Mendocino County children could
be in danger because the agency charged with protecting them from abuse is too
short staffed and poorly managed to properly do its job, a recently released
grand jury report alleges.
The Mendocino County grand jury
investigated the Mendocino County’s Children and Family Services department
after receiving complaints about its performance.
The department, formerly called
Child Protective Services, is charged with investigating and monitoring
potential cases of abuse and neglect, removing children from harmful situations
and placing them in foster or other care.
“The complaints allege that
these services are not provided in a timely manner or not provided at all due
to staff shortages and management decisions,” the report states.
As a result, “there are
children in harm’s way” the grand jury report states.
County officials said they
cannot comment on the report at this time.
“We’re reviewing the grand jury
report and will be filing a response,” said Bryan Lowery, head of the county
social services department and assistant director of health and human services.
The report largely blames the
department’s alleged problems on staffing shortages and a lack of adequately
trained and experienced workers. The workers it does have are dedicated,
hardworking and caring, the report states.
The grand jury report blames
the under-staffing on noncompetitive pay, work overload, poor management and
low morale.
The department is unable to
attract a sufficient number of experienced workers in part because they can
receive better pay in nearby, wealthier counties to the south, such as Marin
and Sonoma counties.
June 2, 2015
Santa
Rosa Press Democrat
By
Glenda Anderson
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