Safety | Permanancy | Well-Being

Safety

• It is in the best interest of communities to make available to parents the necessary services, resources, and supports that will strengthen their capacity to carry out their parental obligations to their children.
  
  
• Communities and child welfare agencies have a responsibility to prevent child abuse and neglect by educating the public about their effect and by allocating the necessary resources to child abuse prevention efforts.
  
  
• The child protection system must be able to correctly identify those children and families in need of protection, and tailor a response to meet their safety and service needs.
  
  
• Services and supports must be respectful of and responsive to cultural differences, and must build on the strengths and protective factors within families and communities.
  
  
• Families served through the child protective services system should clearly understand that familial outcomes are expected of them and whether their acceptance of service is voluntary or is court ordered to protect the child.
  
  
• An aggressive and comprehensive public response is needed when there is harm to a child caused by physical abuse, sexual abuse, or chronic neglect.
  
  
• Public officials, business and community leaders, and citizens must be informed so that they understand the needs of abuse and neglected children, participate in their community's child protection system, form new partnerships and influence the public policy agenda related to child protection.
  
  
• Agencies must have competent staff that are skilled in working with children and families and in forming strong working relationships with professionals and others in the community who can be a resource for families.
  
  
• Action taken and services provided by child protection agencies should be based on expected outcomes. Data must be collected and analyzed to determine if these outcomes are achievable.

Permanency

• The importance of the child's need for safety, relationship, sense of belonging and stability must be a primary concern when making decision about permanency.
  
  
• Children are best raised in their birth families. If this is not possible after individualized and comprehensive services have been provided, relatives should be considered prior to permanent placement with non-related adoptive, guardian or foster family.
  
  
• We should be guided by principles of social justice and equity when working with children, birth families, kin, foster, and adoptive families.
  
• It is crucial we incorporate the importance of culture/diversity when making permanency decisions. However, no placement shall be delayed or denied on the basis of race, color or national origin.
  
  
• Families are our most valuable resource.
  
  
• The importance of understanding the critical issues related to attachment and bonding, staff training (should include cross training with domestic violence programs), and competence when delivering new services must be a high priority.

Well-Being

• Every child needs access to medical care.
  
  
• Every child needs an opportunity to obtain an education
  
  
• Every child needs a safe, stable and nurturing home.
  
  
• Every child needs a sense of belong to his family and his community.