Policy to Dismantle the Existing Child Protective Services (CPS) Agency and Establish a New, Family-Centered Agency for Protecting Children and Elderly Adults
This policy dismantles the current CPS system, which has been widely criticized for overreach, improper family separations, and abuse of power. In its place, a new agency will be created to ensure the protection of children and elderly adults through transparency, support, accountability, and a family-centered approach. The reformed agency will prioritize family preservation, provide comprehensive preventive resources, and establish community-based solutions that respect individual rights while addressing crises responsibly.
1. Dismantling the Current CPS System
The existing CPS agency will be dissolved due to:
- Systemic Overreach: Excessive and often unjustified separations of children from families, frequently based on biased or inadequate information.
- Lack of Accountability: Insufficient oversight resulting in misuse of authority and inadequate response to complaints.
- Inadequate Family Support: Minimal preventive support and an institutional bias toward separation rather than family preservation.
2. Establishing a New Family-Centered Protective Agency
The new agency will focus on protecting children and elderly adults by promoting family unity, offering early support, and implementing community-driven solutions without infringing on familiesâ rights. This agency will operate transparently, prioritize family stability, and respect the dignity of all individuals involved.
3. Key Features of the New Agency
A. Emergency Placement with Family or Friends
- Family-First Emergency Placement:
- In cases requiring the removal of a child or elderly adult, the agency will prioritize identifying a trusted family member or friend for emergency placement. Foster care will only be used if no suitable relatives or friends are available.
- Pre-Approval of Family Caregivers: Extended family members can receive pre-approval to facilitate faster emergency placements and minimize trauma.
- Extended Family Network Program:
- Proactively involve extended family members to provide support, reducing the likelihood of separation by maintaining family involvement from the start of a case.
B. Stringent Background Checks and Screening on All Staff and Caregivers
- Strict Background Checks:
- Comprehensive Screening for all employees, caregivers, foster families, and volunteers who interact with children and elderly adults. No individual with prior charges or convictions related to abuse, neglect, exploitation, or any crimes that would contradict the agencyâs protective mission will be permitted to serve in any capacity.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Routine background checks will be conducted periodically to maintain the integrity and safety of the agency.
- No Exceptions Policy:
- No waivers or exceptions will be granted for any position within the agency, ensuring that only individuals with spotless records and a commitment to protecting vulnerable populations are involved.
C. Transparent Standards, Oversight, and Accountability
- Clear Guidelines for Case Action:
- Establish standardized protocols based on credible evidence to initiate investigations and make intervention decisions.
- Independent Oversight Board:
- An external review board will monitor cases, investigate complaints, and ensure fair and consistent practices.
- Regular audits will be conducted to assess adherence to policies and ethical standards, ensuring accountability across all cases.
- Family Rights and Legal Safeguards:
- Families will be guaranteed due process, with the right to contest any removal or agency action in court. Documentation and justification will be required for each intervention step, ensuring transparency and accountability.
D. Revamping the Foster Care System
- Enhanced Foster Family Vetting:
- Rigorous Screening: Prospective foster families must undergo extensive background checks, psychological evaluations, and regular monitoring.
- Mandatory Training: Foster families will complete training in trauma-informed care, child development, and elder care as applicable.
- Monitoring and Accountability:
- Frequent home visits and direct interviews with children or elderly adults will ensure that placements meet quality standards. All records will be thoroughly documented.
- Zero Tolerance for Abuse:
- Any substantiated case of mistreatment by a foster caregiver will lead to immediate removal of the individual from the foster program, criminal investigation, and prosecution where applicable.
- Support for Family Reunification:
- When appropriate, foster caregivers will collaborate with biological families to support reunification efforts, assisted by counseling and family therapy resources.
E. Focus on Prevention and Family Support
- Preventive Services and Early Intervention:
- Prioritize support services, including mental health resources, addiction recovery, and parenting support, to stabilize families before separation becomes necessary.
- Partner with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to identify and assist families in need early.
- Dedicated Case Management and Family Advocacy:
- Case managers will work directly with families to develop tailored support plans and coordinate resources.
- Family advocates within the agency will ensure family rights are upheld throughout investigations and interventions.
- Elderly Protection:
- A specialized unit will focus on elder abuse prevention and intervention, prioritizing the dignity and autonomy of elderly adults.
F. Community-Based, Culturally Sensitive Solutions
- Collaborative Community Involvement:
- Partner with local organizations to provide tailored support plans, encouraging family preservation.
- Train agency staff in cultural competency and respect for diverse family dynamics.
- School and Health Partnerships:
- Educate schools and healthcare providers on recognizing early signs of family crisis and connect families with local support resources for preemptive assistance.
4. Resources and Funding
Funding will support:
- Training for Staff and Foster Families: Ongoing education in trauma-informed care, ethics, and child development.
- Family Financial Assistance: Immediate support for essential needs, such as housing and food, to help families stay together.
- Mental Health and Counseling Services: Increased access to counseling, addiction recovery, and other therapeutic resources.
5. International Best Practices and Innovative Approaches
- Nordic Family Support Models: Emphasize family-centered, prevention-focused approaches, as seen in Norway and Finland.
- Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM): Used in New Zealand, involving extended family in decision-making to foster collective responsibility.
- Restorative Justice and Trauma-Informed Practices: Incorporate restorative justice principles and prioritize family and community healing, as used in parts of Canada.
- Collaborative Elder Care: Norwayâs elder care model emphasizes dignity-centered, community-based support, prioritizing home-based services.
6. Long-Term Goals and Expected Outcomes
- Minimized Family Separations: By focusing on prevention, the agency will reduce unnecessary removals.
- Improved Family Stability: Comprehensive resources and support will help families achieve long-term stability.
- Accountability and Transparency: Independent oversight and strict protocols will prevent abuses of power and build public trust.
- Quality Foster Care: Revamped standards will ensure safe, supportive foster placements, and better outcomes for children and elderly adults in temporary care.
This policy prioritizes family preservation, provides preventive support, establishes stringent vetting for all staff and caregivers, and integrates international best practices. With a new approach to accountability, transparency, and community collaboration, this agency aims to protect vulnerable populations while respecting family rights.Comprehensive Policy for Reformed Protective Agency: Supporting Vulnerable Children and Elderly Adults
This reformed policy introduces a new protective agency centered on family preservation, trauma-informed care, community support, and rigorous accountability. The agency will incorporate proven international best practices, innovative approaches, and additional support programs for children and elderly adults to ensure holistic, dignified care.
Core Tenets and International Best Practices Integration
Family-Centered and Prevention-Oriented Care:
Inspired by Nordic Family Support Models (Norway and Finland), the agency will prioritize early intervention and family-centered solutions to prevent crises before they escalate. Services will include in-home support, financial assistance, and mental health resources, reducing the need for removal by providing necessary tools for families to remain together.
A holistic, integrated approach will be adopted, where social services, healthcare, education, and financial aid work together, addressing the unique challenges families face.
Cultural sensitivity will be a cornerstone of the agencyâs work, ensuring that families from diverse backgrounds feel understood, respected, and supported.
Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM):
Modeled after New Zealandâs FGDM, families and extended networks will play an active role in resolving conflicts and making decisions regarding a childâs or elderâs well-being. All parties, including parents, extended family, close friends, and social workers, will collaboratively create a sustainable support plan.
This approach promotes collective responsibility and increases adherence to the care plan by involving those closest to the family, thereby minimizing disruptions for children and elderly individuals.
Restorative Justice and Trauma-Informed Practices:
Borrowing from Canadian restorative justice and trauma-informed practices, the agency will implement healing-focused, non-punitive approaches in its operations. Trauma-informed care training will be mandatory for all staff and caregivers, equipping them to respond compassionately to past trauma.
Restorative justice circles will be used as a healing mechanism, bringing families and social workers together to discuss and address harm, with a focus on understanding and supporting family healing.
Dignity-Centered Elder Care:
Inspired by Norwayâs community-based elder care, the agency will prioritize home-based support whenever possible and adopt dignity-centered care that respects elderly autonomy. When in-home care isnât feasible, the agency will ensure small, community-based care homes serve as an alternative to institutional settings.
Regular unannounced checks will be conducted in elder care facilities, at all times of day and night, to ensure that residents are treated respectfully and safely. Investigations will follow any signs of neglect, such as unexplained bruises or missing personal items.
Programs to Foster Positive Role Models and Support Networks
Big Brother/Big Sister Program for Vulnerable Youth:
To support at-risk children and teenagers, a Big Brother/Big Sister program will be implemented. Trained mentors, rigorously vetted to the same standards as agency staff, will serve as impartial role models and support figures, helping children and teens navigate difficult circumstances with guidance and stability.
These mentors will also provide the agency with an outsiderâs perspective on the childâs well-being, giving insights that complement family and social worker observations.
Adopted Grandparent Program for Elderly Adults:
An Adopted Grandparent program will pair elderly adults with compassionate volunteers who act as âadoptedâ grandchildren, offering companionship and helping identify any signs of neglect or mistreatment.
These volunteers will receive specialized training to recognize and report any signs of abuse or neglect, providing an additional layer of oversight to ensure elderly adults receive dignified care.
Rigorous Accountability, Background Checks, and Investigative Protocols
Comprehensive Background Checks:
All individuals associated with the agencyâfrom social workers to volunteers in mentor rolesâmust undergo thorough background checks, with zero tolerance for any past charges or behaviors that may pose a risk to vulnerable populations. This policy applies to anyone involved in child or elder care at any level.
No exceptions will be made to this policy, ensuring that only those with a history of integrity and respect are allowed to work with children and elderly adults.
Enhanced Foster Care and Elder Care Facility Oversight:
The agency will have a dedicated unit for unannounced inspections at foster care homes and elder care facilities, ensuring compliance with all standards. These checks will occur across different times of day and night, to gain a full understanding of how facilities operate around the clock.
Investigations will be initiated immediately upon reports of unexplained injuries, missing items, or signs of neglect or mistreatment.
Emergency Family Placement and Support:
In cases where immediate removal is necessary for safety, children or elderly adults will first be placed with trusted family members or close friends whenever possible, to minimize trauma and preserve a sense of familiarity and support.
If family placement isnât possible, vetted foster families or community-based care providers trained in trauma-sensitive care will be prioritized, with stringent monitoring to ensure quality and compassion in care.
Transparency, Education, and Parental Involvement
Parental and Community Involvement:
The agency will maintain full transparency with families, providing parents and family members with access to information on their childrenâs care plan, and involving them in decisions whenever possible.
Families will be encouraged to participate in family counseling, education programs, and regular check-ins to build skills and support systems for sustainable, long-term family health.
Education and Life Skills Development:
An educational component will teach basic life skills, emphasizing practical skills like cooking, financial literacy, and social skills. This will empower children, teens, and elderly adults with the knowledge and self-reliance they need to thrive.
The new agency will also offer resources to help families access community-based support, focusing on strengthening family bonds rather than imposing separation.
Transparency and Support in Elder Care:
Clear protocols will be in place for family members to visit elderly relatives and observe their care, helping to ensure the highest standards of transparency. Family members will be encouraged to report any concerns and will be provided with contact information for agency representatives who handle elder care oversight.
Family meetings with agency representatives will be held periodically to discuss the care plan, ensure the elderâs needs are met, and provide family members with opportunities to offer feedback.
Incentives for Family-Based, Trauma-Informed Care
Financial and Logistical Support for Family-Based Care:
Families caring for their elderly or young relatives will receive financial assistance, respite care, and access to counseling services to support them in keeping their loved ones at home.
Incentives will be offered to community members who serve as mentors or âadopted grandparents,â rewarding individuals who contribute to the agencyâs mission of compassionate, family-oriented care.
Continuous Improvement and Adaptation:
The agency will prioritize continuous learning and adaptation, remaining informed by emerging best practices worldwide and adopting new policies or procedures based on proven success in other regions.
By implementing these international best practices, rigorous accountability measures, and innovative support programs, the new protective agency will work to protect vulnerable children and elderly adults with dignity, compassion, and a focus on preserving and supporting families. This reformed approach will reduce reliance on foster care or institutional placements by strengthening family and community bonds, ensuring that children and elders receive the support they need to thrive in a safe, respectful environment.
College Dorm Partnership Program: Adopt-A-Grand Model for Elderly Companionship and Support
To further support elderly adults who are still able to live independently but would benefit from companionship and additional support, this policy includes the College Dorm Partnership Program based on the Adopt-A-Grand model. This program pairs college students with elderly adults living nearby, offering a unique living arrangement that fosters intergenerational companionship, practical support, and enriched community engagement.
Program Overview
The College Dorm Partnership Program will create affordable, community-focused housing arrangements in which college students reside near or share living spaces with elderly adults who still live independently but would benefit from having a trusted companion nearby. This program offers both college students and elderly participants a chance to experience intergenerational learning, social connection, and mutual support.
The program will include:
Fully Vetted Pairing Process:
Both students and elderly participants will undergo comprehensive background checks and vetting processes to ensure compatibility and safety. Elderly adults will be selected based on their independent living capabilities and their willingness to participate in a social arrangement.
Students will receive training in elderly sensitivity, communication, and basic support skills, and must demonstrate maturity and a sense of responsibility.
Onboarding and Mentorship Support:
Each pair will go through an onboarding process to establish expectations, goals, and a mutually agreeable schedule for social interactions. Elderly adults will have the option to connect with students for companionship, help with basic household tasks, or participation in community activities.
A program mentor from the new protective agency or partnering universities will be assigned to each pair, ensuring they have an accessible point of contact for guidance and mediation if needed.
Program Features
Affordable Living and Stipend for College Students:
Students participating in the program will receive discounted or subsidized housing rates, making college more affordable and incentivizing student involvement. They will also be eligible for a modest stipend for any support services provided beyond companionship, such as grocery shopping or minor household help.
To ensure students remain focused on their studies, they will not be required to provide medical or intensive care but will instead focus on social engagement and companionship.
Companionship and Social Engagement for Elderly Adults:
Elderly participants will benefit from having trusted, youthful companionship, fostering social interaction, reducing isolation, and offering the chance to connect with younger generations.
Activities could include shared dinners, game nights, or study sessions, depending on mutual interests. These interactions provide the elderly adult with the benefits of companionship while offering students a grounded living environment.
Regular Check-ins and Support Resources:
Weekly check-ins will be conducted by the program mentor to ensure the arrangement meets both parties' expectations and to address any arising issues.
Elderly adults and students will have access to support resources, such as community events, wellness programs, and social services if additional help is needed.
Enhanced Elderly and Community Safety:
Students in the program will receive training in basic emergency protocols, enabling them to act appropriately if their elderly companion faces an unexpected health issue.
The programâs support structure includes access to 24/7 emergency contacts and the involvement of healthcare and social service professionals, if needed, providing peace of mind for both the elderly adult and their family members.
Incentives for Student Participation and Community Engagement
Academic Credits or Service Hours:
To encourage student involvement, participating colleges may offer academic credit or community service hours for students who actively engage in the program. This recognition helps motivate students while building valuable life skills.
Social and Career Benefits:
Students gain valuable experience working with an older generation, building skills in empathy, communication, and patience. This experience is particularly beneficial for students pursuing careers in healthcare, social work, psychology, or education.
The agency will also work to provide career networking opportunities for students, linking them with professionals in fields related to community service, elder care, and public policy.
Program Expansion and Community Benefits
Broader Community Impact:
This model fosters a supportive community network by building connections between universities and neighborhoods. It reduces the isolation of elderly adults while providing affordable housing for students, benefiting both parties.
It also encourages the continuation of community-based elder care, reducing the strain on formal caregiving systems and promoting dignified, independent living arrangements for seniors.
Scalability and Partnerships with Universities:
The College Dorm Partnership Program can be expanded to multiple universities, with the goal of making it a standard option for students and elderly adults alike. Partnerships with educational institutions ensure a pipeline of willing and capable participants each academic year.
Community centers, local churches, and volunteer organizations can be partners, enriching the program and extending support beyond companionship to include a range of community activities and resources.
Protective Measures and Accountability
Monthly Agency Assessments and Reports:
Monthly assessments will be conducted by the agency, covering the well-being of both students and elderly participants, ensuring the programâs quality and sustainability.
An anonymous reporting system will allow both parties to report concerns, guaranteeing accountability and enabling swift action if issues arise.
Oversight and Program Evaluations:
Regular evaluations and feedback loops will ensure that the program remains effective and safe for all participants. Adjustments to the program will be made based on participant feedback, making it a model for intergenerational support.
Success stories and positive impacts will be documented to encourage wider adoption of similar programs, showcasing how young and old generations can benefit from shared living arrangements.