Transcript 2014EducationConference

“What Every Educator
Needs To Know About DCF”
Allison Blake, Ph.D., L.S.W.
Commissioner
Lisa Von Pier, Assistant Commissioner, DCP&P
Objectives
 To enhance participant's knowledge and understanding
of the role of court, educators, and system partners in
reporting suspicions of child abuse and neglect.
 To provide participants with an overview of the DCF
investigatory process for families and institutions.
 To provide participants with an understanding of the
DCPP family engagement model and collaboration with
system and community partners.
Welcome!
Department of Children & Families Overview
Thomas Farrell, Casework Supervisor
NJ Child Abuse Hotline-SCR
Alan Machbitz, Regional Supervisor
IAIU-Northern Region
Lori Sanders, Special Projects Manager
DCF-DCPP- Central Office
Our Belief
The core of the child welfare reform in New Jersey is to build
a culture within the agency and with community stakeholders
which allows partnership with children and families to
achieve their fullest potential.
 Most families have the capacity to change with the support of individualized
service plans.
 By actively listening to our families, we are able to assess the needs of the
children, youth and families in a respectful and responsive manner that builds
upon their strengths.
 When it is time for the family to end its involvement
with DCP&P, a team of formal and informal
supports can help support the family’s transition.
4
State Central Registry
877-NJ ABUSE
877-652-2873
The New Jersey Child Abuse
Hotline is dedicated to ensuring
the protection of children, and
the preservation of families.
Department of Children & Families
Investigations:
• Division of Child Protection & Permanency
(DCP&P)
Investigates alleged abuse occurring within in-home
settings
• Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU)
Investigates alleged abuse occurring in out-of-home
settings
What are My Obligations to Report
Child Abuse and/or Neglect?
Every person in the State of New Jersey is a
mandated reporter.
State law (N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10), requires “Any person having
reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected
to child abuse or acts of child abuse shall report the same
immediately…by telephone or otherwise….”
7
Important Notice for all Reporters
A Division representative shall not disclose, confirm, or
deny the identity of a reporter, unless:
 The reporter gives prior written consent; and
 The disclosure is not likely to endanger the life or safety of the
reporter or other person or result in the discharge of or
discrimination against the reporter with respect to his or her
employment; or
 Disclosure is permitted by statute or court rule.
A Division representative shall not release the name or any other
information identifying the person or entity who reported a child
fatality or near fatality to the Division to the public or the media
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a, whether or not the reporter gives prior
written consent.
8
What if I suspect abuse and
do not report it?
Failure to report abuse can have devastating consequences
for a child and it can have legal consequences for you.
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.14
Any person knowingly violating the provisions of this act including the failure
to report an act of child abuse having reasonable cause to believe that an act of
child abuse has been committed, is a disorderly person.
N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3 and 2C:43-8
Any person who knowingly fails to report suspected abuse according to the
law is a disorderly person and subject to a fine up to $1,000 or up to 6 months
in prison, or both.
9
What if I am not sure
if a child has been
abused and/or neglected?
Err on the side of caution. Call the Child Abuse
Hotline and they will help determine if the
situation is considered child abuse or neglect.
By law (N.J.S.A.9:6-8.13), you are protected from
civil or criminal liability, discharge from
employment, and discrimination, if you make a
report in good faith.
10
Schools Have a Dual
Reporting Requirement
N.J.S.A. 18A: 36-25
All school districts shall be required to establish
policies designed to provide for the early detection
of missing and abused children. These
policies shall include provisions for the notification
of the appropriate law enforcement and child
welfare authorities when a potential missing or
abused child situation is detected.
11
Who can make a referral?
 The child/victim






Parents, relatives, friends
Facility staff
School personnel
Hospitals
Law Enforcement
Anonymous referents
Reasonable cause to believe there is risk to
a child is enough to report
You do not need proof. Let DCP&P Investigate.
Report
•
•
•
•
When you see signs of abuse/neglect
When a child tells you about the abuse/neglect
When you witness abuse/neglect
When a parent or other individual tells you
Don’t Delay to Report
• A delay could allow further harm to occur
• A delay could cause the child to be seen in a less neutral setting
13
The Referral Process
Calls come into the hotline and are answered
by screeners
Information is taken by the screener and a
determination is made regarding what type of
report is to be generated
All referrals are documented: matter is either
sent to a field office for response, routed to the
appropriate agency, or documented in the
DCF system
What you should know when calling…
♦ Calls are recorded for Quality Assurance purposes.
♦ SCR is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with
specially trained screeners and supervisors.
♦ This is the only “point of entry” for reports of suspected
abuse and neglect.
♦ Screeners follow a standard protocol.
♦ Use of the “allegation-based system.”
Child Abuse/Neglect Referrals & Allegation
Based System
 System of 32 categories developed that
defines allegations of abuse and neglect
 Determines the criteria SCR utilizes for
accepting a report of child abuse/neglect
 Directs the child abuse investigation to be
conducted by local office and IAIU staff
Defining Abuse and Neglect
The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse,
or negligent treatment of a child by a person
responsible for the child’s welfare. This
means the omission, commission, or both, of
an act which allow the child to be placed at
Corporal Punishment
Findings of excessive corporal punishment will be
made where a parent uses physical force against his or her
child for discipline or other reasons in an excessive fashion.
Incidences of excessive corporal punishment that make the
child likely to be found to be an abused or neglected child
within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c)(4)(b) include
those in which:
1. The physical contact is sufficiently malicious, or
2. The contact is done regularly or systemically, or
3. The child is left with serious marks, bruises, or
demarcations from the physical contact.
Emotional abuse: The criteria used by
DCP&P
Emotional abuse and/or neglect is conduct by a
child’s parent or caregiver toward the child
which contributes to, causes, allows or permits:
 Significant and/or persistent emotional pain, harm
or impairment; and/or
 Significant vulnerability to or risk of such pain, harm
or impairment; and/or
 Significant exacerbation of a child’s existing
emotional pain or impairment.
Educational Neglect
Educational Neglect means:
• The parent or caregiver has willfully failed to provide a
school-age child (ages 6-16) with a regular education, as
prescribed by applicable State law.
• A school age child is enrolled in a school program but is
failing to attend on a regular, ongoing basis.
The school system/board of education must exhaust all its
remedies under State education law, administrative code and
local programs and procedures before making a report to
DCP&P.
20
What are common signs of
abuse/neglect?
•
Indicators of physical abuse: unexplained or questionable bruises, welts, burns,
lacerations, fractures, abrasions, etc.
•
Indicators of sexual abuse: complaints regarding genital/anal areas, sexually
transmitted diseases, unusual knowledge about or preoccupation with sex.
•
Indicators of neglect: consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress, lack of
supervision.
•
Indicators of emotional maltreatment: may include aggressive or withdrawn
behavior, unusual fears, running away, sudden change in mood or behavior.
•
A child may directly report that he/she has been abused!
•
Staff may directly observe a sign or act of abuse or neglect.
•
Frequent or questionable absenteeism of a student is a cause for potential concern.
Details Make a Difference
Who: Identify the people involved – the child, the
alleged perpetrator and their relationship to the child;
parents, siblings, others in the home- Dates of Birth;
Addresses; Your name and contact information
What: Type of Abuse/Neglect; Describe the incident;
What happened that caused your concern? What is the
child’s current condition?
When: When did the incident happen? What is the
frequency? When did you learn about it?
Details make the difference
(cont.)
• Where did the incident take place? Where
is the child now? Does the alleged
perpetrator have access to the child?
• How urgent is the need for intervention?
Is there a likelihood of danger for the
caseworker?
What Happens After I Report?
• CPS-Family, CPS-IAIU, CPS-Other Investigation
Requires an Immediate or 24-hour response
• Child Welfare Services (CWS) Assessment
Immediate, 72-hour or 5-day response
• Related Information (RI)
No mandated response
• Information & Referral (I&R)
Does not require DCF intervention or response
24
Send comments or questions to [email protected]
25
Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit
(IAIU)
As part of New Jersey’s legal mandate to investigate all allegations of
abuse and neglect, the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
operates the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit.
IAIU is a child protective service unit that investigates reports of abuse
or neglect that occur in public and private facilities that provide care to
children under 18 years of age. (However, if an 18 year old alleges
abuse/neglect when they were a minor, IAIU will investigate)
26
What should ADMINISTRATION do
after a report is made?
 Ensure the safety of the child victim and other
children in the facility (examples of remedial action)
 Secure any needed medical attention
 Complete any routine reports (not statements) which are
required by the standard operating procedure of the facility.
Have reports available at the time of the investigation.
What NOT TO DO After a Report is Made?
 Do NOT further question the child victim after the report is made.
 Do NOT inform the alleged perpetrator of any details pertaining to
the report of abuse or the identity of the complaining or implicated
child.
27
Structure
IAIU operations are overseen by the Director of
IAIU at the Central Office located in Trenton, NJ.
Each IAIU Investigator is assigned to one of four
regional offices throughout the state. Staff respond
to allegations of
Institutional child abuse/neglect in
their assigned region.
28
What Type of Facilities Does IAIU
Investigate?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Foster Care/Resource Homes
Residential Facilities
Youth Shelters
Detention Centers/Correctional Facilities
Group homes
Bus Companies
Schools (public and private)
Child Care Centers
29
Examples of Caregivers?







Foster Parents/Resource Providers
Youth Workers
Teachers
Aides
Bus Drivers
Corrections Officers and Security Guards
Facility Staff
30
Special Exceptions
Allegations against doctors
Private classes (dance, karate, etc…)
Township/county operated programs
and camps (ie. Little League)
Relative and Kinship care w/custody
31
Information Gathering Process
The facility administrator should be prepared, upon request, to provide
the investigator with supporting documentation relevant to the
investigation
* incident reports
* disciplinary information
* training documentation
* facility policies
* medical reports
* staff assignment logs
* time sheets
* employment history
In facilities that have an Internal Affairs Unit, the IAIU investigator
Will contact the IA investigator directly for information.
32
Interviews
The Investigator begins his/her fact finding process by conducting
interviews with various individuals.
Administrator, child victim, child witnesses, medical staff, Social
Worker, staff witnesses, Internal Affairs Unit, alleged perpetrator,
(order can vary from case to case)
Investigators should be provided with a safe and private meeting area
which is conducive to conducting interviews.
Who can be interviewed?
• All individuals identified in the referral
• Individuals mentioned in an interview
• Anyone present during the alleged incident
• Anyone who may have information regarding the incident/allegation
33
Interim Status Report
 IAIU investigations are expected to be
concluded within 60 calendar days of
assignment from SCR.
 If the investigation continues beyond the 60
day limit, an interim status letter will be sent
to the institution’s administrator advising
him/her of any immediate concerns regarding
the investigation.
34
Exceptions To Surpassing Time
Frames
• IAIU needs information from the County Prosecutor, a
law enforcement authority or the court.
• Crucial collateral information or a written report is
needed; i.e. a diagnosis, written evaluation from a
medical professional, a medical/doctor’s report.
• Additional interviews of witnesses that may be difficult
to locate, refusing to give a statement, etc.
35
Final Report
After the investigation is complete, a final report is
issued. Each appropriate entity is notified of the findings
of the investigation to enhance its ability to promote
safety for the children in care, and minimize the
likelihood of future child
maltreatment in the setting.
36
In Partnership with NJ
Communities,
DCF will ensure the safety,
permanency, well being and
success of New Jersey’s children
and families.
37
DCF at a Glance
•
Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P)
(877) NJ ABUSE
•
Division of Family and Community Partnerships
(609) 888-7400
•
Office of Adolescent Services
(609) 888-7100
•
Office of Advocacy
(877) 543-7864
•
Children’s System of Care
(609) 888-7200
•
Office of Education
(609) 588-3157
•
Division on Women
(609) 888-7164
•
Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU)
(877) NJ ABUSE
•
Office of Performance Management and Accountability
(609) 888-7100
•
Child Welfare Training Academy(DCF Professional Center)
(732) 448-6300
•
Office of Licensing
(609) 777-5942
38
CFT/FTM Preparation and
Facilitation Process
 Child Protection & Permanency
 Children’s System Of Care/Care
Management Organization
 May 1, 2013
The Importance of Conducting Joint
CFT/FTM
The goal of having a combined CFT/FTM is to:
 Engage the youth and family in services by using a
strengths-based, team approach to maximize
opportunities for successful outcomes
 Develop a unified and streamlined plan for
children and families dually managed by both
entities
The Importance of Conducting Joint
CFT/FTM
Encourage the youth and family to actively
participate in the development of an
Individualized Service Plan (ISP)/Family
Agreement that will:
1) Identify strengths and needs of the family
2) Strategize to meet the identified service needs
Benefits of conducting a Joint
CFT/FTM
 One family, one meeting
 Shows the family that they are not alone in this
process and that they are being supported
 Helps to identify formal and/or informal
supports for the family
 Enhances communication among all team
members
 Shows effective collaboration between service
providers and the family
When might a youth be involved
with both DCP&P and CMO?
Youth’s moderate-intense
mental/behavioral health needs interfere
with functioning in the community, and:
There are concerns regarding one or more of
the following:
 Abuse
 Neglect
 Permanency
 Confirm a date with the family for the CFT/FTM and
ensure supports are identified
 Identify formal & informal supports to be invited to
the meeting.
 Explore what each team member can contribute and
what is needed to achieve the desired outcomes
 Explore alternative methods for participation if
identified supports are unable to attend (i.e.,
telephone, written summary, etc.)
(Cont.)
 The team will discuss that the meeting’s focus
should be based on strengths and needs which
will ensure that family members feel comfortable
telling their story
 Determine if there are any potential conflicts (i.e.,
emotional, legal) among participants
 Determine meeting logistics (facilitation, location,
transportation, etc.)
 Include the FSO whenever possible
Prep/Meet and Greet
⇨ DCP&P completes Prep with the family, gains the
Family Story and discusses the Agenda. DCP&P
helps the family to select team members
⇨ CMO Completes a Meet and Greet within 72 hours
of being referred to the family. CMO explains the
CFT process and completes the
Strength and Needs Assessment
The Joint Agenda
 Welcome
 Purpose of the FTM/CFT Meeting
 Ground Rules
 Confidentiality/CFT forms/CP&P sign in sheet
 Non-Negotiable-DCP&P
 Family Vision/Desired Outcomes
 The Family Story-DCP&P
 Strengths Discovery (DCP&P and CMO)
 Identification of Individual and Family Needs
 Developing the Family Agreement/Individual
Service Plan
 Review of Family Crisis Plan/What Could Go Wrong
Coordination and Follow Up
 As we all know teaming is much more than the
actual team meeting. Teaming is about constant
communication amongst all team members. As we
move forward it is important to remember that ALL
PERTINENT INFORMATION MUST BE SHARED
WITH THE TEAM
 Likewise, changes to the plan should be made with
input from the team
One family, one plan, one
meeting
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION
 FEEDBACK?
 COMMENTS?
 QUESTIONS?