Evaluation of the Implementation of the Child Abuse and Neglect Act: County Department of Social Services Component

摘要

This report discusses the implementation of the Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Act (S 48.981) at the county department of social services (CDSS) level. This study was conducted through a survey of all CDSS caseworkers and protective services supervisors who had investigated, served, or provided case management to a child abuse or neglect - related case during 1980 or at the time of the survey in January and February 1981. In addition, 284 CDSS child abuse and neglect case records were reviewed by teams of county, regional, and central office staff. Substantive changes in S 48.981 are recommended. These include changing the purpose of the investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect from determining whether the report is 'indicated' or 'unfounded' to whether a child is in need of protection or services or whether an ongoing need for services exists. Moreover, the Central Registry should be eliminated. Comprehensive due process safeguards, including the right to challenge and correct information, should be established for personal information that is collected, maintained, and disseminated by CDSS as a result of investigations of child abuse and neglect reports. These recommendations are meant to change the nature of CDSS investigations from quasi - legal and potentially adversarial to helping. Reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect would continue, but as a means of identifying potentially at - risk children. Additional and ongoing inservice training in the specialized area of child abuse and neglect is recommended for all those who work with such cases. Tables and appendices giving study instruments, case record review protocol, and other related materials are included. (Author abstract modified).