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At the end of the day, Arizona is a state with a transient population. Copyright There is no dispute that screening these cases for liability is challenging and time-consuming. How recent in time to the injury? Along with nailing down duty, the depositions are an opportunity to substantiate causation. I recently heard a great question about foster care: Is the cure worse than the disease?. He asked me to pick one of these challenges: Challenge One: Get patted down for a week each time you return home. But now I have a third high risk outcome. Money helps and if kids could speak for themselves it would help their cause, but transparency and accountability in reporting is the key. and report all the operating metrics of a successful operation. The answers to these questions will make or break liability. So how do we stop DCS pretend listening? Can CPS be held accountable table for false reports? - YouTube The Division 31 Regulations require the responding social worker to assess whether the childs circumstances would cause the child to be a person described by that code section. Crew teams row as fast as they can to win a race across water. But who. In pop quiz fashion, we created a chorus of testimony from these CPS employees confirming the mandatory duties forming the basis of our claims. I'm a division manager in the county's public works, parks, and buildings department. As soon as the month starts, I always post something on my Facebook or send out a tweet acknowledging the event. For example, the number of children in care is now more than 19,000, nearly double the number of kids in care in 2010. Thanx For Watching. In the third quarter of 2014 there were more than 16,000 kids in care. This amounts to almost $14,000 per year for food, clothing, transportation and all the things that make it possible to bring the little bundles of joy to adulthood.. I cannot imagine that anyone in Arizona would ever move forward with an adoption in this state again? by the author. The correct answer I believe the AZ Republic should be asking follows the adage; what gets measured gets done. Lets take a similar with child welfare and rally as a community around the kids that are in care and support them with energy that will result in meaningful change, not to sell newspapers, win a campaign or to keep a job but to create a system that will enable them to thrive. Thats why we need a Foster Care Awareness Month! Could the cost of raising a child drive the reasons why child welfare is so dysfunctional? Accountability is an important part of any organization, but it's especially important in local government. And CPS is required under a statutory obligation to respond to child abuse reports in-person within 10 days? Any member of the public may report suspicions of child abuse and neglect to CPS, which then determines whether to pursue an investigation. Without a focus on improvements in outcomes, like a business goes bankrupt, this department will not operate in a way to meet the needs of its constituents or customers and will continue to fail in Arizona. the childs sibling has been abused or neglected. I wish I could pretend care. HSLDA believes Unfortunately, the child in that case was not being fed adequately and a timely response would have revealed that. Therefore we need a Foster Care Awareness Month! We are bound by legal ethics not to represent any interest contrary to that of our clients. We may be unable to answer questions that are specific in nature, especially if they involve another member family. I am sure they love their own children and many go above and beyond to be great parents and grandparents themselves. But at the end of the day, the presentations are largely lacking in real, actionable information, and DCS is not listening to as much as talking to. In todays AZ Republic Laurie Roberts writes a column about a child who is suing the state for the abuse she endured in foster care. It begs more questions than it answers: Who called? It is also important to note that that there are still more than 17,000 kids in Arizonas foster care system who have experienced trauma and instability like the young man above. Any agreement with CPS isn't worth the paper it's written on unless we stand up and actively enforce it. In fall 2020, students in grades 3-8 performed similarly in reading to same-grade students in fall 2019, but about 5 percentile points to 10 percentile points lower in math. As with any issue, generally the squeaky wheel that gets the grease or better said, the issue that is top of mind to citizens will get the attention. Upon petition, a civil litigants right to access relevant records in a Juvenile Case File is well established. However, DCS has not signed up for any measureable changes. That is fantastic new and we are optimistic that it will continue. What a sad question to ask, but probably a good one. When I go to a Diamondbacks game, at the beginning of every third inning they have first responders and military stand to be acknowledged. Hold CPS Accountable! Stop Unethical Child Removals. - Change.org The primary target is going to be the social worker assigned to investigate the child-abuse report. Shall we blame the governors and legislators? The biggest challenge with having a child in foster care is the lack of broad understanding that this experience is a major traumatic event in a childs life and something that will affect them forever. This leads us to what will be the key to success of this initiative . What will it take for leaders in Arizona to take a look at what is going with key measures of our foster care system and realize that we have a similar risk of a major meltdown in Arizonas foster care system if we continue to operate it the way it has always been done? By including links to other websites, HSLDA does not endorse all the information found on those sites. Litigators must be mindful of the relationship between CPS and the client. Social workers are overworked and undertrained; financial incentives rather than the childrens best interests drive decision making; and governmental immunities often thwart accountability. If there are no goals, how can we expect things to change? also tell you how to report abuse in your state. shows that these cases can be viable. Its exactly why foster parents do not last long in the system. training. When this happens, the conversations can change from theoretical, broad based discussions to meaningful dialogue about the departments performance against real outcomes. He asked me to pick one of these challenges: Get patted down for a week each time you return home. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to a movie usually a rarity for foster parents and I saw The Big Short. But I cant. In previous postings I have pointed out that when kids go into foster care it is undeniably traumatic. v. County of Tulare, et al. Clear rules and definitions combined with training for DCS investigators and judges is critical. It was recently reported that the Department of Child Safety is changing its policy that for a child to be removed from his/her home, a court order will be required unless the child is in imminent danger. So it can be a win-win if the leadership looked at it this way! Let's hold some folks accountable for meaningful change in outcomes in 2016! A few years ago, as State Chair of the Foster Care Review Board, I participated in Removal Reviews that were conducted by the Foster Care Review Board. Key documents would include: CPS, who serves as the custodian of these records, may try to obstruct your access to these critical documents. Family Asks Supreme Court to Hold CPS Officer Accountable for I do not believe that the requirement to improve child welfare is only about money nor is it only about influence. children are dependent on the adults in their lives to keep them safe. Ways to create a culture of accountability in local government. I was optimistic that this government was truly going to operate like a business when it came to child welfare as the governor had promised when he campaigned for the office. So what happens? As mentioned above, some situations that appear neglectful or harmful do not result from intentional lack of care but rather because a family is struggling financially or with some other challenge. Calls to child abuse hotlines are confidential; hotline personnel will not report what you tell them to any authorities. In J.G. That's why it is as important for leaders as it is for their employees to demonstrate accountability in the workplace. Perhaps if systems and processes were improved the head count can be redirected to front line case managers instead of non-case carrying personnel? (f).) Learn how to hold someone accountable while improving the strength of your team as a whole. Simply, no. We need to just ask the question that other than children who are subjected to criminal conduct situations, are we really improving their opportunity for a happy, successful life my taking them in to foster care? Accountability is a core value of the federal Judiciary, as stated in the Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary , encompassing: stringent standards of conduct; self-enforcement of legal and ethical rules; good stewardship of public funds and property; and effective and efficient use of resources. In J.G. The primary source for favorable testimony on causation is Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivisions (a) through (j). No matter how much time I spend in these meetings, there is one consistent outcome not much changes or improves. Accountable people have to work for their success An accountable person is responsible for the success or failure of their projects. If you're a manager, you can set an example for your employees by: While the department has changed names, little else about how they do their work has changed. Last year a small group of local businessmen got together and presented a complete review of the processes at DCS and recommended the type and timing of reporting that would give the department, and then citizens like you and I a real view of where things were working and not working that would give a better picture of what was happening with children. How can I hold CPS accountable for entering my home under false We need to hold CPS accountable for their actions and demand justice for families like mine who have been wrongfully separated from our loved ones. The department is reporting on activity, not outcomes! and Inst. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (Health and Human Services), Este sitio est protegido por reCAPTCHA y se aplica la. Fortunately, section 827(a)(1)(Q) provides a catch-all category, permitting access to any person designated by court order of the juvenile court upon filing a petition. Welfare and Institutions Code section 827, subdivision (a)(1) therefore dictates who sees these records. The only way for external constituents to hold DCS accountable to end this practice, is to have accurate and detailed data published in a timely and consistent fashion for a broad base of measures. The only thing that should ultimately be celebrated is improvements in outcomes for children, not politicians who paste a new label on an old department. Watch My Earlier Vidz So You Won't Miss Any Information They Provide. Thats why we need a Foster Care Awareness Month! We encourage homeschooling parents who are dealing with low income or job loss, raising children without a spouse or partner, or recovering from disasters such as fires and hurricanes to apply for an HSLDA Compassion Grant. 11 Tips to Hold Your Employees Accountable (2023) - Whatfix The two most generally recognized forms of child abuse are physical abuse (non-accidental physical injury to a child) and sexual abuse (sexual interaction with or exploitation of a child by an adult, or by another child when there is a power or age differential). If there is legitimate reason to believe that Operating at the speed of business to me means more than just working fast, but operating efficiently and with goals and measures that demand a return on the investment for every tax dollar spent. As a community, we have to do better. Instead, I can see a future where real risk is clearly defined and understood and then case managers take care of the minor issues of neglect managed with compassion and education for families. Arizona remains one of the few states where counts continue to rise. Because the CPS system often takes Challenge Two: Go without utilizing your cell phone for a day and only use a land-line when making phone calls (bonus-you are only allowed three calls for a max of 15 minutes per call). Once armed with the Juvenile Case File, you can then assess potential liability. They may share that CPS has come out before, or otherwise knew it was a problematic household. As a business person, the idea that government would operate with the speed, accountability and focus on results as any business would is quite appealing and makes it seem that the services provided by the government would improve and provide an improved return on our tax dollar investment. The movie focuses on all the things that led up to the big financial meltdown in 2008 and how some made billions of dollars by paying attention to the leading indicators, while big banks and financial institutions operated as if there were no issues on the horizon. Women's groups deeply disappointed by judges failure to hold CPS If you are familiar with HSLDAs long-term advocacy efforts for homeschooling and parental rights, you are probably aware that we have sincere concerns about the way child abuse investigations are carried out. Sometimes, children disclose that they Since the first day of my writing I have pointed out time and time again the lack of accountability and the critical need for measuring the performance of this organization to ensure this accountability. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. But that information is of limited utility to the litigator. By being aware of and sensitive to your concerns, you are helping build a community in which healthy families and children can thrive. v. County of Tulare, et al., we began each defendant employee deposition with a review of the Division 31 Regulations which each CPS social worker is (or should be) trained on. Counties must establish a response system providing in-person response, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. It will also be a challenge for the already overburdened court system that must have a way to respond to case workers in a timely fashion to keep the best interests of the children in mind. If you want to learn more about life in foster care, here are two sources: Fostering Advocates Arizona. Shall we blame foster, kinship or adoptive parents? Can you imagine? Bottom line, there is across the board failure on adding accountability to DCS. The movie was very descriptive in explaining how obvious key financial indicators were ignored as industry leaders did business as usual in a failing housing market. Record dates, times, and the names of CPS workers involved. So we. So, depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, it may take going to extreme lengths to get the necessary records and information. How about in the 6th inning, we have all front line workers who care for our children including; case workers, case aids and school teachers stand up and acknowledge the work they do to make our state great. It is an entirely new way of approaching things and good judges do not allow the lack of good preparation and facts get in the way of good decision making. In the most recent strategic plan submitted by the Department of Child Safety there are many great ideas to help improve our system. If this were a real priority, should this committee not be meeting frequently in an attempt to hold the department accountable? Check out these five tips to get started, and learn why self-accountability is valuable. No matter how much time I spend in these meetings, there is one consistent outcome not much changes or improves. And if you think that it is just something a kid can get over, then you truly dont understand the trauma and issues of being in foster care. Administrative Oversight and Accountability | United States Courts If we dont believe that we can do the absolute best for a child in our care, then why try? In Arizona, there are a variety of issues and constituencies that take a much higher priority. It can be difficult to decide what to do in such situations. What an invasion of privacy and lack of trust when you are frisked every time you walk in to a home. Their lives are impacted forever. The fact that any government agency would allow this to happen is unconscionable. It is well past time for a change of course. So what does this mean? In J.G. And of course, we continue to lose faith in our government representatives. 7 Smart Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable (& Be Disciplined) We all know what happened during the financial crisis of 2008 because it is in our rear view mirror. In the Back to the Future movie series when the obvious is overlooked, they use the phrase, Hello McFly to insinuate that there was something obvious that was missed or overlooked. Despite the fact that the number of kids in care has declined nationally, Arizona is increasing the number of kids in care. This means that there are not only physical needs such as shelter, food, and clothing, but also mental health needs that MUST be addressed early in care and throughout the experience and beyond. Part 2 of 7: The Homeschool Parent's Guide to Protecting Kids from Sexual Abuse, Part 5 of 7: Developing a Child Protection Policy, Part 6 of 7: Protecting Children with a Background Check Policy, What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? 1. and kids dont vote nor do they make campaign contributions. Science confirms the power of having others keep you accountable. It is important in crafting the government claim form and complaint to cross-reference the facts of your case with these duties and the others contained in the Division 31 Regulations. To me, its obvious that we are no better off with the new DCS. In this important new work, Helen Ladd and her colleagues describe the options available to policymakers, weigh their respective strengths and pitfalls, and lay out principles for creating schools where learning is the number one . In the same way that big banks did with shareholders who never knew or understood the finer details of how the banks were crushing the housing markets, no one seems to be paying attention to the things that matter most in Arizonas child welfare system. Please share this blog, visit our Facebook page and add feedback to my thoughts and add others. And so, its not discretionary, the social workers have no discretion to say: Im not going to follow those rules. All I ask is that you think forward, not backwards. Caring friends, churches, homeschool groups, and community organizations can all make a difference for struggling families! Code, 820). At the end of the session, a recommendation was sent to the governor that included none of those recommendations. Not to mention that if we dont fix the required obligations to the IV-E waiver to reduce the length of stay in congregate care and length of stay in out-of-home care, we could risk the current funding received from the federal government. In J.G. If you've reached a career plateau, the author recommends three strategies to hold yourself accountable to your goals: 1) Enlist an accountability partner. Perhaps this can happen because of the lack of accountability for outcomes in places like DCS? In an emergency situationif you believe that a child is at risk of imminent serious harmplease call 911. At the time, I chuckled but after thinking about, I find it to be a very insightful thought. As part of HSLDAs services for our member families, we provide them with legal representation in the initial stages of child abuse investigations. Advocate Magazine are Copyright 2023 by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. You put your life on hold for this process and in a case like this one I heard about, all that hard work is dissolved 11 months later. (Ibid.). That is fantastic new and we are optimistic that it will continue. Every citizen in Arizona owns responsibility for the sad state of affairs of child welfare in our state. Start with your legal issue to find the right lawyer for you. Lets be honest, politicians make budget appropriations where the votes go and money flows and kids dont vote nor do they make campaign contributions. Thats funding for services has not been funded. A father's search for justice! Frankly, I believe it will make DCS leadership a much more powerful voice and give the community more confidence in the work, when they can address facts rather than the broad strokes they report today. However, these records are considered highly confidential as a matter of law. Does Child Welfare Not Work Because it is TooExpensive? They, like all kids in Arizonas foster care system deserve better. Hello McFly?, Some may argue that the number of kids in care is not really a measure that tells how DCS is actually performing because there are other issues at hand. Instead, this will force more preventative measures be implemented as case managers will recognize that a family needs support, but may not meet the criteria of removal. They can He has experience litigating a variety of cases, including large and complex personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability matters. 2023 Keeping CPS Accountable | Help Make Sure CPS Makes Meaningful Change Leaders should first hold themselves accountable As a manager, you serve as a role model for your team members. To be viable, both claims must be predicated on a statutory or regulatory duty for which CPS and its employees enjoy no discretion. It rendered the process irrelevant and was cancelled. Seriously let's make this happen this time. | Keeping CPS Accountable A recent case experience gives insight on strategies that can be successful in bringing justice to the victims of CPSs negligence. How many times? It is an entirely new way of approaching things and good judges do not allow the lack of good preparation and facts get in the way of good decision making. How To Hold Yourself Accountable: 5 Tips - BetterUp At the outset, it was acknowledged by the leaders of the meeting that we could also submit suggestion for improved reporting. ET. Let me be clear in the fact that this is not necessarily a knock on the quality of the people at DCS. Children are obtained through unethical means, such as failing to present exculpatory information to the court, manufacturing mental illnesses with state funded and CPS contracted evaluators, skipping material court hearings and procedures, such as fact-findings, ignoring court orders, and failing to present witnesses, testimony, cross-examination, evidence and discovery during removal hearings. a one-size-fits-all approach to investigating child abuse, tips are not appropriately prioritized and each family, no matter what the allegations, is subjected to the same interviews and searches. In the meantime, we can just hope they are, or in my case, hope that someday they will use simple tools to measure, evaluate and hold themselves accountable for real progress. I feel bad about the fact that I didnt make enough of a difference.