Building on Success: The Road Ahead For Family and Children's Services
This issue of Currents focuses on the significant reforms implemented at ACS since its inception in 1996. Their many initiatives, including professionalizing the staff, expanding training and developing programs that focus on working with parents, have been very encouraging.The mission of the child welfare system, that of protecting and ensuring the well being of children, presents a formidable challenge. Social workers, as a key profession in child welfare delivery, must be vigilant that gains made are not lost and that progress goes forward.
Social workers who are experts in the field of child welfare express concern that the successes achieved at ACS, under the leadership of Commissioner Scoppetta, not be undone under the new city administration.
On Election Day, the city passed a charter revision that establishes ACS as a freestanding, independent entity. This is a vital step in ensuring that the reforms made during the past five years are maintained and provides the necessary foundation to continue improvement.
The accomplishments attained at ACS suggest that among the key components that enable the child welfare system to succeed in its mission of protecting children are leadership, commitment, continuity and resources.
ACS has had strong and stable leadership. This continuity of leadership has been key to implementing change. There has been a commitment to professionalize its workforce. These efforts need to be expanded in order to be felt throughout the system.
The voluntary child welfare sector, in comparison, lags behind ACS with respect to training and salary. Higher salaries are necessary to attract high caliber staff and to retain them.
The city budget is tighter today than it has been in many years. To what extent the new city administration will support and provide resources for child welfare services is not yet clear. What is clear is that ACS was able to initiate many important reforms in part because of support from the city government. Ground gained must not be lost and successful initiatives must serve as the foundation for continued progress.