Kern County Network for Children
Where are we located?
Administrative Offices
1807 19th St.,
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661.636.4900
Dream Center
1801 19th St.
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661.636-4488
Child Abuse Prevention
KCNC is the child abuse prevention council and coordinating council for child and family services throughout Kern County. The planning, oversight, and evaluation of Kern’s child abuse prevention services are key roles. Funded services include parent education and counseling, and Differential Response (DR) services. DR is an approach used nationally that expands the ability of child welfare agencies to respond differently to reports of child abuse and neglect. Its focus includes a broader set of responses for working with families at the first signs of trouble, preventing the need for formal intervention services in the future. DR services are available countywide to families referred by Child Protective Services. The prevention of child abuse and neglect is a community responsibility. It can be a matter of life or death.
What is Child Abuse & Neglect
Any parent or caretaker’s act or failure to act which results in serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or imminent risk of serious harm. Neglect is failure to provide for a child’s basic needs.
How to Help?
To report suspected abuse or neglect, call the 24 hour, 7 days per week hotline at (661) 631-6011 (countywide), (760) 375-6049 (Ridgecrest), or 911 for emergencies. To make a difference for families who are struggling, encourage them to call 211 for information on services that include utility assistance, food, counseling, parenting, health care, substance abuse, housing, transportation and more. Take them a meal. Offer to babysit. Even the smallest gesture helps.
DR ETO Support Center!
- Forgotten your password? Please feel free to contact Martha Gomez at magomez@kern.org with “Reset Password” in the email subject line for your new password.
- Go back to DR ETO Software Log In page .
Did You Know?
- Community level data is now available on foster care entries and child abuse referrals. Access the California Department of Social Services/UC Berkeley website here.
- Download the Crystal Reports Viewer to view your reports on ETO
- Got a question? You may find the answer at DR ETO FAQs
Kern County DR Program Documents and Downloads
ETO User Guides For DR
- DR ETO Report Manual
- DR ETO Software User Manual
- Entering Data on First 5 Kern Families in DR into ETO
Guides
- DR Case File & Data Collection Requirements
- DR Client Contact Policy
- DR Procedure Flowchart
- DR Procedure Guide
- DR ETO FAQ
- Kern County Differential Response Procedure Guide
- Kern County DR Common Used Acronyms
- Query Wizard
- Tips from Case Managers to Case Managers
- What is in a DR Case File
- Working with First 5 Kern Families in DR
DR Toolkit For Service Providers
- DR Satisfaction Survey Procedures (MS Doc)
- DR Satisfaction Survey (Spanish) (MS Doc)
- DR Service Area Map
- DR Task Force
Comprised of DR site supervisors, case managers, family advocates and data entry staff, the DR Task Force develops and maintains a comprehensive training and data technical assistance system to support agencies in their assessment of family progress and evaluation of the DR services offered to children, families and communities. - First 5 Kern Birth Survey
- First 5 Kern Core Data Elements Survey
- Social Condition Matrix
The Social Condition Matrix system is an Excel-based system designed to help programs evaluate changes in the condition and functioning of client families. The strength-based system, based on advocate or case manager observation, tracks a family’s status in twelve functional areas over time. By evaluating families holistically, rather than only their negative or problem areas, case planning can build upon family strengths which improves long term outcomes. The Social Condition Matrix is designed for both front-line and administrative staff.Advocates are able to easily document changes over time in each client family and Program Managers are able to easily supervise the program’s total caseload. The system is available free to family service organizations.
Additional DR Resources
- Alternative Response Approaches: State and local examples
- Choosing the Path Less Traveled: Strengthening California Families Through Differential Response
- Differential Response in California
- Getting Started On Community Child Protection
How State And Local Leaders Can Help Communities Safeguard Children More Effectively
For Parents
Few things to keep in mind which will help you become a good parent are:
- Lead by example – Children learn things by observing their parents and therefore it becomes important that you lead by example. Always ask yourself as to what effect will your decision have on your child.
- Appreciate your child – The more you appreciate the good things about your child, the more will it inspire your child to repeat good behavior.
- Set limits – You need to help your child develop self-control and setting limits is a good way of ensuring that they do not mistake their independence as a license to do whatever they feel like to. Being independent helps your child develop a sense of self-direction however, if the independence is not controlled, you child can turn rebellious and become disobedient.
- Be consistent – Consistency is the key to being a good parent.
These simple parenting tips can help you make a lasting impact on your child’s behavior.
Resources:
- Tip Sheets for Parents
14 tip sheets from Child Welfare written to help service providers offer guidance to parents and caregivers on specific issues, while supporting factors known to protect families from the risk of child abuse and neglect. Each easy-to-read factsheet focuses on concrete steps parents can take to care more effectively for their children and strengthen their family. Titles include “Keeping Your Family Strong,” “Managing Stress,” “Managing Your Finances,” “Helping Your Child Heal From Trauma,” “Bonding With Your Baby,” “Dealing With Temper Tantrums,” “Parenting Your School-Age Child,” “Connecting With Your Teen,” “Teen Parents? You’re Not Alone,” “Ten Ways to Be a Better Dad,” “Raising Your Grandchildren,” “Military Families,” “How to Develop Strong Communities,” and “Parenting Your Child With Developmental Delays and Disabilities.” Available also in Spanish. - What’s the Difference Between Discipline and Punishment?
- Setting Limits
- Finding Solutions to Problem Behavior
- Another Way To Understand Children’s Behavior
- What To Do When You’re Angry At Your Kid
- How to Discipline Children with Love and Limits
- Keeping Up with Spirited Kid
- Temper Tantrums
- Twelve Alternatives to Lashing Out at Your Child
- The Up-Hill Struggle – Getting Children to Clean up their Rooms
- Children Who Bite: What Can You Do?
- Toilet Learning
- Shopping with Your Children
- Potty Training Tips
- Play: it’s the way young children learn.
- Tips for Creating a Healthy Eating Environment
- Picky or Choosy Eaters?
En Español:
- La Lectura es lo Primero
- Calmando a un bebé que llora
- Comprendiendo el Comportamiento de sus Hijos
- El Juego es Fundamental
- Sobreviviendo el entrenamiento del uso del baño
- Ganando la guerra de las tareas
- El poder de elegir
- La rivalidad entre hermanos
- Consejos de Cuidado Infantil
- Enfoque Familiar en el
Respeto - Enfoque Familiar en
Responsabilidad - Estrategias para Padres
- Padres y Adolescentes Hablan Hablan
Audio:
- The Parent Toolbox – a podcast series to help you with all the challenges of parenting and care-giving from Community Connection for Child Care