Help protect children and ensure safety
Alternative Response is a family-engagement approach to child protective services (CPS) designed to help protect children and ensure their safety and well-being by providing needed services that strengthen and support families. Alternative Response builds collaborative connections among the child protection agency, community agencies and families so that families can identify concerns and meet their needs using available supports and services.
Alternative Response has been implemented in a number of states and counties across the nation. Research has shown that Alternative Response results in:
- Increased child safety and well-being.
- Fewer repeat cases of abuse and neglect.
- Lower placement rates of children in foster care.
- Reduced costs over time.
- Increased satisfaction, both by families involved with the child welfare system and child welfare workers.
Alternative Response will not replace the traditional CPS response. Instead, it is designed to augment it. The traditional investigative response will continue to be used to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred and if children must be removed from their homes and placed in foster care. Alternative Response is for use with families who may need supports and services in order to keep their children safe. Alternative Response helps connect these families to the community organizations and agencies that can provide the services they need.
This means that:
- Ohio children and families will receive the help they need sooner.
- Fewer children will enter, or re-enter, foster care.
- Community agencies will work in partnership with families to ensure their children’s safety and well-being.
In CLARK COUNTY, in 2010:
- There were 550 reports of child abuse.
- There were 338 reports of child neglect.
- There were 173 reports of families in need of supportive services
In CLARK COUNTY, Alternative Response will help us better serve children and families and respond more quickly and effectively to their needs.
For more information contact:
NANCY MAHONEY AT (937) 327-1740 OR MAHONN@odjfs.state.oh.us
STEFANIA FALKE AT (937) 327-1782 OR FALKES@odjfs.state.oh.us
