Reforms for Child Protective System OKd

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors quickly approved a wide-ranging package of reforms for its child protective system Wednesday, ordering better training for social workers, fairer rules of investigation and a greater emphasis on keeping families together whenever possible.

In a 5-0 vote that came the day after a detailed examination of the system, the supervisors approved scores of recommendations, including some significant departures from past practice, that are aimed at overhauling the county’s controversial system, which intervenes in cases of abuse and neglect.

For example, the board agreed to stop the practice of detaining children in cases where the alleged abuser is not a parent or guardian, unless the parent or guardian knew about the abuse or neglect but did nothing to stop it. The board also asked for information on whether it could require a judge’s approval for temporary removal of a child, an action now initially taken by social workers.

“We need some major, major reassessment going on, and, I would say, more than anything, a significant change in attitude toward the parents, the clients and the children,” said Supervisor Susan Golding.

Looking to shore up the performances of key actors in the system under which abuse is investigated and adjudicated, the board ordered more training for social workers, the placement of better social workers in front-line investigative jobs and creation of a system to monitor the work of attorneys.

In an effort to address parental complaints about investigators running roughshod over them, the supervisors ordered audio-taping of all interviews with children, parents and witnesses that will be used in court reports.

They also ordered training in objective investigative practices, preparation of unbiased court reports, adherence to appropriate standards of evidence and conducting unbiased interviews of children believed to be sexual molestation victims.

Al Rupp, vice president of the local chapter of Victims of Child Abuse Laws, said he was “happy to see any changes for the better. The only thing is, you never feel they go far enough. But there’s more to come.”

Indeed, the supervisors promised to consider additional County Grand Jury recommendations on the system, examine the effect of the reforms six months from now and hear quarterly progress reports.

The move to reform the system followed two scathing reviews, by the grand jury and the Juvenile Justice Commission.