After-hours Response Center
2018 NACo Achievement Award Winner
San Bernardino County, Calif., CA
Best In Category
About the Program
Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)
Year: 2018
San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) After-hours Response Center (ARC) provides immediate, in-person response to reports of abuse and neglect, placement, and placement resources beyond normal business hours to children and families throughout San Bernardino County, 24 hours daily, and seven days a week. Implemented in 2016, the objective of this program is to better serve families by establishing a new service center that delivers services After-hours with staff and supervisors working nights and weekend shifts on a regular basis and in a centralized location. ARC now responds to 95% of the emergency referrals received after regular business hours. This has enhanced services to endangered children and youth, and alleviated a substantial part of the workload of regional staff working a regular shift during business hours.