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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCPT Annual Report to County April 2017COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTION TEAM New Hanover County 1650 Greenfield Street - -- P.O. Drawer 1559 Wilmington, NC 28402 Telephone (910) 798 -3476 - -- Fax (910) 798 -3491 Mandated Members and Current Representatives April 17, 2017 Director, NHC DSS Michelle Winstead Mr. Woody White, Chairman Assistant Director, NHC DSS New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Wanda Marino 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 175 Law Enforcement Wilmington, NC 28403 NHC Sheriff's Office — Kelly Sellers Wrightsville Beach PD - Vacant Dear Chairman White: Wilmington PD - Melissa Moore; Matthew Malone Carolina Beach — Chris Spivey This report is being submitted by the New Hanover County Community Child Kure Beach - Vacant District Attorney's Office Protection Team (CCPT) in order to meet state law that was established in Lance Oehrline response to Executive Order 142 in May 1991. The CCPT acts to identify and NHC Community Action, Inc. - Vacant NHC Schools address gaps or deficiencies in services and resources for children and families Kathy Newcomb and to build public awareness through multiple resources, including placing our NHC DSS Board Designate Andy Rinko findings and concerns for your information and support in this annual report. Mental Health Professional Amy Horgan Guardian ad Litem Child abuse and neglect are complex social problems that require a well- planned Linda Biezewski strategy for prevention and require communities that are responsive to these NHC Department of Health Joyce Hatem problems. Our report is intended to provide a starting point for you and others NHC Health Care Provider who care about "our" children and families. There is no single answer or Dr. Pam Taylor approach that can prevent child abuse in our county. However, we are hopeful Additional Members that the information contained in this report will provide you with valuable Emergency Medical Services Provider NHRMC — Colleen Mistovich, information in order to make the best decisions for our children. 51" Judicial District Court Judge J. H. Corpening, Chief County Medical Examiner- Jeff Probst Twenty -five local agencies represent our CCPT. During 2016 these agencies Local Child Care Facility NHC Smart Start — Mebane Boyd met 15 times and extensively reviewed select cases. These cases were selected Local Mental Health Provider — as they represented serious unmet needs of families in New Hanover County Coastal Horizons — Ryan Estes UNCW — Angie Vandeberg who were receiving services as they were unable to meet the needs of their Current At -Large Appointees of the children. These reviews also serve to bring to the surface underlying problems Board of Commissioners that impact the entire community. Unfortunately, the recurring identified gaps ED, Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. and barriers are basically the same as we have brought before you over the past Mary Ann Lamaa several years. They are as follows: Chief Court Counselor Div. Juvenile Justice, Dept. of Public Safety Robert J. Speight Executive Director, Carousel Center 1. Lack of consistent, accessible, effective mental health services for Abused Children (a) Unacceptable services for families and children experiencing a mental Amy Feath Youth Empowerment Services health crisis, which requires in- patient treatment for stabilization, i.e. long waits Chris Preston due to limited inpatient resources, which can be days or weeks, in the Emergency Management/911 emergency room and a great distance to travel to access services. Warren Lee (b) Minimal appropriate out -of -home placements that currently exist for children identified with sexually acting out behaviors. (c) Inability to access appropriate therapeutic interventions due to limitations for coverage by both Medicaid and private insurance companies. (d) Inadequate level of school based mental health services at New Hanover County Schools Recommendation — Expand insurance coverage to include services for therapeutic interventions for children and adults in need of these services to ensure safety. Ensure strong client advocacy on behalf of children and adults who are in need of mental health services. We can accomplish this only if we have improved and regular communication with Trillium, our local mental health MCO. Trillium must be held accountable for adequate oversight and monitoring of all Medicaid /uninsured providers in order for our citizens to receive the highest level of quality care. We must continue to fund mental health services to our schools based on the increase in the opioid epidemic and teen suicide. All schools should have mental health services due to these issues. Currently, several schools share a counselor which can prevent a timely response to a crisis. 2. Substance Abuse - Involved Families Substance abuse by parents and caretakers continues to be a prevalent contributory factor in child maltreatment. The negative impact that results from substance abuse involves children being left unsupervised, children born testing positive for a controlled substance such as prescription medications or illegal drugs, caretakers involved in criminal behavior leading to incarceration and sadly child fatalities. Of particular concern is our local opiate abuse epidemic. This issue is compounded by our local proliferation of providers who deliver minimal oversight and intervention regarding medication management, i.e. Methadone, Subutex, and Suboxone. Recommendation — Increase community awareness through education regarding intervention. Continue collaboration with community partners to develop policy and procedures to ensure safety for our children. Advocate for adequate oversight of providers who deliver medication management and mandate that they must provide effective assessment and treatment services. 3. Lack of Affordable Non - Subsidized Housing Families who are at or just above the current poverty guidelines are not eligible for subsidized housing. They struggle to find affordable, adequate housing in New Hanover County. Too often the results are families being forced to live in unsafe neighborhoods; multiple families residing in a single residence, or tragically enough, homelessness. Recommendation — Provide funding to community agencies to develop innovative housing initiatives /solutions that meet the needs of all our populations in New Hanover County, particularly the working poor, and require strict enforcement of housing regulations. We must recognize that more relatives are raising children with fixed incomes and need our support with solutions to help them be successful with the future leaders of our community. 4. Service barriers for undocumented families Systemic barriers exist for undocumented families' ability to access basic services that would adequately meet the needs of their children, i.e. medical care, dental care, mental health treatment, and housing. Recommendation — Ensure that basic needs for ALL children are met regardless of citizenship through advocacy at the local and state level. 5. Increase in 16 and 17 year olds charged with crimes as adults We continue to see an increase in 16 and 17 year olds charged with crimes as adults. North Carolina is one of only two States in the country that sets 16 years of age as the age our youth face prosecution as adults. Recommendation — Support the current Raise the Age Legislation under House Bill 280 that would raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction in NC to 18 for low level felonies and misdemeanors. Raising the age will not only be a great investment for 16 and 17 year olds, as they will not be charged as adults, but will also yield a lasting return from a public health, public safety, and economic standpoint. It allows our children the best opportunity to be productive and economically independent adults. 2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Investments in preventing child abuse and neglect pay rich dividends in the life of a community. The purpose of our group is to not only identify gaps in services, but to also provide opportunities to organize others around the cause of child abuse prevention. When we protect and nurture our children, we ensure a bright future for the whole community. In 2016 we sponsored the following events: • Every Child Deserves a Great Childhood — In April 2016, during Child Abuse Prevention Month, we held the Annual Flower Launch on the Henrietta. This event honors community members and professionals who work every day to nurture and protect our children. Each flower that is launched into the Cape Fear River represents an individual or agency that has positively impacted the lives of local children. • Community Education on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect -- Training was provided to all county fire departments, local law enforcement, and New Hanover County School Counselors /Social Workers on how to recognize, respond, and report child abuse and neglect. This is an ongoing effort by our membership. • Mental Health Mobile Crisis Services — Coordinated community meetings to improve communication and education on the needs of mental health mobile crisis in our community. This resulted in an additional service being added by Trillium to meet these needs. • School Based Mental Health Services — Coordinated meetings to discuss solutions for improvement in school based mental health services due to the increase in the opioid epidemic and teen suicide. Discussion led to a plan to assist the schools with their need for coverage with counselors in all schools in our county. Child Fatality Training — Provided training to all law ent. , orcernent entities with the District Attorney's Office regarding best practice in responding to child fatalities to provide safety to other children who may be involved and to coordinate investigations to ensure prosecution of those who abuse children. In addition to our 2016 accomplishments, the New Hanover County CCPT was recognized by the State Division of Social Services as a model CCPT for North Carolina due to our involvement within our community and numerous accomplishments. We continue to participate on the State CCPT Advisory Board as well as provide leadership and training to other county teams, REQUEST TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR LOCAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE CCPT In addition to those members mandated and those designated by NC G.S. 713 1406 shown on our letterhead, the statute provides for appointment by the county commissioners of an additional member from and up to five at-large members. We ask your approval of these appointments for April 2017 through April 2018. • At-Lar2e Members: Mary Ann Lama, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. Robert J. Speight, Chief Court Counselor Div, Juvenile Justice, Dept, of Public Safety Amy Feath Executive Director, Carousel Center for Abused Children Chris Preston, New Hanover County Youth Empowerment Services Manager Stephen Still, Director, New Hanover County Emergency Management , We recognize the challenges you address every day for the citizens of New Hanover County and thank you for this opportunity to discuss our report. We ask that you hold these unmet needs as priorities in your contacts with state and/or national governinent representatives and in your local decision making. The CCPT member agencies are committed to continuing to work with you to promote child safety and prevent child maltreatment. SincY' Judge Corpe g, it Te NHC Community Child Protection Team Wanda Marino, Assistant Director NHC Department of Social Services 1 The duties and responsibilities of CCPT were adopted as North Carolina Administrative Code 411.0400. The original purpose and composition of the team were further formalized and expanded by G.S. 713 1406, effective July 1, 1993.