Intake Services & Intake Specialized Services

Calls that come into the SCCS Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline and the handling of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect are initially managed by SCCS’ Intake Services and Intake Screening & Supports departments.

The Intake Services department serves as Summit County Children Services’ “first responders” to calls of concern involving the safety and well-being of children. Accepted reports of suspected child abuse and neglect are initially assessed and assigned to one of two pathways: Traditional Response or Alternative Response. Both pathways allow staff to address the unique safety concerns, risks and situations of each family in a way that is collaborative and respectful, with child safety being the primary goal.

Intake Services is comprised of a training unit, a transition unit, nine assessment/investigation units and a second shift unit each with a supervisor and four to five social workers. There is also the Serious Trauma Assessment Team (STAT) Unit, which handles serious trauma cases, human trafficking and abuse/neglect in out-of-home settings. In addition, there are Social Work Assistants (SWAs) assigned to help social work staff with various tasks and activities.

A Guide to Working with Summit County Children Services (SCCS)

The Intake Screening & Supports department helps to provide supportive services and screenings to Intake Services, including:

• Phone Room – All calls of concern made to the agency’s 24-Hour Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline involving the safety and well-being of children are answered by trained social workers. Through this process, staff members ask questions to get all relevant information. Additionally, staff members refer families to a variety of community resources for additional support.
• Training/Transitional Units – To help transition new staff into their roles as Intake social workers, the Training/Transitional Units provides more support and one-on-one supervision to help staff learn agency policies and procedures and best practices in child welfare and service delivery.
• Family Preservation Unit – This is a specialized Unit that puts emphasis on providing short-term, family-focused services designed to assist families who are in crisis by improving parenting and family functioning while keeping children safe and in their own homes. Families agree to work voluntarily with agency staff and engage in needed services that address their specific challenges.
• Evening Shift Units – There is a unit of social workers who staff the phone room in the evening and a second unit who handles case assignments and service delivery.
• Floater Staff – Floaters are trained social workers who provide case coverage as needed.