April 16, 2012 - Cabarrus County

protection issues identified were: [1] substance abuse [parental], coupled withfrequent mental health issues; [2] family violence; [3] and sexual abuse.One of our team’s primary accomplishments this past calendar year has beenconsistent attendance and participation by the representative from our mentalhealth entity, the PBH. Many of our review cases involve mental health issues and itis valuable to have this member present with us.Our team used the months of April and May to become involved in some communityevents that provided the team with a forum or opportunity to disseminateeducational materials and messages regarding child safety and well-being. Teammembers volunteered their time to go to these community events [fairs, celebrations,conferences, etc.] to provide the educational materials and messages.Team meetings are the setting where members around the table are able to learn ofnew or expanded services to families and children, as providers of these services areinvited to team meetings to describe and explain their services.Child Abuse and Neglect in Cabarrus CountyWe started our year with a report from the Court Improvement Project director,who advised that all of the changes and improvements put into place had insuredthat children were moving more quickly through the court system, barriers to childreunification were being addressed in the monthly meetings, and one judgepresiding over the court had helped to move cases along. Mental health needs ofparents and children often make it harder to achieve permanence for children.The DSS Multiple Response system of service delivery, along with the CourtImprovement Project, has enabled the DSS to ‘front load’ services to families andhas brought about more open relationships between the families and the childprotection agency, making service delivery less contentious and enabled the agencyto make a difference in the lives they touch.Mid year, the DSS reported a drastic increase in cases of family violence and sexualabuse. Causation of this increase is not known, but is being studied.The collaborative efforts of our partner agencies who are members of the ChildProtection and Child Fatality Prevention teams are invaluable in helping to protectchildren and prevent fatalities. Some agencies focus on safety, some on health, someon education, some on therapy, and some on support, but all of the agencies togetherwork to make our Cabarrus County families stronger and safer for our children.Child Fatality Prevention Task force [CFPT]The Child Fatality Prevention Task Force meets in March, June, September, andDecember. The membership of this group is similar to that of the Child ProtectionTeam, and in fact, many members participate in both committees. The ChairAttachment number 1I-1Page 239