To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Angela Struckmann, 707-565-5800; Donna Broadbent 707-565-4349
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution designating the month of April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Sonoma County and direct the raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag at the County Center on April 26, 2024.
End
Executive Summary:
April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. As part of this national educational opportunity, the Human Services Department and the Child Parent Institute acknowledge Child Abuse Prevention efforts by raising the Children’s Memorial Flag at the County Center on April 26, 2024 and request that the Board adopt a gold resolution supporting child abuse prevention awareness and education.
Discussion:
As the provider of child welfare services in Sonoma County, the Family, Youth and Children’s Services Division (FYC) has been leading community wide efforts to increase available child abuse prevention services and providing child welfare services to ensure the safety and well-being of children. In 2023, of the 8,917 phone calls concerning new allegations of child abuse or neglect received, 1,596 required an in-person investigation and 233 child welfare cases were opened. 138 children/youth were placed into foster care, which represents a 31% decrease from the year prior. 92 children stayed at the Valley of the Moon Children’s Center. 91 children/youth were able to safely return home and 29 children were adopted into forever families. Approximately 200 families participated in child abuse prevention services, which is a 40% increase from the prior year, resulting from improved efforts to engage families and reduce barriers to participation in services.
FYC works in partnership with the Child Parent Institute (CPI) to lead community discussions, trainings and planning efforts specifically related to child abuse prevention. In 2023, approximately 700 parents and community members participated in mandated reporter trainings, child abuse prevention planning efforts and educational topics. Other partners in this effort include several County Departments, First Five Sonoma County, faith-based communities, parents, local business leaders and community-based organizations. In 2021, FYC led the effort to develop Sonoma County’s 5-year Child Abuse and Neglect prevention plan, which was approved by the state in the summer of 2023. This plan reflects input from hundreds of community members, including foster youth, adults with history of involvement in child welfare services, leaders from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and agencies that serve families in Sonoma County. This prevention plan was inspired by the disproportionality data that clearly illustrates the overrepresentation of African American and Native American children in foster care. Because of this, the diverse planning team decided that the goal of the prevention plan would be to reduce disparity and disproportionality in child abuse and neglect across Sonoma County.
In acknowledgement of Child Abuse Prevention month, the California Department of Social Services, Office of Child Abuse Prevention, has asked that every county raise the Children’s Memorial Flag on Friday, April 26, 2024, as a way to close Child Abuse Prevention month activities.
Prior Board Actions:
The Board of Supervisors annually adopts a gold resolution declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention month.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None