Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
2 <br /> Orange County <br /> Community Child Protection Team <br /> 2024 Annual Report <br /> Overview <br /> The 1991 General Statute 7-B-Article 14 of the North Carolina Juvenile Code established a Community Child <br /> Protection Team (CCPT) in every county in North Carolina to review active cases as selected by the team in <br /> which abuse, neglect or dependency is found. Each local team consists of representatives of public and <br /> nonpublic agencies in the community such as law enforcement, Guardian Ad Litem, health departments, <br /> among others that provide services to children and their families. <br /> The case reviews are to ensure that families have resources available to them, to enhance their ability to <br /> provide safe environments for their children, to inform the community regarding child protection issues that <br /> impact the ability of families to protect their children, to facilitate collaboration of team and community <br /> resources in order to protect vulnerable children, and to make recommendations for legislative changes. <br /> Activities and Findings <br /> The CCPT reviewed the cases of ten families with 23 children who were recently or actively involved with Child <br /> Protective Services (CPS). These reviews occurred over five separate meetings. The team assisted in <br /> identifying resources for children. Recommendations were made regarding follow-up. <br /> a. Substance abuse was an issue for five families. <br /> b. Domestic violence was an issue for five families. <br /> c. Two families involved near fatality. <br /> d. One family involved a fatality. <br /> Actions and Accomplishments <br /> • Met five times in 2024 to review child protection and child fatality cases. In depth discussion with <br /> identification of needs and subsequent recommendations occurred. <br /> • Discussed the importance of safe sleep for infants and ensuring that all community members are <br /> educated on the risks of unsafe sleeping arrangements and co-sleeping with infants. <br /> • Continued to discuss the prevalence of fentanyl in the community and the impact of exposure for small <br /> children. Naloxone and fentanyl test strips are still available to staff at the Department of Social <br /> Services. <br /> • Provided child abuse prevention materials, parenting resources, medication lockboxes, and gunlocks to <br /> families at community events. <br /> Recommendations <br /> 1. Enhance and expand treatment and placement options for youth with complex behavioral health, <br /> substance use, and mental health needs. <br /> 2. Increase inpatient substance abuse/mental health treatment facilities for parents and children to be co- <br /> located. <br /> 3. Provide widespread community education about preventable child death and near fatalities due to drug <br /> exposure, unsafe sleeping arrangements for infants, and unsecured firearms. <br />