WSNIA - The Educator

INFORMATION ♦ EDUCATION ♦ ENFORCEMENT

THE EDUCATOR - Spring 2002

So You Want a Child Protective Services Worker in Your Task Force? Three Perspectives.

Perspective I: by Jim Chamberlain, Captain, Thurston County Narcotics Task Force

It has been nearly a year since Jeff Monett arrived at our Task Force. He is a Child Protective Services Social Worker. He was selected to work with us after several months of negotiation with our local CPS office in which we were able to obtain a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering employment status, selection, benefits, authority and pay issues. Jeff and another CPS worker who volunteered for the assignment with us went through a background investigation including a detailed application, interview, polygraph, and oral board before he was chosen. I have not regretted the choice over the last year. Jeff has fit in well. He is fascinated by law enforcement and his authority complements ours. We are able to introduce him to information and procedures he had not seen before. He brings us access to a huge database that surprisingly has a lot of information you normally don’t find in most police databases. Now, you have to be careful here as CPS workers are not law enforcement officers and some intelligence and non- conviction information may not be able to be given to them, but check with your local prosecutor.

So how did this come about?

We had built a relationship with our local CPS office over the last couple of years as we initiated and prosecuted child endangerment cases from methamphetamine laboratory investigations. Obviously, CPS had to be involved. The relationship was working well, and budgetarily, CPS had funds to support assigning a worker to do drug-endangered children cases full-time. The rest was working out the administrative details, including the MOU.

The MOU was an adventure. Basically, the Thurston County Health Department stepped forward and agreed to act as the county agency which entered the agreement and would act as Jeff’s employer while he worked with us. Jeff technically became a Thurston County Social Worker with CPS authority, being supervised by the Sheriff’s Office (me) at the Task Force. This took several months, but everyone’s concerns were finally met and away we went. Jeff is provided with a work space and access to our office. He is subject to my supervision and performs his duties in connection with Task Force cases. CPS retains the ability to assign him other cases as his work load allows. We have encouraged other law enforcement agencies to call upon Jeff when they have drug-endangered children cases. He has a computer with dial-in access to the CPS system and reports regularly to the CPS office. Jeff has built a great relationship with our local hospital, Capital Medical Center, and is being called upon by more of our local agencies.

What are the advantages for the Task Force? Several.

Jeff is like another detective. He accompanies us on search warrants where we suspect children have been or are currently. He will examine the scene as part of our search warrant and take photographs or interview involved parties as part of the investigation concerning the children. Jeff then takes immediate custody of the kids and arranges medical treatment/examination and placement. He then does the initial follow-up to ensure the kids are placed in foster care or with an appropriate relative who will seek temporary custody. In addition, he writes reports and provides back ground information that supports our investigation of Child Endangerment 2 degree. Having a CPS worker in the Task Force has not been a problem. It is really no different than working with the National Guard folks or our Deputy Prosecutor. Jeff is just another member of the Task Force doing his part to help our community.

So, should you try a get a CPS worker in your Task Force? Absolutely! Jeff has placed 23 children from our cases in his 11 months here. Those are 23 kids who might stand a better chance at a normal life because Jeff was assigned to a narcotics task force. That is a legacy I am proud of. But don’t take my word for it; let’s see what Jeff and his supervisor at Child Protective Services think of our relationship.

Perspective II: Jeff Monnett, Social Worker, Narcotics Task Force

The Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, also known as TNT, needed a social worker in March of 2001 to assist with those families that were involved with methamphetamine (meth) labs. As this social worker, I have had the opportunity to be exposed to many situations and opportunities that most social workers would not. It is my role to participate in the operational briefing, to be on site but in a safe, accessible location if children should be located, interview the children regarding their living environment, and have them medically evaluated to assess their possible exposure. Since March of 2001, the Children’s Administration has worked with TNT and has taken 23 children into protective custody due to meth lab exposure. The children ranged in ages from three months to 17 years old.

Out of the 23 children, three tested positive for amphetamine (ages 13, 15 and 16). Thirteen children are now placed with relatives under third-party custody. The Children’s Administration has filed Dependency Petitions in Family Court on eight children. The other two children were placed in detention; one child was arrested for possession of meth, the other for violation of the Becca Bill. For every CPS case involved in a meth lab, it takes, initially, approximately 10 hours of work.

The training, which TNT has provided, has been invaluable. The TNT team members have readily been available and accessible to show this social worker the true hazards of a meth lab. Team members carefully point out areas or situations of concern. For example, in one case a glass plate with white powder was next to a baby bottle on a dresser, which was next to the baby’s bassinet. The white powder was field-tested and the results were positive for meth. Another home had meth residue next to a child’s schoolbook in the living room on the coffee table. I have also had the opportunity to attend the Washington State Methamphetamine Lab Training for law enforcement officers and the second annual Meth Summit in Bellevue, Washington. This training and being stationed with TNT has provided me with additional resources and a quicker response time so that I can do a better job in serving families. With the interagency cooperation, families, and most especially the children, are better served.

One of the frustrations since II started this job was that I wanted to become more involved in the process than I could before. On one case I went to a home on a CPS allegation to meet with the family but was unsuccessful, as they were not at home. When I returned to the TNT office and spoke with Captain Chamberlain, I quickly learned this family had had several negative encounters with the police and it was advised that I take law enforcement with me when I go to this home. On the following Monday, I learned that there was a meth lab at that residence; the two children were placed into protective custody. In another case there was a set of parents who were being charged with manufacturing meth and refused to cooperate with law enforcement. I was able to set up a meeting at the Children’s Administration with these parents and law enforcement to discuss the child abuse allegations and meth use/manufacturing. TNT detectives arrested both parents. The mother had a plastic bag of meth and a syringe in her purse. CPS workers are trained to be aware of the environment around them, but there are some situations in which even the most trained social worker may not be aware of in a meth lab, unless they are trained in this specific area. As a social worker, we are required by policy to make contact with families where personal safety may be in question. Since I’ve been with TNT, I’ve learned that safety is primary. I’m encouraged to bring a detective or a law enforcement officer with me on every home visit.

My experience working with TNT has been great. I have learned much about drugs and the effects on families, especially the children. The relationship I have gained through working with law enforcement has been beneficial for both agencies as well as my personal growth. I realize that law enforcement has a difficult job, as do CPS workers. Working together in a safe environment is the best answer. I feel that every agency or narcotics task force should have a CPS social worker assigned to them. The information that is shared between agencies can alleviate red tape and simplify the process for all involved. After all, we are all working to serve and protect children and families.

Perspective III: Randy Hart, Area Administrator, Children and Family Services

Immediate services to children caught up in the methamphetamine crisis is critical for assuring both their immediate and long-term health and safety. This affords the department an opportunity to begin working on the best safety and permanency plan possible for children.

Collaboration with law enforcement and other service providers is beneficial for social workers, families and communities. Mr. Monnett and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force have been key factors that have created positive relationships and rapport between the agencies.

The methamphetamine crisis in Thurston County cannot be ignored due to the critical impact it is having on the safety and protection of children in our community. When a relationship of trust is built between law enforcement and Child Protective Services, a bridge is built that provides enhanced services and protections for children and families in Thurston County. Our assigned social worker, Mr. Jeff Monnett, has provided Children’s Administration with a conduit to build a relationship with law enforcement, as well as other community agencies. Recently, Detective Shirley McLamore with TNT and Mr. Monnett facilitated training on methamphetamine for the Thurston County Department of Children and Family Services office. This training provided social workers with necessary information, which will help protect them if they come in contact with a meth lab. Mr. Monnett is able to provide immediate response to a meth lab and to accept immediate custody transfer in order to care for the children, who are the innocent bystanders at great risk in the production of methamphetamine. Being stationed at TNT, Mr. Monnett can provide timely DSHS proprietary information and experience to assist law enforcement.

Mr. Monnett is keeping statistics on the cases with which he has been involved. This is necessary for potential legislative funding of such programs for Children’s Administration statewide. I am encouraged due to how well this program is going. This is a great program for the community, law enforcement, Children’s Administration and our clients. This is a great opportunity for many agencies to come together and better serve the public. Without the cooperation of the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, Child Protective Services, Capital Medical Center and the Thurston County Health Department, this would not be possible. Children’s Administration would encourage other agencies to form alliances and work together to better service our clients and improve protection and the welfare of our community’s children.

Well, there you have it. Three different views on whether having a social worker working with a bunch of narcs is a good idea. You will have to decide for yourself.