Report 2021-112 Recommendation 7 Responses
Report 2021-112: The Child Abuse Central Index: The Unreliability of This Database Puts Children at Risk and May Violate Individuals' Rights (Release Date: May 2022)
Recommendation #7 To: Justice, Department of
Until the Legislature amends state law and DOJ develops processes to use the CWS/CMS data for child abuse background checks, and to prevent omissions in CACI reporting, DOJ should develop policies and procedures by November 2022 to reconcile CACI with monthly reports from Social Services to verify that counties have submitted—and DOJ has entered or deleted as appropriate—all reports into CACI.
1-Year Agency Response
DOJ is working with county agencies as each entity identifies missing or incomplete CACI reports and is also in discussions with DSS concerning a data exchange for reconciliation purposes. DOJ is preparing a data extract of substantiated reports to provide to DSS. The DSS has indicated there are challenges with the CMS/CMS historical data, however, both agencies are in discussions concerning a potential solution(s) and the next meeting is scheduled for June 2023. The DOJ and DSS have agreed to develop a monthly reconciliation report to ensure data reconciliation efforts are implemented going forward. The DOJ and DSS will be meeting in June 2023 to further discuss details.
- Estimated Completion Date: TBD
- Response Date: May 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
Per DOJ's response, it has not fully implemented this recommendation.
6-Month Agency Response
This recommendation can't be fully implemented as DOJ must depend on DSS and county data that are outside of its control. In the interim, DOJ has provided guidance to DSS, reiterating that counties must completely fill out the BCIA 8583 form in order to ensure the report is included in CACI. If counties accurately and fully complete their reporting, this will help avoid future discrepancies and the ongoing need for reconciliation. DOJ will continue to enter all completed BCIA 8583 forms that it receives from the counties. No further action is required for DOJ.
- Estimated Completion Date: Unknown
- Response Date: November 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
Per DOJ's response, it has not implemented this recommendation.
60-Day Agency Response
This recommendation is not fully implemented as DOJ must depend on DSS and county data that are outside of its purview. In the interim, DOJ has provided guidance to DSS, reiterating that counties must completely fill out the BCIA 8583 form in order to ensure the report is included in CACI. If counties accurately and fully complete their reporting, this will help avoid future discrepancies and the ongoing need for reconciliation. DOJ will continue to enter all completed BCIA 8583 forms that it receives from the counties.
- Estimated Completion Date: Unknown
- Response Date: July 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
Per DOJ's response, it has not implemented this recommendation.
All Recommendations in 2021-112
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.