Family & Children's Services IN THE NEWS
Read the latest on how Family and Children’s Services and the Child, Youth & Family Well-Being Partnership are transforming the way children stay safe and how families are being supported in Santa Cruz County:
Children's Network Symposium
Family and Children’s Services is partnering with the United Way's Children's Network and the Child, Youth & Family Well-Being Partnership to center youth voice and early support for families. Join us for a convening focused on prevention, early intervention, and strengthening the systems that protect children and stabilize families:
👉🏿 WHEN: March 5, 2026 | 10 am to 4 pm
👉🏼 WHERE: Twin Lakes Church, Aptos
👉🏾 WHO: Community leaders, service providers and advocacy partners
April 2026 - Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
“The County of Santa Cruz is committed to advancing policies and practices that prioritize the well-being of all our county’s children and families. Every family and child deserve supports to help them thrive, feel purposeful and have hope for the future. I encourage our community to join in our efforts this month and become partners in child abuse prevention.” Gloria Carroll, Division Director of the Human Services Department’s Family and Children's Services Division
- Read last year's 2025 County proclamation about child abuse prevention awareness month, HERE
Mandated Reporter Training Opportunities
A CLINICAL EXPLORATION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RISK FACTORS, WARNING SIGNS AND INTERVENTIONS
This no cost training will provide mandated reporters with necessary information to make a child abuse and neglect report. Designed for social workers, mental health professionals, K-12 educators, medical professionals, peer advocates and judicial members, this didactic and collaborative training will provide mandated reporters with an enhanced understanding of child abuse and neglect, and of the approach of the child welfare system in Santa Cruz County.
- CLICK HERE to learn more about the English-language trainings.
- CLICK HERE to read about the training that will be held in Spanish.
March 24 Training
1 pm – 4:30 pm
Community Room at 500 Westridge Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076
CLICK HERE to register for the Watsonville training
April 10 Training
8:30 am – 12 pm
Sheriff's Community Room at 5200 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
CLICK HERE to register for the Watsonville training
April 24 Spanish Language Training
Una exploración clínica de abuso infantil y negligencia, factores de riesgo, señales de advertencia, e intervención
9 am – 12 pm
A virtual workshop, held on Microsoft Teams
CLICK HERE to register for the virtual, Spanish-language training
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Once registered, please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time to find parking and to get to the training room from the parking lot. To request accommodations for special needs, please email
emilia.gonzalez@santacruzcountyca.gov. The course meets qualifications for 3 hours of continuing education credit for LMFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s and LEP’s as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and is supported by Mandated Reporter Training and the California Department of Social Services. Completion certificates will be emailed to each participant after completion of an online evaluation form.
System Improvement Plan (SIP) Committee Meetings
Since 2006, Santa Cruz County has maintained a System Improvement Plan (SIP) Steering Committee that is charged with oversight and monitoring of the County’s SIP strategies and action steps. In 2014, the SIP Steering Committee was instrumental in collaboratively working with Santa Cruz County FCS and Juvenile Probation to assess performance on critical child welfare and probation outcomes, which resulted in the 2015‐2020 System Improvement Plan (SIP). Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the SIP Steering Committee was able to engage in the 2020-2025 SIP process and the final plan has been developed:
The SIP Steering Committee is chaired by Gloria Carroll, the Family & Children’s Services Director, and Jose Flores, the Juvenile Division Director for the Probation Department. We will be completing the 2025-2030 SIP Plan in the spring of 2025, and the final plan will be posted here once it is publicly available.