The Pathway Forward: Improving Child Safety in Santa Clara County
Achieving Excellence in Children’s Services
The County of Santa Clara is engaged in a thorough review of its child welfare system, with the goal of redesigning its policies and practices to provide the best possible care for children and families.
The County is conducting the review in close partnership with the California Department of Social Services, which oversees child welfare agencies statement.
The Board of Supervisors is playing a critical leadership role in the effort, which will be carried out by the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS).
The Board and County Administration are committed to the health and safety of children in Santa Clara County and determined to protect children from harm and provide the best possible supportive services to families.
The County recognizes the importance of transparency and community involvement in carrying out this work. This webpage will be regularly updated to reflect the latest developments in this process.
Guiding Principles for Reform Efforts
The County is partnering with a range of stakeholders to identify and implement data-driven best practices for protecting children in Santa Clara County.
DFCS has three guiding principles in advancing this work: protecting children, supporting and training staff, and building deeper partnerships with key stakeholders.
More information on these strategic pillars is available at the icons below.
Strategic Pillars
A Collaborative Effort
Since the fall of 2023, the Board of Supervisors has been deeply involved in the effort to improve the effectiveness of the County’s child welfare system.
The Board has requested information and provided direction on a range of topics related to child welfare, receiving quarterly reports on the progress of the DFCS reform that will continue throughout 2025.
In addition to working with CDSS, County leaders are also collaborating with the Santa Clara County Child Abuse Prevention Council, a commission that coordinates community efforts around preventing child abuse and neglect.
Partnerships
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
DFCS provides a wide range of services that are designed to protect children in the face of threats of abuse, neglect, exploitation or endangerment. DFCS social workers assist families in a variety of circumstances and connect them to resources that help keep them safe and healthy.
Among the services the department provides is the CANC (Child Abuse and Neglect Center) Hotline.
The County is launching a campaign to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and inform the community about the hotline. The video to the right shares the important message that anyone can report child abuse by calling the hotline at 1-833-SCC-KIDS.