By Sara Strong
The Rock County Family Service Agency is looking for public comment about a possible new way of doing business.
The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved of Family Services amending its Community Social Service Act Plan to include what's called an Alternative Response to Child Protection Services.
Rock County Family Services Director Randy Ehlers will accept comments on the amendment through Nov. 30, when the Board will formally approve the amended form of Child Protective Service.
The change, according to Jessica Sandbulte of Family Services, is for the better.
"It implements what we've already been informally doing," she said.
The Alternative Response isn't a typical investigation because it is a community-oriented approach that addresses family issues in a way that isnÕt threatening to the family unit.
Nancy Lange called it a "non-confrontational" way of dealing with families and their problems with children.
The alternative approach has been used in other counties and is gaining popularity.
Ehlers said it enables families to take care of themselves by using services available in the community - rather than being forced through the courts to change when things are too far gone.
Of course, the court system will be used in cases of severe abuse or neglect.
Ehlers hopes that families see social workers as helping them rather than coming into their homes to point out problems.
Sandbulte said families that are best served by Alternative Response are those struggling with:
child supervision
educational neglect
domestic violence without imminent child harm
physical abuse (that isnÕt statutorily prohibited)
unmet basic needs
chemical addiction
emotional abuse
Traditional Response allows workers to recommend changes or go through the courts to order change.
Alternative response means that the county will work with families through changes until they are able to move out of the Family Services umbrella and function on their own.
If implemented, the county wouldn't have to spend more for programs or hire additional staff.