|
I hope this newsletter finds you all well, healthy and safe.
As the front door of the Child Welfare system, the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) often receives calls from families because they need help. Our goal is to ensure Oregon families have access to preventive resources and services before a call needs to be made to the hotline.
ORCAH uses the direction of the Child Welfare Division Vision for Transformation as a roadmap for how we can transform ORCAH and the child serving system.
|
One area we are reevaluating is the screening process. Screening is the first point of contact for children at risk of or experiencing abuse and neglect. This vital decision point often determines the path of a child and family through our systems. It is imperative it be as transparent and equitable as possible.
Since centralizing the statewide hotline in August 2018, we have used national research, data analysis and continuous quality improvement to find ways to improve to the screening process. This led us to partnering with Casey Family Programs to begin work with a contracted partner, Evident Change. In this partnership we will develop a Structured Decision Making (SDM) screening and response assessment tool to use at ORCAH.
The SDM system uses evidence-based assessments at key points in Child Protective Services (CPS) casework. It helps staff make consistent, accurate and equitable decisions in their work with families. The SDM tool is used to evaluate whether a report requires an in-person response and how quick to respond, if needed. The SDM screening and response tool has been part of the SDM model for about 20 years. In the past five years, 12 states have begun using or are preparing to use an SDM screening and response tool.
|
In the newsletter linked below you will find more information about:
- ORCAH updates
- Continuous quality improvement and data reporting
- ORCAH employee spotlight
- Partner spotlight
- Mental Health Awareness month
Thank you all for partnering with ORCAH and keeping children safe.
Kristen Khamnohack (she/her)
Screen Program and ORCAH Manager
|
|
The Annual Report highlights how ORCAH carried out the Vision for Transformation in 2021. Each guiding principle includes updates and strategies to improve our outcomes.
|
|
|
|
