The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires each state to convene Citizen Review Panels (CRP). In California, there are three committees that make recommendations to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). One focuses on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, another on Children and Family Services, and the third one on Critical Incidents.
During the 2021/2022 fiscal year, these three panels made recommendations that focused on the critical needs of the child welfare system. Some recommendations included reforming the mandated reporting system, creating an emergency relative/kinship placement program, supporting the expansion of the parent partner and youth partner programs, and developing a best practices child death review toolkit.
Members of all three panels are persons from the public and all of them bring experience in their respective area. SPI staff Lori Clarke and Yvonne Epps serve on and contribute to the Child and Family Services Panel.
The 2021-22 Annual Report has now been released, and all the recommendations can be read in their entirety HERE
