Community Partnership

The safety and well being of children is a community responsibility shared by families, neighborhoods, service providers, schools, community leaders, the faith community, and others. CPS has the legal authority to protect children but is one component of a community of people and service providers in a position to identify and assist troubled families in keeping their children safe.

The success of the CPS Differential Response System is dependent upon the extent to which communities are proactively committed to improving the health, safety, and well being of those families and children affected by abuse or neglect.

Successful Community Networks
Successful community child protection networks are characterized by:

• Community consensus on the need for integrated services designed to keep children and family members safe at all times
• Clearly articulated partnerships able to maintain commitments
• Collaborative use of informal resources to support families such as the faith community, extended family, and other community groups
• Prevention strategies for at risk families
• Crisis response to suspected abuse or neglect
• Therapeutic services for families and children affected by abuse or neglect
• Services and supports are:
  • Coordinated
  • Culturally responsive
  • Accessible
  • Family needs driven
  • Family empowerment focused