Social workers attempt calm removals

Social workers attempt calm removals
JENNIFER JACOBS • THE DES MOINES REGISTER • AUGUST 9, 2010

Iowa social workers' old way of abruptly pulling children from parents suspected of abuse or neglect is too traumatizing for everyone involved, the state's top child welfare officials believe.



That method still is the norm in almost all of Iowa's counties. But in an experiment in Polk County, social workers forewarn parents that they intend to remove a child. And they invite parents to help make the removal easier:

Pack favorite belongings, schedule visits to see the child in foster care, hug their son or daughter goodbye.

National experts view the Iowa Department of Human Services' new strategy as only a partial step toward better involving families in protecting children.

Iowa has one of the higher rates in the nation of social workers removing children from their homes.

DHS wants to take Polk County's approach statewide: Unless a child is in immediate danger of injury or death, social workers conduct a "pre-removal conference." The meeting gives troubled parents a chance to find a relative to care for the children and time to explain to the kids what's happening, said Wendy Rickman, DHS' top official for child protection.

"What we used to do is just go get them," Rickman said. "You had kids screaming, and you had parents screaming. You're taking babies from Mom, and you're pulling and they're pulling, and you're trying to figure out: 'How do I get clothing for this kid?' And then you don't leave with their favorite stuffed toy and the things that are going to comfort that child. Kids left in diapers."

When Polk County social workers started forewarning parents 2½ years ago, they feared families would disappear.

"We've only had one runner," said Rickman, administrator of the Child and Family Services division.

Rickman said she knows of no case when a child suffered severe abuse between the pre-removal conference and when social workers picked up the child.

"Our mantra is be very hard on the problem, but be very easy on the people," Rickman said. "We say, 'You cannot abuse or you neglect your kids,' but in the process, the system should not further traumatize.'"

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http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100809/NEWS01/8090318/Social-workers-attempt-calm-removals