Special to IFN
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced the introduction of three new Citizen Review Panels to evaluate child welfare services and make system improvement recommendations aimed at strengthening the safety and well-being of children and families across the state. Applications to serve on a Citizen Review Panel are open now at the NCDHHS Citizen Review Panels website and will remain open until October 25.
As required under the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), the panels will assess data, trends, policies and procedures and receive needed information to provide recommendations to the state on how to better protect children and support families involved in the child welfare system. The Citizen Review Panels are also part of NCDHHS’ broader effort to enhance practices within permanency placement, kinship, foster care, mental and physical health services, case reviews and any action involving child protection so the department can learn from and keep children safe.
“We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of all children in North Carolina. We owe it to every child and family in North Carolina to consistently examine and strengthen the systems that are designed to keep them safe,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “The new Citizen Review Panels reflect our ongoing efforts to uphold transparency, accountability and community partnership as we work to transform child welfare in North Carolina.”
Citizen Review Panels will be composed of volunteer members representing a wide range of expertise – including individuals with lived experience in the child welfare system, child health and safety professionals, local providers and advocates. Each panel will consist of 20 members within each of the three regions and will determine its own area of focus, which may include issues such as teen suicide, unsafe sleep or domestic violence.
The panel may shift their focus year to year based on statewide trends and emerging needs. NCDHHS has selected Health Management Associates (HMA) to support the Citizen Review Panel process over the next three years. HMA will notify applicants who are accepted for a Citizen Review Panel in November. Additional information regarding membership can be found on the NCDHHS Citizen Review Panels website.
The Citizen Review Panels will evaluate the department’s ability to effectively fulfill child protection duties in our state supervised county administered system which could include child fatality information and will provide recommendations for long term improvements. Strengthening child welfare services is a central part of NCDHHS’ work to better protect children and improve outcomes for families in North Carolina. These efforts are guided by a larger vision to ensure that every child involved in the system, regardless of where they live, has access to consistent, high-quality services and a safe, permanent and nurturing environment where they can thrive.
LEARN MORE
For more information about the department’s efforts to transform the child welfare system, read Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families.