Child, Youth & Family Well-being Partnership

Santa Cruz County Family and Children’s Services encourages family support to help keep children safe and families together whenever possible. In alignment with a statewide effort that began in 2025, we are collaborating on a shift from a historic “mandated reporting” model that focused on investigation first, to a “community supporting” approach focused on prevention and early connection.

This focus on prevention provides a compassionate and effective system for everyone involved. It allows families to access useful resources such as housing, food or childcare before intervention from Child Welfare Services (CWS) becomes necessary.

The Child, Youth & Family Well-Being Partnership initiative is at the center of this work. A key goal is to improve long-term outcomes by connecting families to the right resources at the right time. It reflects a broader movement toward family well-being and prevention-focused child welfare, designed to build trust, reduce stigma, and strengthen community support networks across Santa Cruz County.

Community Supporting

Santa Cruz County’s collaborative community supporting efforts prioritizes early support and services. This helps strengthen families and keep them safely together whenever possible.

This effort is rethinking historic mandated reporting protocols and providing a more compassionate and effective system for everyone involved. It also helps families access resources – such as housing, food or childcare – before involving CWS. Mandated reporters are encouraged to explore supportive services that address the root causes of family challenges, many of which are linked to poverty.

The benefits of community supporting efforts, early support and services for families include:

Reduces fear, shame and stigma associated with asking for help.
Makes it easier to access resources for parenting, stress, mental health, housing, child care and more.
Encourages trust and early intervention, rather than punishment.

The benefits of community supporting efforts, early support and services for children include:

Avoids the trauma of unnecessary intervention from child welfare in their families.
Addresses root causes - like poverty and unmet basic needs – without the stress of foster care.
Reduces long-term health and emotional impacts tied to child welfare involvement.

The benefits of community supporting efforts, early support and services for mandated reporters include:

Supports informed decision-making with tools and training that distinguish support needs from safety risks.
Shifts the role from enforcer to partner – helping bring stronger, trust-based relationships with the families being served.
Improves long-term outcomes by connecting families to appropriate community resources.

Even when a report is not required, families may need help. Utilize 211 for support services such as:

Food banks and meal programs
Housing resources
Parenting support and education
Substance use and mental health services
School and community based supports

211 Santa Cruz County
Additional Resource Links
Children & Youth Bill of Rights

Read our February 2026 press releases in English and Spanish to learn more about how we are transforming the way children stay safe and how families are being supported in Santa Cruz County:

Mandated Reporting

Santa Cruz County is moving from mandated reporting to community supporting - prioritizing early support and services to strengthen families and keep them safely together whenever possible.

This change helps families access resources – such as housing, food or childcare – before involving Child Protective Services (CPS). Mandated reporters are encouraged to explore supportive services that address the root causes of family challenges, many of which are linked to poverty.

Mandated reporters play a vital role in protecting children. Child abuse affects families of any background and takes many forms. However, many Family and Children Services (FCS) calls don’t lead to intervention. In Santa Cruz County and across California, the majority of reports do not meet the legal threshold for abuse and neglect.

Reporting a family is a serious step. Support should come first, but intervention is essential when there is reasonable suspicion or evidence of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or intentional neglect.

Reports to FCS can permanently impact the lives of children and their families. It is important to be intentional when making the report based on facts about the child and family circumstances. Clear and present concerns about child safety must always be reported.

This decision support tool is designed to:

Help identify when a report to FCS is required.
Provide guiding questions to distinguish between neglect and family needs due to poverty or other stressors.
Encourage connection to support services whenever possible.
Explain what happens after a call is made to FCS.

The Decision Tree

Family and Children’s Services has designed a decision tree tool for mandated reporters to use when identifying when a report may be needed. Access a Decision Tree graphic in English or Spanish using the buttons below:

Decision Tree Graphic
Gráfico de Árbol de Decisión