NCJ Number
52249
Date Published
1976
Length
75 pages
Annotation
THE TEXAS AUTOMATED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORT AND INQUIRY SYSTEM (CANRIS), A STATEWIDE REPORTING AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, IS DESCRIBED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
CANRIS LINKS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE'S CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE UNITS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING AND RETRIEVING INFORMATION ON INSTANCES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE SYSTEM'S REPORT, INQUIRY, AND STATISTICS COMPONENTS ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY, TRACK, AND EVALUATE CHILD ABUSE AND TO PLAN FOR PREVENTION AT THE STATE POLICYMAKING LEVEL AND AT THE LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL CASEWORKER. ON THE BASIS OF AN ANALYSIS OF SYSTEM FLOW AND INTERVIEWS WITH WORKERS WHO OPERATE AND USE THE SYSTEM, REVISIONS IN FORMS, OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE ARE SUGGESTED. THE REVISIONS ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE ACCESS AND TURNAROUND TIMES, TO IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR LINKAGE BETWEEN CANRIS AND THE STATE'S SOCIAL SERVICES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE CHANGES WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN REPORT METHODS, DATA FLOW, IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN REPEATED INCIDENTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND LINKAGE BETWEEN TEXAS' TWO MAJOR SOCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEMS. OVERVIEWS OF CANRIS AND THE PROPOSED REVISIONS ARE PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH DETAILS OF CHANGES IN DATA FLOW, REPORT FORMATS, AND PROCEDURES. (LKM)