About
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are federally mandated mechanisms for citizen participation
in child protection utilizing evaluation and public outreach. Each state is required
to have at least one CRP. Volunteer panel members assess their state and local child
protective services (CPS) agencies and collect public opinion on CPS policies and
services. In South Carolina, there are four (4) panels located in different geographical
areas of the state which similarly align with the regions of the South Carolina Department
of Social Services. Currently, there are panels in the Upstate, Pee Dee, Midlands,
and Lowcountry. Panels review policies, procedures, and practices of
the CPS system and make recommendations annually to the South Carolina Department
of Social Services. These recommendations intend to help improve the CPS system and
make a difference in the lives of children who are abused or neglected. Citizen Review
Panels offer volunteers an effective way to share in the community’s responsibility
to protect the children of South Carolina.
Legal Authority
According to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) §§ 106(c)(4)(A)(i)
and (ii), each Citizen Review Panel is charged with evaluating the extent to which
the State is fulfilling its child protection responsibilities in accordance with its
CAPTA
State plan by:
(1) examining the policies, procedures, and practices of State and local child protection
agencies, and
(2) reviewing specific cases, where appropriate.
Additionally, and consistent with § 106(c)(4)(A)(iii) of CAPTA, a Panel may examine
other criteria that it considers important to ensure the protection of children, including
the extent to which the State and local child protection system is coordinated with
the Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Programs of the Social Security
Act. This provision also authorizes the Panels to review the child fatalities and
near fatalities in the State.
In order to assess the impact of current procedures and practices upon children and families in the community and fulfill the above requirements, citizen review panels must provide for public outreach and comment (§ 106(c)(4)(C)). Finally, each Panel must prepare an annual report that summarizes the activities of the Panel and makes recommendations to improve the CPS system at the State and local levels and submit it to the State and the public (§ 106(c)(6)).
Functions
The primary purpose of the Citizen Review Panels is to assist state and local child protection systems to be more responsive to community needs and opportunities in providing child protection services through evaluation, public outreach, and advocacy. The South Carolina Panel:
- Evaluates the extent to which the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) is effectively discharging its child protection responsibilities.
- Conducts public outreach and gathers public comment on current DSS procedures and practices involving child protection services.
- Advocates for relevant actions that would help improve the child protection services system in South Carolina.