Report 2011-101.1 Recommendation 2 Responses

Report 2011-101.1: Child Welfare Services: California Can and Must Provide Better Protection and Support for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: October 2011)

Recommendation #2 To: Social Services, Department of

To encourage more effective communication from county CWS agencies regarding its licensees, Social Services should specify in regulations what types of situations or allegations the agencies should forward to its licensing division.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2016

CDSS continues to disagree with this recommendation and will not implement, as implementation could endanger children in the foster care system. As stated in our previous response, cross-reporting abuse in out of home care is critical to ensure child safety.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

CDSS continues to disagree with this recommendation for the reasons listed below.

Prior Response: The Department released All County Letter (ACL) 12-42 in September 27, 2012 (see link below), to highlight the CWS agencies' responsibility to cross-report instances of child abuse and/or neglect to the appropriate licensing agency when the alleged abuse occurred in a licensed facility. The ACL reminds county welfare agencies that they have a fundamental obligation to protect and care for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. As a result, cross-reporting abuse in out-of-home care is critical to ensure child safety and consistency in reporting.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAAahUKEwia-cPDlrPIAhXQT4gKHYk2AGc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdss.ca.gov%2Flettersnotices%2Fentres%2Fgetinfo%2Facl%2F2012%2F12-42.pdf&usg=AFQjCNH6l7n6NDJqusdGp5WIL3zJnV1VKw&bvm=bv.104615367,d.cGU

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014

The CDSS continues to disagree with this recommendation for the reasons listed below.

Previous Response: The Department released All County Letter (ACL) 12-42 in September 2012, to highlight the CWS agencies' responsibility to cross-report instances of child abuse and/or neglect to the appropriate licensing agency when the alleged abuse occurred in a licensed facility. The ACL reminds county welfare agencies that they have a fundamental obligation to protect and care for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. As a result, cross-reporting abuse in out-of-home care is critical to ensure child safety and consistency in reporting.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013

Remains Not Implemented/Disagree with Recommendation. The CDSS does not agree with the recommendation to draft regulations. However, the Department released All County Letter (ACL) 12-42 in September 2012, to highlight the CWS agencies' responsibility to cross-report instances of child abuse and/or neglect to the appropriate licensing agency when the alleged abuse occurred in a licensed facility. The ACL reminds county welfare agencies that they have a fundamental obligation to protect and care for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. As a result, cross-reporting abuse in out-of-home care is critical to ensure child safety and consistency in reporting.

The CDSS continues to disagree with this recommendation for the reasons listed above. This will be CDSS' final response to this particular recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2012

Social Services disagrees with this recommendation because it believes situations requiring a report are already defined. Social Services stated that it sent in September 2012 a notice to all counties reminding them of reporting requirements.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2011-101.1

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.