BACKGROUND

On October 9, 1990, the Grand Jury issued a report concerning the operations of the Santa Barbara Division of Child Protective Services (CPS) of the County Department of Social Services. In that report, a number of findings were published as well as recommendations pertaining to those findings.

The findings may be summarized as follows:

1. Lack of an appropriate Procedures Manual.

2. Inadequate system for tracking cases.

3. Continuing need for court intervention to order protective services.

4. Substantial distrust between staff and management.

5. Failure of top management to provide oversight.

6. Inadequate clerical support.

The resultant recommendations were as follows:

1. CPS, as a priority, develop a procedures manual.

2. Complete automation of case record tracking system.

3. Schedule and enforce regular case review meetings.

4. Establish series of workshops to:

a. Redefine CPS service objectives.

b. Mutually define operational procedures.

5. Top DSS management increase oversight of CPS.

6. Consider replacement of Division Head.

7. Promptly fill vacant clerical position in CPS.

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In the interim period, a number of responses have been submitted by the Department of Social Services as well as the Administrative Office addressing the various issues raised in the above report.

INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES

Following a review of those responses to the original report by this Grand Jury, a number of the principal witnesses originally interviewed were recalled in order to determine if in fact progress had been made in addressing the problems uncovered.

FINDINGS

1. The follow-up review found that the top management of the Department of Social Services, in the interim, has taken positive steps to remedy the major identified problems which existed within the Santa Barbara Division of Child Protective Services Division.

2. Although the report of the Grand Jury focused on the operations of the Santa Barbara Division of Child Protective Services, the Department Head has extended the scope of corrective actions to include the remaining Divisions of CPS.

3. A decisive step taken by management to initiate necessary changes was to obtain the services of an interim professional to head the troubled Division.

4. The degree of mistrust between management and operational staff within the Division, which was identified as a major problem area, appears to have diminished as a result of the change of Division management.

5. This review has demonstrated that a major factor contributing to the improved operations of the Santa Barbara CPS has been the management style of the interim Division Head.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Top management of the Department of Social Services exercise great care in the process of selecting a permanent replacement for Division Head of the Santa Barbara Division of Child protective Services.

2. The Interim Division Head be actively included in the replacement process.

3. The Department Head insure that the momentum thus far developed to correct the identified problems in CPS is maintained in the longer term. This becomes even more crucial considering the likelihood of future restrictions on resources.