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DFCS reports 55% completion of child-welfare corrective action plan; county hears public criticism
Summary
Department of Family and Children's Services told the committee that a CDSS midyear review found improvements and that 55% of corrective action plan items are complete; a public commenter accused DFCS leadership of failing to protect children, an allegation not substantiated at the meeting.
Department of Family and Children—s Services Director Wendy Kinnear Rausch told the board on Nov. 20 that the county has reached the mid-point of its corrective action plan (CAP) and is showing measurable progress.
DFCS arranged an Oct. 7 midyear on-site review with the California Department of Social Services, which pulled a sample of 55 referrals and cases using the same methodology applied during the earlier review. Director Wendy Kinnear Rausch reported that CDSS found improvements in use of structured decision-making assessments, documentation and monitoring of safety plans, and appropriate escalation of cases that warranted it. She said staff value coaching and small-group training and described ongoing efforts to strengthen documentation and monitoring.
"We have passed the 50% mark. We're at 55% that we have completed. Another 37 are actively in progress," the director reported, referring to CAP action items. DFCS also highlighted localized pilots to keep children in county — pilots that are live in Gilroy and launching in selected school districts — and said it is working with technology services to improve how families connect with on-site social workers.
During public comment, a resident named Perrin criticized DFCS leadership, alleging the director was failing to protect children and questioned whether favoritism or corruption was involved in case decisions; Perrin called for the director—s removal. The DFCS director and staff did not address that individual case allegation in the public record; DFCS emphasized system-level improvements and plans to expand caregiver recruitment so children can remain in-county and in their home schools when safe.
The committee voted to receive the DFCS CAP progress report and discussed adding ongoing feedback loops, affinity-group input, and a thoughtful communications plan as DFCS continues implementation. The director said the department is working with CDSS and internal staff groups to refine training and referral-disagreement processes and will return with additional communication materials and updates.
