mh/cps.pr      97-242         Contact:  Bennett Connelly, 301-217-1245 or
                                   Mary Anderson, 301-217-1702
DUNCAN NAMES ADVISORY PANEL
FOR CHILD WELFARE SERVICES;
GROUP TO MONITOR ACTION PLAN
FOR AGENCY                    For Immediate Release:  July 28, 1997


     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today announced the appointment
of a special advisory group to monitor an action plan aimed at strengthening the County's
child welfare system for handling cases involving child abuse and neglect.   Today's
announcement is part of an action plan which grew out of an internal review of Department 
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) policies and procedures following reports of a
Germantown child allegedly abused by family members.
          Retired Juvenile Court Judge John Tracey was named by Duncan to chair the six-
member panel, which also includes Donald Reppy, chairman of the Montgomery County
Board of Social Services; Arva Jackson, former special assistant for Human Affairs to the
Governor of Delaware; Dr. Howard Dubowitz, pediatrician and child abuse specialist with the
University of Maryland; Mark Battle, retired executive director of the National Association of
Social Workers; and Dr. Joan Dodge, a national policy specialist at Georgetown University on
child mental health and systems of care.
     "We must improve our child welfare system," said Duncan.  "And 
to that end, these highly-knowledgeable and experienced professionals will help us ensure that
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policies and procedures are strengthened in order to better protect our most vulnerable
children."
     Duncan also announced that the Child Welfare League of America, recognized as the
foremost children's welfare organizations in the nation, will review Montgomery County's
child protection system in its entirety.
     The action plan, which was outlined in an April 30 report, includes the following
recommendations:
     o The County Executive will appoint an outside panel of local and national experts to  
monitor the Child Protection Action Plan;
     o DHHS will change procedures to ensure a more careful review of new allegations on
current cases; 
     o DHHS will change casework procedures to focus on the goals and progress of the
child rather than the family;
     o The Child Welfare League of America will immediately conduct a full review of the
child protection system in Montgomery County;
     o DHHS will work with others to develop a proposed legislative agenda for the 1998
Maryland General Assembly to make essential changes in State law regarding information
sharing in child protective services investigations and in the termination of parental rights;
     o Increase training for County and Montgomery County Public Schools staff to
improve communication and team work with known or suspected cases; and
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     o Increase Child Welfare staff immediately to respond to increased referrals.
     Child Welfare Services is located within the Children, Youth and Family Services area
of the Department of Health and Human Services.  The agency conducts more than 1,700
investigations each year involving suspected child abuse and neglect.     
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