COUNTY-WIDE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES

County-Wide Primary Prevention Efforts

The Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Council conducts county-wide and specific prevention activities on a year round basis. These activities include an annual Blue Ribbon Campaign, an annual conference, presentations to teachers and students, collaboration with a major hospital regarding high-risk families, and participation in neighborhood based service delivery through a Family Resource Center. The Council also approves the expenditure of children's trust fund monies to a variety of community-based organizations that provide child abuse prevention and intervention services. Finally, the Council engages other organizations such as local businesses, the Sheriff's Department, and the Fire Authority in a common effort to strengthen families and prevent child abuse.

The Children and Family Services Speaker's Bureau provides child abuse identification and prevention training to community groups throughout Orange County.

Family Resource Centers (FRC's) have been established throughout Orange County and offer a range of family support activities, including educating parents on child development, appropriate discipline, stress management and anger management. The Social Services Agency allocates 100% of its federal Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) funds to 9 Family Resource Centers throughout the county. In 2003, SSA was awarded the Projects to Develop Programs to Strengthen Marriages grant from DHHS/ACF, which provides $600,000 through 2006 for FRC-based services to strengthen the caregiver relationship. SSA annually allocates its full Community Based Family Resource and Support Funds (SFY 2003-04 = $62,242) to FRCs to develop parent leadership and community involvement, and in FFY 02-03, FaCT FRCs served over 15,136 children and caregivers.

SSA provides funding, advocacy and technical assistance and support to FRCs, in part through five SSA employees. Monthly workshops are open to all FRCs regardless of funding source.

In 2004, FaCT through SSA will administer $3,130,047 in support of FRC services; these funds include Promoting Safe and Stable Families (CDSS/OCAP), Community Based Family Resource and Support (CDSS/OCAP), Child Abuse Treatment Grant (OCJP), and Projects to Develop Programs to Strengthen Marriages Grant (DHHS/ACF). Five FRC grants will be allocated at $225,000 each per year, and 4 FRC grants at $281,250 each per year for the period of 10-01-2003 to 06-30-2006.

The Healthy Tomorrows Program, a partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), SSA and schools of social work and counseling, provides preventive services to at risk children and their families in some of Orange County's neediest elementary schools. Activities include medical services provided through a mobile health clinic, individual and group counseling and behavior modification for parents and children, and consultation with CFS Senior Social Workers regarding child abuse and prevention services. The Healthy Tomorrows program also provides a community-based parent-participation parenting education course throughout elementary schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Voluntary Family Services, a division within Children and Family Services, provides voluntary preventive and early intervention services to families identified through FRCs, specified schools and domestic violence shelters, and referrals to the Child Abuse Registry. The Voluntary Family Services program is staffed by 34 Senior Social Workers, and as of April, 2004, is serving 1,093 children and their families.

In conjunction with the Children's Research Center (CRC), CFS and CalWORKs staff are collaborating to design a risk assessment tool that will be used to screen CalWORKs clients for child abuse and neglect preventive services. CFS Senior Social Workers are also assigned to the Domestic Abuse Services Unit provide assessments and services for Cal-WORKs recipients and applicants who self-identify as domestic abuse victims. Social Workers make recommendations to CalWORKs Case Managers regarding exemptions from work requirements to enable abuse victims to recover from trauma and become self-sufficient.

Emergency Response SSWs are out-stationed at selected police departments and sheriff sub-stations to provide consultation services to law enforcement. Additionally, Emergency Response SSW's outstationed with police are available to respond to family situations before they escalate to levels requiring court intervention

Probation-County-Wide Primary Prevention Efforts

The Truancy Reduction Program is available to all Orange County Youth to assist in eliminating truancy.

Prevention Partnerships

Orange County CFS partners with the following agencies and community based organizations to provide prevention services:

· FaCT FRCs are operated by a community-based collaborative of private and public agencies providing comprehensive prevention and treatment services through an integrated service delivery system.

· Orange County Family Self Sufficiency-CalWORKs

· The Children and Families Commission of Orange County

· The Orange County Children's Services Coordination Committee

· Orange County Probation Department

· Orange County Health Care Agency-Public Health Field Nurses, Behavioral Health Services

· Orange County Sheriff's Department and other Orange County law enforcement jurisdictions

· Children and Family Futures

· The Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Council

· Santa Ana Unified School District

· Children's Hospital of Orange County

· Pio Pico Elementary School

· Santa Ana Boys' and Girls' Club

Probation-Prevention Partnerships

CSOC's goal is to safely maintain a child at home and avoid group home care. The main partners salaries that are co-located at the Health Care Agency (HCA) are paid for by HCA through funding from the State Department of Mental Health. There is also flexible funding attached to this program. If through a case review it is determined that a child needs a TBS (Therapeutic Behavior Services) coach to be safely maintained in the home, then one will be assigned and paid for by the flexible funds. This coach will work with the minor in his own home on treatment goals established by the clinician. The coach will also work with the parent in identifying triggers to bad behavior in hopes that they can identify them early on and eliminate inappropriate behavior. The positive outcome would be that the minor was able to remain in his families home and work on his behavior that in the past without this program would have sent him to residential care.

Additionally, the YFRC's allow the minor and his family to receive a comprehensive treatment program at one site. They are able to attend school, receive counseling, parenting classes and in-home supportive services at one building.

Strategies for the Future

· Resource development through grant writing and innovative partnerships

· Strengthening Marriages Grant to provide community-based services that strengthen the caregiver relationship so that risks to children are minimized.

· Strengthen partnerships with Faith Based Organizations

· Implement Differential Response and create a community-based network of "early responders" so that at-risk families receive the least intrusive intervention. Legislative change will be required to implement a true differential response to reports of low-risk child abuse or neglect.

· Continue implementation of Family to Family key strategies, including Team Decision Making, Building Community Partnerships, Recruitment, Training and Support of resource families and Self Evaluation.

· Strengthen partnerships that include shared resources, outcomes, responsibilities and risks.

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