Differential Response

What is Differential Response?

The differential response gives the department of Social Services a choice of two tracks of dealing with an issue, either through a investigation or through a family assessment.

Flexible CPS (Child Protective Services) response to reports

• Severity of report
• Immediacy of child safety concerns
• Family Needs
• Reports assigned for
• Investigation
• Family Assessment

Report Assignment Criteria

• Code Mandate requiring investigation
• Type of report
• Immediate child safety concerns
• Can be reclassified

Comparing Systems:

CURRENT SYSTEM	DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE
ONE Response Investigation	TWO Reponses Investigation or Assessment Assessment is:
INCIDENT Focused DISPOSITION Driven	FAMILY Focused SERVICES Driven
IMMEDIATE Response CPS and/or Law Enforcement	IMMEDIATE Response CPS & other Community Resource
CPS AUTHORITIES	CPS AUTHORITIES
CHILD SAFETY ASSESSMENT	CHILD SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Fact gathering 45-60 day DISPOSITION Central Registry	Services Needs Assessment 45-60 day NO Disposition CPS Case Management Data
COMMUNITY SERVICES	COMMUNITY SERVICES

Family Assessment Response:

PURPOSE

• Address report
• Assess child safety and family needs
• Build upon family strengths to meet child safety & developmental needs
• Needs driven Family Service Plan

Family Assessment Response:

PRINCIPLES Multi-needs vs. multi-problem family Partner with family & community Promote resiliency & self-reliance

PRACTICE Interviews Child Siblings Parent Observation Collateral Contacts Records Request Needs driven services

Community Child Protection:

• Child safety is the responsibility of families, neighborhoods, & communities
• CPS is one component of a community system capable of promoting child safety
• Success of CPS reform depends, in part, on proactive community commitment to improve child safety outcomes

Successful Community Child Protection Networks:

• Consensus on need for integrated services to keep families safe
• Partnerships
• Collaboration with informal resources
• Prevention strategies at-risk families

Successful Community Child Protection Networks:

• Crisis response to abuse/neglect
• Therapeutic services for maltreating families
• Services & supports
• coordinated
• culturally responsive
• accessible
• family needs driven
• empowerment focused

Benefits Community Child Protection:

Families

• less intrusive, less punitive service
• active involvement in identifying & addressing needs
• improved services access
• avoid stigma of labeling
• service satisfaction
• empowerment

Benefits:

Community

• Efficient & effective use of limited resources through collaboration
• Capitalize on each discipline’s expertise
• Cost effective services
• Stronger families, better integrated into community

Date Last Modified: 03/16/2009