ChildWelfare.net - Georgia Child Protective Services Task Force Questionnaire Result Summary

Georgia Child Protective Services Task Force
Public Forum Input Surveys Summary of Results

At the public forums around the state 340 people completed surveys.

DFCS staff made up the largest single concentration (42%) of people who filled out the survey. Others included Family Connection staff, CASA volunteers and staff, students from several colleges, Head Start staff, school teachers and staff, nurses, public health employees, citizen review panel volunteers and staff, county commission staff on child & youth, child advocacy center staff, group home staff, 5 foster parents, 2 pediatricians, 2 prosecutors, 1 detective, a staff person from a local representative's office, and one person from a local chamber of commerce.

The largest concentration of surveys were from Macon. Eighty percent of respondents listed their identifying information and would be willing to offer further input. Forty-two percent of them (142) even listed an email address!

The major conclusions gained from the surveys are:

most people feel their community has the same or higher level of child abuse relative to other communities;
neglect appears to be the worst problem;
the primary causes of child abuse are substance abuse and poverty;
prevention programs appear to be primarily with DFCS;
the primary cause of the current CPS problems is high caseloads; and
the top recommendation for improvement of CPS is increased salaries.

The Detailed Survey Question Results:

Question #1: Amount of child abuse in my community relative to other communities:
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
Same Higher Don't Know lower

154 (47%) 116 (35%) 42 (13%) 19 (6%)

**Question #1: Amount of child abuse in my community relative to other communities:**
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
Same	Higher	Don't Know	lower
154 (47%)	116 (35%)	42 (13%)	19 (6%)

Question #2: What is the most pressing issue or concern surrounding child abuse and neglect in your community?
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
Child Neglect Child Physical Abuse Child Sexual Abuse Other Child Fatalities Child Abandonment

216 (40%) 102 (19%) 90 (16%) 62 (11%) 44 (8%) 32 (6%)

**Question #2: What is the most pressing issue or concern surrounding child abuse and neglect in your community?**
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
Child Neglect	Child Physical Abuse	Child Sexual Abuse	Other	Child Fatalities	Child Abandonment
216 (40%)	102 (19%)	90 (16%)	62 (11%)	44 (8%)	32 (6%)

Question #3: In your opinion, what is the primary cause of the most pressing child abuse or neglect issue which you have identified above?
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
All Substance Abuse Poverty/Unemployment + Substance Abuse Other Lack of Education Poverty/Unemployment + Lack of Education

192 (51%) 55 (15%) 49 (13%) 47 (12%) 20 (5%) 13 (3%)

**Question #3: In your opinion, what is the primary cause of the most pressing child abuse or neglect issue which you have identified above?**
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
All	Substance Abuse	Poverty/Unemployment + Substance Abuse	Other	Lack of Education	Poverty/Unemployment + Lack of Education
192 (51%)	55 (15%)	49 (13%)	47 (12%)	20 (5%)	13 (3%)

Question #4: What strategies and/or mechanisms exist in your community to prevent child abuse?
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
DFCS Community Prevention Programs School-Based Educational Other
292 (48%) 156 (26%) 114 (19%) 45 (7%)

**Question #4: What strategies and/or mechanisms exist in your community to prevent child abuse?**
(Numbers in table are the number of checkmarks an answer received.)
DFCS	Community Prevention Programs	School-Based Educational	Other
292 (48%)	156 (26%)	114 (19%)	45 (7%)

Question #5: What types of services are prevention programs providing in your community?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Parenting School Based Programs Little / None Healthy Families / First Steps Information / Education Programs Family Connections

56 (36%) 25 (16%) 24 (15%) 20 (13%) 16 (10%) 16 (10%)

**Question #5: What types of services are prevention programs providing in your community?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Parenting	School Based Programs	Little / None	Healthy Families / First Steps	Information / Education Programs	Family Connections
56 (36%)	25 (16%)	24 (15%)	20 (13%)	16 (10%)	16 (10%)

Question #6: Please rank in order of priority (1-6, 1 being the highest priority), which systems or services are in need of the most improvement:
(Numbers in table are the average priority an answer received, so a low number represents a high priority item.)
Case Worker Training DFCS Policies and Procedures System of Accountability Case Worker Hiring Foster Care Policies and Procedures Foster Parent Screening

3 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.9 4.5

**Question #6: Please rank in order of priority (1-6, 1 being the highest priority), which systems or services are in need of the most improvement:**
(Numbers in table are the average priority an answer received, so *a low number represents a high priority item*.)
Case Worker Training	DFCS Policies and Procedures	System of Accountability	Case Worker Hiring	Foster Care Policies and Procedures	Foster Parent Screening
3	3.1	3.1	3.2	3.9	4.5

Question #7: What deficiencies do you see in child abuse prevention programming in your community?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Lack of Resources / Funds Need More Prevention / More Proactive Lack of Coordination / Collaboration Lack of Staff / Lack of Trained Staff Need Parenting Education Classes Lack of Placement Resources

49 (41%) 19 (16%) 17 (14%) 12 (10%) 12 (10%) 10 (8%)

**Question #7: What deficiencies do you see in child abuse prevention programming in your community?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Lack of Resources / Funds	Need More Prevention / More Proactive	Lack of Coordination / Collaboration	Lack of Staff / Lack of Trained Staff	Need Parenting Education Classes	Lack of Placement Resources
49 (41%)	19 (16%)	17 (14%)	12 (10%)	12 (10%)	10 (8%)

Question #8: What strengths do you see in child abuse prevention programming in your community?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Collaboration Caring DFCS Staff None Public Awareness Cooperation with Law Enforcement and Other Agencies Reunification Programs

22 (30%) 19 (26%) 16 (22%) 9 (12%) 4 (5%) 3 (4%)

**Question #8: What strengths do you see in child abuse prevention programming in your community?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Collaboration	Caring DFCS Staff	None	Public Awareness	Cooperation with Law Enforcement and Other Agencies	Reunification Programs
22 (30%)	19 (26%)	16 (22%)	9 (12%)	4 (5%)	3 (4%)

Question #9: How are programs assessing their effectiveness?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Don't Know They're Not Outside and Internal Monitoring

75 (76%) 20 (20%) 4 (4%)

**Question #9: How are programs assessing their effectiveness?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Don't Know	They're Not	Outside and Internal Monitoring
75 (76%)	20 (20%)	4 (4%)

Question #10: In your opinion, what/who has been the primary contributor to the current problems in Georgia's Child Protective Services?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
High Caseloads / Lack of Workers Under Paid Staff Lack of Trained Workers / Poor Workers The Legislature / Laws Parents / Lack of Parent Education Legislature / Funding

55 (31%) 30 (17%) 25 (14%) 25 (14%) 21 (12%) 21 (12%)

**Question #10: In your opinion, what/who has been the primary contributor to the current problems in Georgia's Child Protective Services?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
High Caseloads / Lack of Workers	Under Paid Staff	Lack of Trained Workers / Poor Workers	The Legislature / Laws	Parents / Lack of Parent Education	Legislature / Funding
55 (31%)	30 (17%)	25 (14%)	25 (14%)	21 (12%)	21 (12%)

Question #11: In your experience, has there been a person or program within the Child Protective Services that has been helpful to you and your family or that you think works well?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
No DFCS Yes Parent Aid Homestead PUP Program

36 (36%) 17 (17%) 14 (14%) 12 (12%) 12 (12%) 8 (8%)

**Question #11: In your experience, has there been a person or program within the Child Protective Services that has been helpful to you and your family or that you think works well?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
No	DFCS	Yes	Parent Aid	Homestead	PUP Program
36 (36%)	17 (17%)	14 (14%)	12 (12%)	12 (12%)	8 (8%)

Question #12: Which organization(s) should be held accountable for the protection of children?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
DFCS / CPS Everyone Schools Law Enforcement Courts Healthcare Professionals

129 (30%) 86 (20%) 64 (15%) 62 (14%) 61 (14%) 35 (8%)

**Question #12: Which organization(s) should be held accountable for the protection of children?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
DFCS / CPS	Everyone	Schools	Law Enforcement	Courts	Healthcare Professionals
129 (30%)	86 (20%)	64 (15%)	62 (14%)	61 (14%)	35 (8%)

Question #13: What changes would you recommend for the statewide Child Protective Services to better protect the children in your community and throughout the state?
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Increase Salaries More / Better Training Reduce Caseloads Increase Staff Better Funding for Programs Better Quality Workers

70 (30%) 42 (18%) 40 (17%) 40 (17%) 23 (10%) 17 (7%)

**Question #13: What changes would you recommend for the statewide Child Protective Services to better protect the children in your community and throughout the state?**
(Numbers in table are counts of the top 6 answers.)
Increase Salaries	More / Better Training	Reduce Caseloads	Increase Staff	Better Funding for Programs	Better Quality Workers
70 (30%)	42 (18%)	40 (17%)	40 (17%)	23 (10%)	17 (7%)

Questionnaire design by Georgia Academy.
Answers by caring, concerned citizens all over Georgia.
Compilation of results by the great students of Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, Dept. of Epidemiology through Georgia's Child Placement Project.
Created 3/23/2000, Updated 4/24/2000 by The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University, ChildWelfare.net.

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Georgia Child Protective Services Task Force Public Forum Input Surveys Summary of Results

The Detailed Survey Question Results:

Georgia Child Protective Services Task Force
Public Forum Input Surveys Summary of Results