North Carolina’s Community Child Protection Teams

North Carolina’s North Carolina’s Community Child Community Child Protection TeamsProtection Teams

North Carolina’s North Carolina’s Community Child Community Child Protection TeamsProtection Teams

Enhancing the ProgramEnhancing the Program

“Rather to be than seem”

Phyllis B. Fulton, CCPTCoordinator

G.S. 7B 1406• Gives County DSS Directors

authority to establish CCPTs in each county

• Defines membership• Defines responsibilities• Establishes the Division’s role in

CCPT activities

North Carolina’s CCPT Strengths

• Improved collaboration between agencies

• Increased member participation

• Case review system• Increase in meeting

frequency• Mechanism for including

additional members

Citizen Review PanelsChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

– Section 106(c)(1)(B)(ii)

• Members are volunteers who represent the community they represent and have an expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

• CRP shall prepare and make available to the public, on an annual basis, a report containing a summary of CRP activities

• Examine policies, practice and procedures of State and local DSS to evaluate the extent to which the agencies are effectively discharging their responsibilities

• Provide for public outreach• Make recommendations to the State and public on

improving the child protection system.

CCPT PLAN• Establish six regional CCPTs, comprised of one

member from each County CCPT and five consumers– Level A & B counties will be divided into five

regions with consideration being given to judicial districts (1, 2,3, 4, 5)

– C counties will be divided into two team (6a and 6b)

• Teams will meet quarterly• Local CCPT end of year reports will be computer

assisted• Regional teams will compile a regional end of

year report• The State Fatality Prevention Team will compile

the State’s CCPT end of year report• Consumer participants will be selected by local

CCPTs.• Starting in October 2008, regions will have an

opportunity to sponsor community forums to further engage citizens in the child welfare process

Board of County Commissioners

State CCPT Coordinator

NC Division of Social Services

NC Child Fatality Task Force

North Carolina General Assembly

Region II

Region I

Region III

Region IV

Case Reviews Team Collaboration Child Welfare Law, Policy & Practice

State Child Fatality Prevention Team

Other Agencies

Region V

Region VIb Region VIa

Responsibilities• Receive and review information

from local CCPTs• Receive County’s CCPT End of

Year Report and develop a regional report

• Examine policies, practices and procedures of State and County DSS

• Collaborate to improve child protection system

• Review legislative agenda prior to presentation to legislative body

• Receive State’s response to recommendations made in annual report and

• Collaborate with local CCPT in developing public forums providing citizens an opportunity to express concerns and comments on the child welfare system.

Advantages• Case records will not be reviewed • General Statute does not need to be changed• No connection to the County Boards of

Commissioners• Members will serve a two year cycle• Local CCPT End of Year Reports will be linked

adding more weight to an issue of concern • The state is required to respond to CCPT

recommendations within six months of receiving the End of Year report

Time Cycle• Local CCPTs will have their end of year report at the

Division by January 31st• The regional teams will have all CCPT reports by

February 28th• The regional teams will have their final report ready for

the Stat Fatality Prevention Team by April 15th

• The State Fatality Prevention Team will have the State’s CCPT end of year report ready for presentation to the Division by June 1st

• The State will respond to CCPT recommendations by October 1st

• The response will be distributed to regional teams, local CCPT and other entities as necessary by October 31st.

Lessons Learned• Communities in general do not understand their

role (or responsibility) in protecting children• Child welfare professionals have the ambiguous

role of engaging citizens in a process that can be incriminating for the child professional

• Travel expense is a barrier to team participation• Leader qualities drives the success of the team• Members with resource development skills are

an advantage for the team• Child well being is the responsibility of the total

community, therefore, CAPTA requirements regarding policies, practices and procedures should extend to all child caring agencies that receive federal monies

CCPT Coordinator• Develop and provide training• Monitor membership• Receive the CCPT End of Year

Report from the State Fatality Prevention Team and present the report to the Division

• Work with the Division and the State Fatality Prevention to assure that each body referenced in the recommendations has an opportunity to respond to the recommendation

• Receive the State’s response to CCPT recommendations and distribute to the regional and local CCPTs.

• Collaborate with regional and local CCPT about activities that support public outreach

• Coordinate regional team’s need for clerical support

• Periodically update the Division about CCPT activities

CCPTA Circle of Action

Wilson County Community Wilson County Community Assessment Child Assessment Child Protection TeamProtection Team

Wilson County Community Wilson County Community Assessment Child Assessment Child Protection TeamProtection Team

Andrew PayneAndrew PayneCCPT ChairpersonCCPT Chairperson

Wilson County CACPT Overview

• Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention met with Wilson County Community on May 13, 2006 to create a Community Assessment team.

• Merged CCPT and Community Assessment Team in January 2006

• Joint collaboration between WCDSS and NCDJJDP.

• City, county and community partners are involved. • Monthly meetings are held to include guest speakers and staffing

of cases.

• Team serves as the main branch for other local groups and teams in the community.

Wilson County CACPTMission

• Work together with community agencies and others to develop appropriate plans for hard-to- serve youth.

• Through the team’s collective knowledge foster successful outcomes for families and children.

• The team will advocate for families to have resources

available to them.

• Enhance families’ abilities to provide safe environments for their children.

Wilson County CACPTCurrent Activities

• Providing training and information to the community.

• Building collaboration and communication among agencies and the public.

• Enhancing community awareness on gangs and developing programs to address the gang problem.

• Creating an comprehensive resource list to distribute to the community.

• Seeking grants and funds to support and develop resources in the community.

CACPT Concerns• 2007 Wilson County Community Health Assessment

Findings

• Illegal Drug Activity

• Affordable Health Care and Housing

• Unsafe Sex

• Health Care Services

• Alcohol and Drug use

CACPT RECOMMENDATIONS• Wilson County secure and maintain an

effective and stable parenting education program.

• Mental Health services to be more accessible and flexible.

• Establish more after school programs and provide support to existing ones.

• Validate and support gang prevention efforts in schools and communities.

CACPT NEEDS • Appointment of new members to CACPT

• Approval for new programs or special events

• Support through funding for CACPT endorsed programs

• Feedback on CACPT mission

CACPT SUBCOMMITTEES

• WILSON GANG TASK FORCE

• LADIES OF THE FUTURE TOGETHER

• NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM

• SAFE SURRENDER TASK FORCE

• DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN TASK FORCE

Wilson County CCPT Member Agencies

• NC Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

• Wilson County DSS• Pride in North Carolina• Wilson OIC• Wilson County Boys and Girls

Club• Wesley Shelter• Wilson Police Department• Youth of Wilson• Smart Choices for Youth, Inc.• Wilson County Public Schools• Wilson County Sheriff’s Office

• Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina

• Barton College• Methodist Home for Children• NC Guardian ad litem Program• Wilson County Health

Department• Wilson Mental Health

Association• Wilson County Minister’s

Association• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church• Wilson Renaissance Mental

Health Center• Block of Hope Parents as

Teachers Program