6Wne of orjan�saton) CHECK ONE: wish to speak on Agenda Item # 2` \ / My will be: general .,_for_,Winst �( I wish to qmak on the x6jectofT� �a _ 1 do not wish to speak but leave these rommarts for the Board to confider: