HomeMy WebLinkAbout20073616 RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE REVISIONS TO OPERATIONS MANUAL, SECTION 2.000, SOCIAL
SERVICES DIVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS,the Board has been presented with revisions to Section 2.000, Social Services
Division Policies and Procedures, for the Department of Social Services Operations Manual, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said revisions, a copy
of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, ex-officio Board of Social Services, that the revisions to Section 2.000, Social
Services Division Policies and Procedures, for the Department of Social Services Operations
Manual, be, and hereby are, approved.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by
the following vote on the 3rd day of December, A.D., 2007.
�, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
tL a WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST:La/1k CIESE
EXCUSED
David E. Long, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the Boar
/ William H. Jerke, Pro-Tern
De ty CI r to the Board EXCUSED
Wfltiam F. Garcia
Robert D. Masden
ounty orney uclac Y -r
Douglas R demacher �—
Date of signature: 2 fly 101
2007-3616
SS0034
a
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
P.O. BOX A
I GREELEY, CO. 80632
Website:www.co.weld.co.us
Administration and Public Assistance(970)352-1551
OFax Number(970)353-5215
•
COLORADO
MEMORANDUM
TO: David E. Long, Chair Date: November 26, 2007
Board of County Commissioners FR: Judy A. Griego, Director, Social Services Wit V nn
` f
RE: Addition to Section 2.000, Social Services ision
Policies and Procedures, Weld County Department of
Social Services Operations Manual
Enclosed for Board approval is an addition to Section 2.000, Social Services Division Policies
and Procedures, Weld County Department of Social Services Operations Manual. This addition
was reviewed at the Board's Work Session held on November 7, 2007.
The purpose of the addition is to create a Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program
authorized under I-IB04-1370. Under the Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program,
parents who are responsible for minor abuse or neglect of a child on a first time basis
may enter into an agreement with the Department to defer mandatory filing with the
Colorado Department of Human Services of a confirmed report of child abuse or neglect.
As part of the Voluntary Safety Plan process with a parent, The Department will fund
parenting education classes or related services and transportation to and from such classes
for those parents who cannot afford such activity and are eligible to receive Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families.
The Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program will become effective upon the date the
addition is formally approved by the Board.
Section Citation Title of Section
2.908—2.908.4 House Bill 04-1370: Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program
If you have any questions,please telephone me at extension 65l p ._, e.. .
hS :h C.i ci El
2007-3616
2.908 House Bill 04-1370: Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program
Added 11/07
2.908.1 General Organization
The 1370 Voluntary Safety Plan Agreement Program is comprised of:
A. The Weld County Department of Social Services(Department).
B. Community organizations and other non-profit human services agencies
located in and around Weld County that provide direct services through
evidence based programs.
2.908.2 General Description
A. The 1370 Voluntary Safety Plan program allows the Department and a
first time offender who is believed to be responsible for the abuse or
neglect of a child to enter into agreement to defer the mandatory filing
with the State Department of a confirmed report of child abuse or neglect
as required by section 19-3-307. This will provide the Department with
additional options to address first time offenders who are investigated for
minor incidents of child abuse or neglect. Prior to the passing of
Colorado House Bill 04-1370 the Department did not have the ability to
treat a minor incident of child abuse or neglect differently than a severe
or moderate incident.
B. The person who is believed to be responsible for the abuse or neglect of a
child and the Department will decide upon a mutually agreeable method
for resolving the issues related to the report through the use of a"Safety
Plan Agreement". "Safety Plan Agreement" is defined as an agreement
between the Department and the person who is believed to be responsible
for the abuse or neglect of a child in which that person agrees to fully
address all obvious safety concerns identified in a safety assessment that
is completed by the Department.
C. This agreement may include referral of the person who is believed to be
responsible for the abuse or neglect of a child by the Department worker
to a community organization or non-profit human services agency for
voluntary participation in a program to address these issues. If the person
who is believed to be responsible for the abuse or neglect of a child
successfully completes the program the Department shall not file a
confirmed report of child abuse or neglect with the State Department.
D. The ultimate goal will be to provide persons who are believed to be
responsible for the minor incidents of abuse or neglect of a child with an
opportunity to learn and develop positive parenting and/or child care
skills and refrain from becoming involved in such incidents again.
2.908.3 Eligibility Criteria
A. The person who is believed to be responsible for the abuse or
neglect has had no previous allegations of child abuse or neglect
investigated.
B. The child abuse or neglect that the person is believed to be
responsible for is at the level of a minor incident of abuse or
neglect, as defined by rule of the State Board.
Upon confirmation of the allegation(s) of abuse, neglect, or sexual
abuse the county department shall use the following definitions
when determining the severity of the incidents:
Abuse:
Minor—Excessive or inappropriate force used resulting in
superficial injury.
Ne.lect:
Minor—physical or emotional needs of child are marginally or
inconsistently met, but little or no impact on the child's
functioning.
2.908.4 Policies and Procedures
A. The requirements set forth in the Safety Plan Agreement for
resolving the issues related to the report must be completed within
sixty days after the report of child abuse or neglect is made to the
Department or the local law enforcement agency.
B. If a person is believed to be responsible for the child abuse or
neglect completes the mutually agreed upon Safety Plan
Agreement, then the Department shall release him or her from the
terms of agreement, and shall not file a confirmed report of child
abuse or neglect, but a deferred finding instead related to the
incident with the State Department.
C. If a person is believed to be responsible for the child abuse or
neglect does not complete the mutually agreed upon Safety Plan
Agreement, as determined by the Department, then the Department
shall file a report of child abuse or neglect related to the incident
with the State Department.
D. The Department will still be obligated to report to the State
Department that there was an investigation of child abuse or
neglect and to further report the Department's assessment of risk,
their decision regarding a referral of the matter to Child Welfare
services, and any Department decision to defer the filing of a
confirmed report of child abuse or neglect.
E. Participation in a Safety Plan Agreement by the Department and
the person who is believed to be responsible for the child abuse or
neglect shall be at the desertion of the person who is believed to be
responsible for the child abuse or neglect and the Department.
The Department is in no way obligated or required to enter into
such a plan.
F. The Department is in no way obligated to expend moneys to
provide services to persons for the purpose of entering into a
Safety Plan Agreement, but may choose to do so at the
Department's discretion as provided as follows:
1. Families who are applicants of or receiving TANF,
Medicaid, and Food Stamps and have incomes below
185% of poverty level as provided; or
2. Families who meet the eligibility standards under
Sections 6.021, d; Section 6.027.4, Department
Operations Manual; or
3. Families who are non-custodial parents and are
unemployed or underemployed and have incomes
below 185% of poverty level
Services may include parenting education classes and
transportation to and from such classes, or other services as
deemed acceptable and approved by the Department. Such
transportation would be limited to reimbursement for mileage as
established for County employees and as described in Section
8.1006 of the Departments Operations Manual.
G. An agreement to enter into a Safety Plan Agreement shall not
negate the person's right to appeal a later finding of child abuse or
neglect.
H. The Department will have the right to make the final determination
of the successful completion of the Safety Plan Agreement based
on the community organization or non-profit human services
agency employee's input.
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