What's New

April 2024 - Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

“The County of Santa Cruz is committed to advancing policies and practices that prioritize the well-being of all our county’s children and families. Every family and child deserve supports to help them thrive, feel purposeful and have hope for the future. I encourage our community to join in our efforts this month and become partners in child abuse prevention.” Gloria Carroll, Division Director of the Human Services Department’s Family and Children's Services Division
 
  • Read the County's Press Release about child abuse prevention month, HERE
  • Watch this HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO from our Children's Memorial Flag Raising event on April 26, 2024
  • READ newspaper coverage of our April 2024 partnership efforts on child abuse prevention

Free Mandated Reporter Training Opportunity

COMING SOON — Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Training: A clinical exploration of child abuse and neglect risk factors, warning signs, and interventions
 
Watch here for links to sign up for this free training later this year!

System Improvement Plan (SIP) Committee Meetings

Since 2006, Santa Cruz County has maintained a System Improvement Plan (SIP) Steering Committee that is charged with oversight and monitoring of the County’s SIP strategies and action steps. In 2014, the SIP Steering Committee was instrumental in collaboratively working with Santa Cruz County FCS and Juvenile Probation to assess performance on critical child welfare and probation outcomes, which resulted in the 2015‐2020 System Improvement Plan (SIP). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the SIP Steering Committee was able to engage in the 2020-2025 SIP process and the final plan has been developed.
 
The SIP Steering Committee, chaired by County Supervisor Bruce McPherson and the FCS Director, continues to meet quarterly to monitor the SIP. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please see the 2022 SIP Committee Meeting Calendar for committee meeting dates and times.
 

Child Abuse & Neglect Mandated Reporter Training- September 23rd Virtual Recording

The Child Abuse & Neglect Mandated Reporter Training is a clinical exploration of child abuse and neglect risk factors, warning signs, and interventions methods. This training will harness your existing knowledge of child abuse and neglect and will propel your understanding of the child welfare system in Santa Cruz County forward.
 
Participants will:
  1. Be able to describe the steps needed to make a child abuse or neglect report.
  2. Be able to identify at least one warning sign for neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
  3. Be able to name three risk factors that are related to child abuse and neglect.
Instructor: Keli Kopeck, M.S, Program Manager for Family and Children’s Services, has worked in the field of Child Welfare for 27 years as a Social Worker, Supervisor, Staff Development Trainer and Sr. Analyst.
Below you can access the webinar recording and presentation material: