Report 2013-110 Recommendation 34 Responses

Report 2013-110: Child Welfare Services: The County Child Welfare Services Agencies We Reviewed Must Provide Better Protection for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: April 2014)

Recommendation #34 To: San Francisco Human Services Agency, City and County of

To improve its coordination and communication with local law enforcement, the San Francisco County CWS agency should consider entering into a memorandum of understanding with the applicable law enforcement agency that delineates how the two agencies will share information and assist each other in responding to child maltreatment.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

In the last year we have put into place a process for a formalized agreement, and have already integrated the substance of this agreement into the new Emergency Response (ER) and After Hours (AH) Policies. Also we have begun to plan for cross training of Law Enforcement and Family & Children Services staff on the Law Enforcement Protocol.

During the initial meetings with Law Enforcement, it became evident that in order to bring about this change in practice, we needed to create detailed policy on Interagency Investigations of Child Abuse and Neglect. To this end, Directors from FCS, Law Enforcement, and the City Attorney's office have been meeting regularly to develop comprehensive policies and procedures for both agencies. Rosa Hernandez, Policy Development Supervisor, has been meeting with the group to ensure that the new agreements are in alignment with and included in FCS Policies. Much of the work accomplished by the group has already been incorporated into the attached policy manuals. I am also submitting a "Policies and Law Enforcement Agreements" document which more specifically delineates the work we have completed and areas that are in development. Included are the specific policy manuals and desk guide sections where the information is located. Through this process, we have developed a new understanding of our work with law enforcement and submit to you that we are now in compliance with California Penal Code, Section 11166.3(a).

Supportive Documentation Provided

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

HSA and San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) met and drafted a protocol delineating how the two agencies will share information and assist each other in responding to child maltreatment. The draft protocol is currently under review by SFPD's counsel. Another meeting is scheduled for 4/7/2015 for further refinement. Once agreement is reached by the agencies, training curricula will be reviewed and modified to include the protocol, and training will include cross-training for FCS and SFPD.

- See Draft of MOU

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

FCS Deputy Director, Law Enforcement and City Attorney are in the beginning stages of developing an MOU to improve coordination and communication between the two departments.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

A meeting has been scheduled with SFPD to develop an MOU delineating how the two agencies will share information and assist each other in responding to child abuse investigations.

The MOU will define the specific procedures, processes and forms necessary on how we will collaborate to respond to child abuse investigations.

HSA in conjunction with law enforcement will develop a training and implementation plan for the MOU and ensure that all child welfare workers and law enforcement officers are trained.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2013-110

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.