The California Department of Social Services is now authorized to manage a pilot program allowing some county welfare agencies to test reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect via online forms.
The enabling legislation, SB 478 from State Sen. Bob Huff, R-San Dimas, was signed by the governor on Oct. 4. The bill is intended to augment existing phone hotlines used for reporting by police officers, doctors, social workers, teachers and other qualified individuals who are mandated to report under the state’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. The pilot could continue through 2021.
Under the pilot program, users who report via the online system would not be required to submit a written follow-up form as is the case with the current phone reporting system. But some answers in the online form may prompt a follow-up phone interview.
Phone wait times have been a problem in some jurisdictions, Huff said.
“By virtually eliminating wait times, an online reporting system will increase efficiencies at every level of the non-emergency and emergency response services. SB 478 will be an excellent resource to help county social workers assess and respond to child abuse and neglect cases in a timely manner,” Huff said, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
As prescribed in the legislation, the Department of Social Services and the County Welfare Directors Association of California will determine which of a maximum of 10 counties will participate in the online reporting pilot.
Seventy-two percent of child “maltreatment” reports come from mandated reporters, according to a 2013 Legislative Analyst’s Office study.
Some governments, such as L.A. County and Texas, already have launched their own online reporting systems.
