ANNUAL REPORT

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Children and Family Services (CFS) continues to implement strategies to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families in San Bernardino County. CFS’ commitment to reviewing, revising and improving services is possible only through the dedication of staff who work to protect endangered children and preserve and strengthen their families. CFS staff are also invested in improving CFS programs and practices by providing recommendations and feedback and piloting new strategies and tools.

Accomplishments:
CFS implemented several strategies this past year that have proven effective in helping to improve social worker retention and service delivery to families throughout the county:

  • Continued rigorous efforts to hire and retain highly-qualified social work and support staff with 173 social workers hired. Maintaining optimum staffing levels assists in reducing caseloads and supports retention efforts. Lower caseloads per social worker leads to improved services and increased safety for the County’s most vulnerable children.
  • Enhanced support of social work staff through increased access to technological tools strengthening mobility and service delivery to children, youth and families. Increased access to technology has proven to assist with improving efficiency.
    • Social workers received smart phones to assist with communication and support while in the field.
    • Approximately 225 social workers who spent a 30% or more time in the field received new laptops allowing greater flexibility to complete field work.

Goals:

  • Increase the use of Child and Family Team meetings proven to be effective in engaging families early and increasing permanency by decreasing the number of children removed from their homes and facilitating their quick return home, when possible.
  • Utilize objective data to support CFS supervisors and managers in identifying and promoting practices that work well, identifying and addressing growth areas and setting a baseline from which to move forward.

Marlene Hagen
Director, Children and Family Services

STATISTICS

31614

abuse or neglect referrals
processed through the Child
and Adult Abuse Hotline

591

foster children found
forever homes through
adoption

3553

Child and Family Team
Meetings completed
OUR MISSION

The mission of Children and Family Services is to protect endangered children, preserve and strengthen their families, and develop alternative family settings. Services as mandated by law and regulation, will be provided in the least intrusive manner with a family centered focus. This mission is accomplished in collaboration with the family, a wide variety of public and private agencies and members of the community.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
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OTHER DEPARTMENTS
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