Community Task Force

In February 2018, the County of Humboldt entered into a settlement agreement with the California Attorney General (AG), marking the end of an investigation by the AG into some of the policies and practices related to the DHHS’s division of Child Welfare Services (CWS).

The agreement stems from an inquiry that began in 2015 after concerns were raised by local tribes and other community partners regarding inefficiencies and barriers to service in the CWS Emergency Response function, primarily dealing with screening practices and cross-reporting between agencies.

The requirements set forth in the judgment reflect collaborative efforts on the part of the AG, DHHS and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to improve outcomes for children and families involved in CWS.

The settlement stipulates the creation of a task force comprised of internal and external stakeholders to help create a mandated reporter guide, and provide input to both DHHS and HCSO regarding changes to policies and procedures. Documents related to the task force, along with announcements of upcoming meetings, will be available here.