RE: CPS Training

["Steve J. Ondersma" <Steve-Ondersma@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sheila,

	Regarding dealing with grieving families, I think Michele would be a
good resource.  I do think that, regardless, it would be very important to
decide if the state wants workers to primarily focus on the investigation or
on helping.  A clear and consistent message regarding priority in that area
would be necessary, in my opinion.  People, esp. DHS workers, need that kind
of structure or they try to do both and fail to do either.

Steve

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Sheila M. Crow [SMTP:Sheila-Crow@ouhsc.edu]
> Sent:	Wednesday, February 24, 1999 11:02 AM
> To:	Child Maltreatment Researchers
> Subject:	CPS Training
> 
> Our state CPS agency has asked us to develop a curriculum and provide
> training on child fatality investigation for CPS workers.  Specifically
> they
> would like us to conduct a survey on current practice related to CPS
> investigations of child abuse and neglect fatalities and to develop a
> curriculum reflecting the most current practice in child fatality
> investigation, including information about how to intervene with grieving
> families.  This last part is probably the most important.  Workers
> frequently cite that it is difficult to conduct their investigation while
> dealing with a grieving family.  I suspect this is especially difficult in
> our rural areas, where everyone knows everyone else.
> 
> Any thoughts or suggestions from others who experience this difficult
> issue
> would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.
> 
> Sheila Crow
> Assistant Director, Center on Child Abuse and Neglect
> University of Oklahoma HSC
> Department of Pediatrics
> 405.271.8858
> sheila-crow@ouhsc.edu