State expanding investigative approach to child abuse cases

State expanding investigative approach to child abuse cases
Licking among 10 counties to pilot technique
BY JESSIE BALMERT • ADVOCATE REPORTER • MAY 19, 2010

NEWARK -- Ohio is implementing a family-oriented approach to investigating child abuse and neglect allegations after receiving positive results from 10 pilot counties, including Licking County Children Services.


The approach, called alternative response, is focused on finding the underlying causes of child abuse or neglect more than the traditional response, which is focused on investigating specific allegations, Licking County Children Services Intake Supervisor Sue Wasiniak said.

Under the traditional approach, if a child reported an injury, social workers would interview the child, other relatives, the alleged offender and potentially police, setting up a combative dynamic. It could lead to children being removed from the home or other court-mandated requirements.

Under the alternative response, a social worker would sit down with the family and discuss what happened and why, trying to find the root problems. Then they would set up a plan to improve the situation.

"It's not a value judgment. Neither way is bad or good," Wasiniak said.

Results from the pilot program, which included Licking County and nine other counties selected to participate, indicated children were just as safe under the alternative response approach and less likely to return for a different report, according to the Ohio Alternative Response Pilot Project Final Report released Monday.

Of the 10 counties reviewed, 13.3 percent of traditional response families had a new report of abuse or neglect within a year when compared with 11.2 percent of alternative response families, according to the final report.

Licking County Children Services noticed a decrease in reopened cases within six months when the alternative response approach was used -- 2 percent -- when compared to 5 percent of reopened cases using the traditional response.

Between July 2008 and September 2009, social workers entered cases into a computer to select which families would be treated with either the alternative or traditional approach at random, Wasiniak said. The cases were tracked through December 2009.

Not all allegations were included. Fatalities, child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse were not appropriate for the new approach because documentation and a finding are important, Wasiniak said.

"It is not for all reports," said John Fisher, director of Licking County Job and Family Services.

The pilot project report revealed interaction between families and social workers was more positive when the alternative response approach was used. Families described feeling optimistic, reassured, pleased and relieved.

Those from the traditional approach expressed feeling tense, confused, anxious and stressed, according to the report.

The pilot counties reported 3.7 percent of children were removed from the home under the traditional approach, as compared to 1.8 percent of children from the alternative response, according to the report.

Because of the pilot program's success, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services plans to expand the number of counties offering alternative response to 25 by fall and eventually include the entire state, according to a news release from the Ohio Supreme Court.

"Usually the families know best and we need to listen," Wasiniak said. "They appreciate the fact that we are there with open hearts and open minds."

Jessie Balmert can be reached at (740) 328-8548 or jbalmert@newarkadvocate.com.


http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100519/NEWS01/5190310