Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

DCF Needs to Improve Child Protection Staff Training and Clarify DCF and Lead Agency Roles

Report 04-03, January 2004




Report Summary

There is no single optimal mix of specific services for addressing the needs of families involved in child protection investigations. Rather, services must be tailored to meet the unique needs of each family. The availability of services to families does affect the frequency of reabuse. Some evidence links the availability of family services to the workload and turnover of protective investigators, but it is not a primary factor.

As the department shifts additional responsibility to community-based care providers, it needs to address three issues:

  • implementing an effective training system that provides child welfare workers the necessary skills to perform their work successfully;
  • clearly delineating the responsibilities of district and sheriff's office child protective investigators and lead agency caseworkers; and
  • developing effective quality assurance monitoring systems to ensure fiscal integrity and quality services by its contracted providers.


Related Reports
  1. CBC Pilot Project Implementation Delayed But Proceeding; Other Initiatives Implemented
    Report 07-03 January 2007
  2. Progress Report: Child Welfare Legal Services Makes Some Improvements, But Other Changes Needed
    Report 05-47 September 2005
  3. Progress Report: After Further Delay, DCF Redesigning Child Welfare Training and Taking Steps to Clarify Case Transfer
    Report 05-40 August 2005
  4. Progress Report: Child Protection Program Makes Needed Changes But Lacks Data for Evaluating Results of Initiatives
    Report 03-09 January 2003
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, hotline, in-home services, out-of-home care, foster care, independent living, family safety, safety, child protection services, child abuse, child neglect, family safety, child protective investigations, child protection training, community-based care, lead agencies, child protection staff, case workers, quality assurance monitor, adoption