MGT Releases Report to Sacramento County Regarding Child Protective Services
MGT found that the number of critical incidents—deaths or near deaths of children who were known to CPS at the time of the incident—has increased dramatically recently. Sacramento County saw 13 critical incidents in an 11 year period spanning 1997 through mid-2007. However, in the 15-month period of October 2007 through December 2008, the county had 10 such incidents, a dramatic increase from prior years.
MGT conducted a performance review of the Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS) agency in late 2008. The final report was presented to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors at its March 31, 2009 meeting. The goal of the review wias to provide an independent, analytical review of the management and operations of selected CPS activities, including CPS intake, case management, communications, and oversight and accountability policies and practices. The purpose of the study was to identify any weaknesses within the current CPS processes for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect and to develop targeted and appropriate recommendations for improvement of the services.
The team performed a number of analyses, including a review of CPS policies and procedures, focus groups with staff and supervisors, and a review of selected child death cases from 2007 and 2008. The team found systematic failures in CPS' policies and procedures throughout many levels of the organization. The CPS’ poor performance has translated into higher fiscal and personnel costs for Sacramento County, and its failures have resulted in negative outcomes to families and children in the Sacramento region. Immediately following the issuance of MGT's report, the County Board of Supervisors voted to accept MGT's recommendations and brought in external professionals to assist in restructuring the agency and fixing endemic problems.
For more information on this review, please contact Linus Li, a principal in MGT's Sacramento office.
