Proposed Solutions
The New Road
Please click to learn more about the reasoning behind each proposal and the intended effect to increase transparency and effectiveness of NH's child protection system.
Read the long term Cost Analysis statement associated with leaving NH's Child Protection System "as is."
1. State of Emergency
Encouraging Governor Sununu to declare a state of emergency for NH’s child protection system and request federal funds to support meaningful change that addresses root causes in the system.
2. Minimum Education Requirements
Legislation that raises the minimum education qualifications for child protection workers and supervisors to a master’s degree in social work, psychology, or mental health counseling and pays workers a salary commensurate with their education.
3. Social Worker Title Protection
Legislation that provides title protection for the profession of Social Work so that only those who have a BSW, MSW, or PhD in Social Work from an accredited program are able to identify themselves to the public as being part of the social work profession in the State of NH.
4. Case Workers Must Disclose Status
Legislation that requires a Child Protection Service Worker (CPSW) to disclose their educational background or licensing status to a family when asked.
5. Family Advocacy Rights
Legislation that clarifies a family’s right to recruit the support of anyone of their choosing to advocate for them to DCYF including regarding the release of records and communicating with DCYF staff.
6. Take Action on Complaints, Correct Errors
Legislation that strengthens and protects the ability of the Office of the Child Advocate to give directives to DCYF on action to take after reviewing individual case complaints and wider systemic trends.
7. Holding Leadership Accountable
Investigating Commissioner Meyers over his failed leadership in mitigating and managing this crisis and moving to change the majority of leadership and middle management at DCYF.
8. DHHS Ombudsman Oversight
Increasing Oversight of the DHHS Ombudsman Office in holding them accountable for timely, impartial, and written investigations when a family submits a complaint about DCYF, and that someone knowledgeable about best practices in child protection is involved in the process.
9. Trauma-informed Training for Law Enforcement Partners
Working with Law Enforcement Agencies to increase their knowledge and trauma-informed training to implement best practices in child protection that integrates the latest research findings about childhood abuse and neglect.
10. Trauma-informed Provider Incentives
Creating incentives for Doctors to become board certified in childhood abuse and neglect and for nurses to be SANE-P certified.
11. Whistle Blower Channels & Protections
Creating programming and an infrastructure for DCYF employees who want to complain but fear doing so.
12. Child Endangerment Oversight Post Report from Helping Professional
Creating programming and an infrastructure for helping professionals (teachers, doctors, nurses, therapists) who have reported to DCYF but feel that the children they have reported about are still in danger.