Lesson Three - Partnerships
- What is CPS?
- Criteria
- CPS Response
- Categories
- Investigation
- Latchkey Children
- CC Partnership
- Creating Policies
- Family Court
Creating Community Partnership for Child Protection
In 1974, the federal government profoundly changed this nation's child protection landscape by requiring states to have a system that would investigate child abuse and neglect. This resulted in most states establishing an agency, such as our state's Family Independence Agency. Now, more than twenty years later, our nation has a system of child protection which, unfortunately, is often beleaguered and struggling to protect children.
Though more funding has been directed towards these agencies and more training provided and calls for reform made, these systems often remain the target of criticism. In 1997,the Edna McConnell Clark and Annie E. Casey Foundations funded an expert national level workgroup to explore "new" thinking in reforming child protection. This "new" thinking resulted in the belief that a single agency could not EFFECTIVELY bear the responsibility for protecting children. Rather, an effective system is one that is made up of community partnerships including public and private child protection agencies, parents and families, faith institutions, schools, etc., all of which are committed to carrying out the fundamental responsibility of protecting children. Most importantly, this new vision for child protection calls upon communities to enrich community supports for children and their families. [Source: F. Farrow (1997) Child Protection: Building Community Partnerships, Getting from Here to There, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University].
What does Community Partnership for Child Protection mean for Mandated Reporters?
1. As stated in the Michigan Child Protection Law: Fulfill your responsibility to report when it is appropriate. Follow-up with your reports and make sure you ask whether the family you have referred has received services. The goal of a protective services investigation is support to the family.
2. Know about the services that exist in your community for families. The Oakland County Human Resource Directory is a compilation of existing programs and services for families. You can access it at www.oaklandhrd.org. Other counties have similar resource directories which can be an invaluable resource.
3. Be a part of the solution-Child abuse does not occur in a vacuum. If your community needs a particular service, work to provide the leadership which will get that need addressed.
4. Remember that our Family Independence Agency is a public agency and change occurs in our public systems when we speak up. We do this by voting and by contacting our state legislators when it is pertinent.
