Child Abuse Protocol Committee updated

The Child Abuse Protocol Committee members updated their conflict resolution policy at the Board of Education offices in Hiram last week.
In 2003 Paulding County Juvenile Court Judge Sandra Miller was designated to serve as interim chairperson to develop a protocol committee. The committee’s sole purpose was to develop a written Child Abuse protocol that would reflect by all disciplines, such as law enforcement, courts, schools, mental and physical health practitioners, social service agencies and all others that work to protect and care for children and families. The committee would work to address the rights and needs of the community, any alleged maltreator, and the alleged child victim.
The committee’s protocol has been revisited several times over the years in accordance with annual statutory mandates and in August of 2015 another revision was enacted to bring the Paulding Child Abuse Protocol in line with the statewide model. The committee elected co- chairs Nina Lauter, coordinator for Paulding Family Connection and Gail Williams, social worker for Paulding School District to oversee the revision.
Present last week along with Judge Miller and co-chairs Nina Lauter and Gail Williams were James Provost, PC Department Family and Children Services, Donna Robbins, Highland Rivers CSB, Gail Garland, Northwest Georgia Child Advocacy Center, Lindsey Eberhart, coroner, Cliff Cole, PC Board of Education, Donna Stanford, PC Health Department, Melodie Smith, Community Advocate-Paulding CASA, Mark Haney, Medical Provider.

Paulding County Juvenile Court Judge Sandra Miller (far left) with other protocol committee members and stakeholders last week following their meeting in Hiram at the Board of Education offices. (Photo: R. Grant)