| Press Release |
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| October 20, 2004 |
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Governor Announces Two New Initiatives to Strengthen Accountability in Oregon's Child Welfare System
Initiatives include new Critical Incident Response protocol; access for caseworkers to criminal background checks
(Eugene, OR) – Today at the Eugene Relief Nursery, Governor Ted Kulongoski announced two new initiatives to strengthen Oregon’s child welfare system and to enhance the agency’s ability to respond immediately and accountably to sensitive child welfare incidents in the state.
First, the governor announced that the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS or the Department) would implement a new protocol to ensure a timely and coordinated response when critical incidents within the child protective services system occur.
“One of my six principles for a prosperous Oregon includes ensuring all of our children have safe and healthy living environments. To meet this priority, we must have a child welfare system in place that is prepared to respond immediately and effectively to critical incidents, such as the death of a child as the result of abuse or neglect,” said Governor Kulongoski. “The Department’s new protocol moves us a step forward toward this goal by establishing clear procedures for acting immediately and thoughtfully when a tragedy befalls a child known to our system. The goal is to make the system more accountable, both to the people of Oregon and—most importantly—to the children the system is charged to protect.”
Governor Kulongoski created the 15-member Critical Incident Response work group in June, 2004. The governor charged the group to develop a protocol that would:
1) ensure timely response by DHS to critical incidents in Child Welfare; and
2) improve the Department’s ability to identify gaps and improvements needed in practice, policy, training, and personnel issues on a timely basis.
The governor appointed Gary Weeks, DHS Director, to chair the work group, which was comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, mental health providers, child advocates, the governor’s office, DHS and other state agencies.
“The work group developed a protocol that is immediate and decisive,” said Gary Weeks. “This is a tool that will not only strengthen our response to individual tragedies but will identify areas where the Department needs to make changes and improvements.”
A flowchart and description of the Critical Incident protocol is attached.
The governor also announced that within the next 90 days, child protective services caseworkers will have direct access to criminal history information through the state’s Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS). LEDS is a statewide information system managed by the Oregon State Police that contains crime statistic information from both state and local law enforcement agencies. Before now, child protective service worker access to LEDS was limited to foster care and adoption certification. As a result of this policy change, child protective services workers will now have access to that information for the purpose of Child Protective Services assessment, safety planning and emergency placement decisions.
“By providing Oregon’s child protective services caseworkers with access to criminal history information, we allow those caseworkers to have a more complete picture and strengthen their ability to make the best decisions for the safety of our children,” said Governor Kulongoski.
Media Contact:
Marian Hammond, (503) 378-6169
Anna Richter Taylor, (503) 378-6496
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