Child Abuse

1
An Important Piece of Child Protective Services
CHILD WELFARE BOARDS
2
Training Objectives

• Learn CPS History, Mission and Purpose
• Understand CPS Board Roles and Requirements
• Understand Roles of Regional and State Councils
  of Child Welfare Boards
• Understand Recognize the Dynamics of Child
  Abuse/Neglect
• Learn Reporting Laws Requirements

3
What Makes A Board Successful

• Must be well-informed about issues decisions
• Communication system
  (how how often members receive
  information)
• Personal Characteristics to Consider
  Ability to listen, analyze, think clearly,
  work well with people
  
  Willing to prepare for/attend meetings ask
  questions Possess honesty, sensitivity to
  tolerance of differing views,
  community-building skills, personal integrity,
  developed sense of values, concern for
  non-profits development a sense of humor

4
Board Member Responsibilities

• Attend all board committee meetings functions
  (including special events)
• Be informed about the organizations mission,
  services, policies, programs
• Review agenda and supporting materials prior to
  board committee meetings
• Serve on committees or task forces
• Inform others about the Child Welfare Board
• Suggest possible nominees to the board who can
  make significant contributions to the work of the
  board
• Stay current on child abuse neglect issues
• Follow conflict of interest confidentiality
  policies
• Refrain from making special requests of staff
• Assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary
  responsibilities

5
A Close Encounter of the Board Information System
Kind

• Focus on decision-making
• Stimulate participation
• Be clear, concise, meaningful,
  timely, and relevant
• Board decides when information is needed
• Information may include Agenda, Discussion
  Information, Committee Reports, Financial
  Information, Annual Budgets, Minutes, Notice of
  Next Meeting, Strategic Planning, Memo from Board
  President, Newsletters, websites, etc.

6
Mission and Purpose

• Texas Department of Family Protective Services
  
• mission is to
• PROTECT THE UNPROTECTED
• Disclaimer Caseworkers do not possess
  superhuman powers, although at times appearances
  may be deceiving

DFPS
7
TEAM CPS
CHILDREN FIRST PROTECTED CONNECTED Child
Protective Services purpose is to protect
children from abuse and/or neglect and to
act in each childs best interest
8
CHILD WELFARE HISTORY

• March 20, 1848 law was enacted providing for
  apprenticeship (a form of guardianship)
• 1907 Texas Juvenile (Dependency Neglect) Act
  (defined dependent or neglected children
  provided for first reporting requirements home
  visits)
• 1931 Enacted law that created Division of Child
  Welfare Services and was placed under State Board
  of Control (allowed county commissioners to
  appoint county boards of 7-15 to coordinate
  community services)
• 1939 State assumed child welfare services when
  State Department of Public Welfare was created
• 1965 DPW was authorized to cooperate with
  federal government in administering the
  anti-poverty program
• 1974 Texas Family Code created (gave more
  responsibility to DPW and made failure to report
  a misdemeanor initial statewide child abuse
  awareness campaign started)

9
CHILD WELFARE HISTORY, cont.

• 1974 1985 Department administering Child
  Protective Services underwent 2 name changes
  (Department of Human Resources then Department
  of Human Services)
• 1987 - Legislature enacted legal definitions for
  abuse and neglect, as well as definition for
  person responsible for the childs care, custody
  or welfare, and who could be identified as an
  alleged perpetrator in civil abuse/neglect cases
  (this narrowed the emphasis from child welfare to
  child protection)
• 1992 Legislature transferred CPS, APS and CCL
  divisions out of DHS and established TDPRS
• 2003 78th Texas Legislature created Texas
  Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS)
  with the passage of House Bill 2292.

10
Heres the Game Plan Child Protective Services
Agency

• Investigates reports of abuse neglect of
  children
• Provides services to children families in their
  own homes
• Contracts with other agencies to provide clients
  with specialized services
• Places children in foster care
• Provides services to help youth in foster care
  transition to adulthood
• Places children in adoptive homes

11
INTAKE FLOW CHARTInvestigators have 24 hours
to respond to a Priority 1 Report and 72 hours
to respond to a Priority 2 Report
12
FUNDING SOURCES FOR CPS

• Federal funding from titles of Social Security
  Act (e.g. Title IVE funds purchased services
  Title XX funds staff, etc.)
• County funding can also be used to match federal
  funds.
• Costs divided among staff, substitute care
  payments, and purchased services.
• Staff costs include salaries, travel, training,
  office space, supplies, etc.
• Substitute care payments include reimbursement
  for residential child-care.
• Purchased services include counseling, in-home
  case management, protective child-care, etc.

13
Child Welfare BoardsWhat They Are What They
DoThe Legal Base

• Comprised of citizens appointed by the county
  commissioners court
• Established through a contract between a county
  commissioners court DFPS (Boards are an entity
  of DFPS for coordinating the use of federal,
  state, and local funds. They are also an
  extension of the county.)
• Legal base is defined in the Texas Family Code
  and the countys contract with DFPS

14
The Contract between the County DFPSPoints
Addressed in the DFPS/County contract includes

• The needs of children in need of protective
  services are to be met through an established
  child welfare board, which administers a county
  wide, jointly financed, state administered and
  regionally operated child welfare program
• The board
• is established maintained as cited in
  Section 264.005, Texas Family Code
• is comprised of no less than 7 and no more
  than 15 members
• members serve at the commissioners
  pleasure without compensation
• members are removed or suspended when
  alleged to have committed
• abuse, neglect, exploitation or a
  specified crime involving an offense
• against the family, public indecency or
  the Texas Controlled Substance Act
• A child welfare board has the authority, duties
  responsibilities conferred upon it by statue,
  DFPS and the county

15
The Contract between the County DFPS, cont.

• The boards responsibilities are
• assisting DFPS in identifying meeting the
  needs of the countys
• children covered under the contract
• explaining to the community the child
  welfare program its needs
• and to DFPS the communitys conditions
  attitudes on policy,
• services priorities
• being an advisory to the county in
  developing the local policy for meeting
• the needs of children served under the
  contract, including acting as
• financial negotiator liaison between CPS
  unit the county commissioners
• court
• ensuring confidentiality of information
  concerning the children families according
• to applicable federal state rules, laws
  regulations
• prescribing bylaws (approved by the
  commissioners court) that do not conflict with
• the terms of the contract between the
  county DFPS and applicable state laws
• The county provides funds, at its discretion for
• the care of any child needing protective
  placement that is in DFPS conservatorship
• ineligible for Title IV-E foster care
  or state paid foster care and/or Medicaid
• medical care not covered by Title XIX
  (Medicaid) for children ineligible for
• Medicaid

16
The Contract between the County DFPS, cont.

• DFPS seeks Title XIX Medicaid coverage for any
  Medicaid eligible foster child with TANF
• DFPS receives expends a foster childs personal
  funds (SSI, SSA, child support, etc.) according
  to the childs needs applicable federal and
  state laws regulations
• In addition to the duties outlined above, the
  Child Welfare Board should report at least
  annually to the county commissioners court the
  status of the countys children, the status of
  the boards activities/achievements budgetary
  needs. The report keeps the county commissioners
  informed helps pave the way for county funded
  projects.

17
(No Transcript)
18
ALL information regarding applicants, clients,
and families involved with CPS is CONFIDENTIAL
under state and federal law
19

• These laws help protect people from
• exploitation, discrimination
• embarrassment

Client/childs full name is
not to be used in CWB
documents as they are subject to
the open meetings act. Confidential
information shared by DFPS staff must be done in
the boards closed session. Reports ledgers
are to use the first name last initial
(if more than one child has the same first name
last initial, then inclusion of the middle
initial is used.
20

• As a registered volunteer, you must sign a form
  acknowledging your understanding of this
  confidentiality requirement

21
Child Welfare Boards should have

• A mission statement
• A yearly goal setting meeting
• Bylaws
• An annual budget
• A current roster of its members
• Job descriptions for its officers, members
  committees
• Timely orientation for new board members

22
Executive Boards Committees

• Each Child Welfare Board has a presiding officer,
  as cited in the Texas Family Code.
• A boards executive officers standing
  committees are designated in the boards bylaws
• Child Welfare Board executive officers and their
  duties may be written as shown on page 26 of the
  resource manual.
• Standing committees address ongoing aspects of
  the boards business activities and are
  specified in the bylaws
• It is good practice to review your boards bylaws
  on a regular basis and update as necessary

23
BOARD MEETINGS

• Most boards have fixed meeting dates, usually
  meeting monthly.
• Board members should receive adequate notice for
  all meetings.
• Agendas basic background material are usually
  sent out to the full board at least a week before
  the meeting.
• Notice of the meeting must be posted in
  accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
• To encourage participation to share workload,
  several people are usually responsible for
  handling individual items on the agenda.
• Texas Family Code 264.005(g) allows for closed
  meetings for certain purposes however separate
  minutes should be kept for the closed sessions
  and no official action may be taken during that
  time.

24
NEW BOARD MEMBER TRAINING

• Copy of this CWB Resource Manual
• Review signing of Confidentiality Statement
• Minutes from the past few meetings
• Volunteer registration forms to be returned to
  CPS (250 250b)
• Local Child Welfare Board bylaws
• Updated board membership list
• Child Welfare Board contract with the county
• List of staff members working with the board
  their telephone numbers
• Two hours of Open Government Training within 90
  days of appointment to the board

25
VOLUNTEER TIME
IS VALUABLE
26
CPS TRACKS VOLUNTEER HOURS
Form 0260 Monthly Volunteer Activity Report or
E-mail to the Community Initiative Specialist
Boards can track volunteer hours at My Volunteer
Page.com On any internet-accessible computer Ask
your Community Initiatives Specialist how
27
REGIONAL COUNCILS
28
Regional Child Welfare Board Advisory Councils

• Each region has a regional child welfare board
  advisory council that is comprised of appointed
  delegates from the regions local child welfare
  boards.
• The mission of the regional councils is to
  advocate for the welfare of children to assist
  local boards in achieving their goals. Regional
  councils provide training information on
  regional and statewide issues.
• Each regional council elects 2-3 members to
  represent their council at the Texas Council of
  Child Welfare Boards.

29
Duties of regional delegates are

• To serve as liaison between the regional council
  the local board by reporting the local boards
  activities concerns, as well as relaying
  information obtained at the regional meetings
  back to the local board.
• To educate oneself ones local board on child
  abuse neglect, resources available for
  prevention, intervention, treatment.
• To attend regional meetings regularly to
  actively participate in the regional councils
  committees activities.

30
Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards
MISSION To support a statewide network of
volunteers concerned with the welfare of
children, especially those who are abused
neglected. VISION To lead a cohesive network
of child welfare boards supporting services to
vulnerable children families promoting
prevention of child abuse and neglect so that ALL
children live in a loving, nurturing safe
environment.
31
TCCWB COMMITTEES Education - Keep members
informed on ways to educate their community on
child abuse and neglect, conduct training
sessions for new members, and stay alert for
media items to share with membership.   Advocacy
- Study issues and advocate for adequate
resources and policies for abused and neglected
children, research and analyze problems and
questions, and inform members and community at
large on these issues. This committee has two
subcommittees Urban Issues that explores
problems specific to major metropolitan areas and
Rural Issues that explores problems specific to
rural areas across the state.   Awards - Plan the
annual awards event that spotlights the
volunteers, legislators, staff, foster parents,
and media personnel who have championed issues
for abused and neglected children.   Resource
Development - Research special projects, pursue
grants and other funding sources, and oversees
the specialty plate initiative.
32
TCCWB GOALS

• Identified in 2008-2012 Strategic Planning
• To normalize the experience of children in the
  foster care system and to connect them to
  communities.
• To assist in connecting with relatives in order
  to create a support network for children in care.
  
• To assist youth transitioning out of foster care
  with the support and skills necessary to become
  self-sufficient adults.
• To educate regional and county boards to more
  effectively carry out their mission and statutory
  mandate.
• To continue to advocate for the adequate
  resources and policies to provide services for
  abused and neglected children.
• To increase and diversify funding through grants,
  donations, and other community resources.

33
RECOGNIZING ABUSE NEGLECT
SEXUAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ABUSE
Physical Neglect
RAPR
ABAN
Medical Neglect
Emotional Abuse

• Neglectful
• Supervision

34
Physical Abuse
Physical injury that results in substantial harm
to the child, or genuine threat of substantial
harm from physical injury to the child

• Includes but not limited to
• Pushing Shoving Holding
  Choking Slapping Kicking
  Hitting Hair Pulling Confinement
• Burning Beating Biting

35
Emotional Abuse
Mental or emotional injury to a child that
results in an observable and material impairment
in the childs growth, development, or
psychological functioning.

• Includes but not limited to
• Name Calling Yelling
• Insults Threats
• Isolation Ignoring
• Constant Criticism Scapegoating
• Treating in a degrading manner

36
Neglect
Failure to provide for a childs basic needs
necessary to sustain the life or health of a
child, excluding failure caused primarily by
financial inability unless relief services have
been offered refused.
Withholding daily needs (food, personal care,
medication, medical attention) Unsanitary
living conditions Abandonment Lack of proper
supervision Lack of clothing Lack of personal
hygiene Lack of heat, running water, electricity
37
Sexual Abuse
Sexual conduct harmful to a child's mental,
emotional, or physical welfare.

• Can Include
• Touching Rape
• Photographing Videotaping
• Showing Pornography
• Calling someone sexual names
• Making remarks with sexual undertones

38
The Reality of Sex Offenders

• Sexual abuse is usually thought out and carefully
  planned by the offender.
• Most sexual assaults occur in the home of either
  the victim or offender.
• Most sex offenders are heterosexual men who
  appear to have normal relationships with
  adults.
• Most sex offenders are of average intelligence
  and usually not mentally ill.
• Most offenders look normal and can be of any
  race, social class, physical appearance, or work
  in any occupation.
• 88 of children are abused by someone they know,
  or to whom they are related.
• Child abuse occurs in all families. Race and
  socioeconomic status are not factors.

39
Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse

• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Sexualized Behaviors
• Behavior Problems
• Poor self-esteem
• Fears
• Nightmares
• Anxiety
• Depression

40
Behaviors To Expect

• Clinging
• Manipulation
• Crying
• Angry
• Quiet
• Talkative

41
CPS Permanency Goals
For overview of 12-month court process
for child abuse and neglect cases see
page 68 of your Resource Manual
42
Who Must Report?
Any person who suspects that a child has been
abused or neglected by any person must report the
suspected abuse or neglect. Professionals must
report within 48 hours of first suspecting abuse
or neglect.
Pursuant to Chapter 261.101 (a) and 261.103 of
the Texas Family Code
43
Legal Protection
Reports of child abuse or neglect made in "good
faith" and "without malice" are confidential and
immune from civil liability. The law provides for
immunity from civil or criminal liability for
innocent persons who report even unfounded
suspicions, as long as your report is made in
good faith.

44
Information Needed in Reporting

• Each childs name, description, address or some
• other way to locate
• Nature of the harm or risk
• Other persons involved and how to locate them
• Other family members that may be able to care for
  the
• child/children

45
To Report Abuse in Texas, call the STATEWIDE
ABUSE HOTLINE

• 1-800-252-5400

46
Questions or Concerns
Contact Your local Community Initiatives
Specialists http//www.dfps.state.tx.us/volunteer/
local.asp Or Texas Council of Child Welfare
Boards http//www.tccwb.org/