In order for any community to maintain a reasonable quality of life, it must have in place certain safeguards. As a result, responsible government has established organizations to assure public order and safety. This is especially important in regard to protecting the very young, very old disabled and disadvantaged members of society.

By design and legislation, the entity charged with protecting children is the local Department of Social Services. Located within the agency is the Child Protective Services Unit. This unit is staffed by individuals who are highly qualified and specifically trained to cope with the unique challenges presented by each case assigned to them. Training is intense and ongoing and effective in providing workers with the support and information they need to perform their duties. All workers function within the context of a team structure and are guided by New York state regulations and supported by agency supervisors and the county attorney's office. The agency's primary initial goal is assuring the safety of children. The ultimate mission of the agency is to return children to their restored, safe and nurturing birth family. If this is not possible, the agency, with the approval of the court, is responsible for locating an alternative permanent family for children.

The County Child Protective unit investigates over 100 cases per month of alleged abuse and /or neglect. The decision to refer a case for investigation is made by staff of the New York State Central Registry in Albany. The investigation process is closely monitored and no single worker makes the final decision on the disposition of a case. Allegations are thoroughly and objectively investigated and the information gathered reviewed by the supervisor prior to deciding whether a case should be indicated or unfounded. The majority of cases are resolved by cooperatively working with the family and are never referred to the court. There are cases that, due to grave safety concerns for the children or lack of voluntary cooperation of the family need the authority and intervention of the court. All decisions to remove children from their home and/or to return children to their parents are made by the court, after due consideration of the evidence and recommendations presented during the court proceedings. Each person involved in a case before the court is afforded the protection and due process guaranteed by the Constitution.

As a society, we have acknowledged our duty to assure every child a permanent home free from abuse and neglect. Child protective workers are the gatekeepers of a community's most basic duty, the safety of its children.

Michael A. Mancini

Auburn

Mancini writes as deputy director for Human Services,

Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services