DFCS reports progress on child-welfare corrective action plan as public commenters renew abuse allegations

The Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) presented an update Jan. 22 on its corrective action plan, telling the Children, Seniors and Families Committee that the department has completed or gained sign-off on 61% of 75 required action items and has recorded five consecutive months at 95% or greater for safety-plan compliance.

Wendy Kinnear Rausch, DFCS director, said the department has worked with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to publish clarified policy on referrals and investigations and is rolling out trainings. "We are at 61% of those action items being signed off by the California Department of Social Services," she said in her presentation. DFCS also described a community social worker pilot positioned at Franklin McKinley and Gilroy Unified school districts and said staff will evaluate the pilot with mixed-methods (calls/referrals data plus qualitative feedback) and report back in the coming months.

During public comment, multiple speakers renewed allegations that DFCS failed to screen or adequately respond to reports of child sexual abuse. An online speaker identified in the record as "Parent" said they had "called the hotline several times" and received no effective response; the speaker said their children had been abused and asked the county to conduct screenings. Another commenter named specific DFCS staff and blamed them for past child deaths; those allegations were not substantiated during the meeting.

Chair Arenas read a legal-limits statement to the room noting that "California law prohibits the disclosure of information related to an investigation of a suspected child abuse or neglect," and that DFCS is not authorized to discuss the specifics of an individual investigation. The chair also emphasized mandated cross-reporting to law enforcement and the district attorney and provided a public contact phone number for DFCS reports: (833) 722-5437.

Supervisors and DFCS staff discussed next steps and the evaluation approach. DFCS said it is tracking referrals, distinguishing resource requests from reports that meet thresholds for investigation, and collaborating with school partners and the CDSS to keep policies current. The committee voted to receive DFCS's report.

What the meeting did not include: no case-level findings or outcomes were shared because of legal confidentiality; the public allegations aired at the meeting were not adjudicated there. DFCS described systemic policy and training work underway and said CDSS has reviewed and signed off on the majority of required actions.