At 98% for the June-August 2010 quarter, DSHS is meeting its target for timely response to reports of child and abuse neglect. The protection of vulnerable children is one of state government’s most important responsibilities.
The implementation of a new case management information system (FamLink) in February 2009 provided the opportunity to review and improve our response to child abuse throughout the intake and investigation process.
An intake decision tree, domestic violence screen, and chronicity indicator to identify chronic neglect concerns were included as FamLink enhancements to facilitate faster and more consistent child safety decisions.
The DSHS Children’s Administration is enhancing practice and business processes to increase child safety at the point of first contact. Improvements include standardizing the protocol for intake across the state to clearly describe expectations, responsibilities, and criteria related to child safety.