Re: Privatization of CPS

["Lynn Sheets" <lsheets@xxxxxxxx>]

Kansas has "privatized" services, but CPS abuse investigations still are conducted through joint SRS and Law Enforcement investigations.  The investigative phase has not been privatized.  This situation has added another layer to a system that already had many cracks for kids to fall through!  Now these are chasms!
-Lynn

Lynn K. Sheets, MD
KU Children's Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
HC Miller Room 2013
Kansas City, KS  66160
913.588.7339
FAX 913.588.6280
email:  lsheets@kumc.edu

>>> jgoodso@comp.uark.edu - 3/8/0 10:21 AM >>>
Arkansas transferred its severe child abuse/neglect (primarily abuse) cases
to the State Police approximately two years ago.  There has been no
official study of the outcome of this transfer.  The transfer was slow
getting started and was not welcomed by most staff in the field either in
child welfare or the State Police.  "Civilian Investigators" were hired by
the State Police and are not uniformed officers with the authority to
arrest.  Timely completion was a problem for the State Police until
recently when more staff was added.  Since the State Police are a state
agency, I am not sure that our situation qualifies as privitization.
Kansas has privitized almost all its services in child welfare.  You might
check with them.



At 09:43 AM 3/6/2000 -0600, Larry Wagoner wrote:
>At about 08:30 AM 3/6/00 -0500, Terry Buckenmeyer said, and I answered:
>>About a half dozen counties have transferred the
>>investigation functions to the Sheriff's offices.
>
> > My own
>>experience has been that not being a law enforcement officer has
>>facilitated engaging families,
>
>Might it be that investigations are better handled by law enforcement and 
>treatment by non-law enforcement personnel?
>
>
>-- Larry Wagoner
>"Expect A Miracle"
>
>
>