No one better understands the child welfare system than those directly involved or working within in it. Constituents should be involved at all levels of the system. Child welfare constituents – birth parents, kinship caregivers, foster parents, foster care alumni – as well as those who work in and around the system – child welfare practioners, clinicians, legal advocates – are positioned to provide the most insight into what works best, based on their personal experiences. The Office of Child Welfare Constituency Engagement conceptualizes, implements, and facilitates authentic, meaningful interactions between child welfare constituents and public and private child welfare agencies. The purpose of the office is to help ensure that those with the most significant experiences in child welfare have a mechanism by to participate in decision-making to advance system change.
Projects
Citizen Review Panels
Citizen Review Panels (CRP) are groups of volunteer citizens throughout the nation who are federally mandated to provide an evaluation of their state’s child protective services system. In Kentucky, there are active CRPs in the Cumberland, Eastern Mountain, Jefferson, Northeastern, Southern Bluegrass, and Two Rivers service regions of the Department for Community Based Services.
Contact Meagan Lederman for more information.
Children’s Justice Act Task Force (CJA)
The Children’s Justice Act Task Force is established in accordance with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act which authorizes grants to states to develop, establish, and operate programs designed to improve:
- The handling of child abuse and neglect cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the child victim
- The handling of cases of suspected child abuse or neglect related fatalities
- The investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation
- The handling of cases involving children with disabilities or serious health-related problems who are victims of abuse or neglect.
The Task Force is composed of professionals from throughout Kentucky who have been appointed by the Department for Community Based Services Commissioner.
Children’s Justice Act (CJA) Task Force Request for Proposals
Contact Meagan Lederman for more information.