Information Link Helps Monitor Child Victims
Tonya Layman
April 13, 2007

For the first time in Fulton County, even the state, all front-line responders are able to share information about child victims. This is thanks to the computerized Child Abuse Case Tracking Information System (CACTIS), which was designed and implemented by the Juvenile Justice Fund and Fulton County Children's Advocacy Center in January 2006.

"Technology has allowed us to have a complete puzzle without pieces missing so we can really see what is going on with a child. It allows us to intervene, protect and treat more productively and efficiently," said Kim Borna, executive director of the Juvenile Justice Fund.

Each month, 50 to 80 cases are reviewed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of 34 representatives. Before CACTIS, each agency had pieces of information about certain children, abuse allegations and family histories. When that information was reviewed independently, it did not rise to the level of warranting intervention.

However, when these pieces of information and family histories are considered as a whole, the need for intervention is detected.

Since CACTIS, all agencies input information into one collaborative case file that facilitates a team response and increases information sharing and communication among the Department of Family and Children Services, police, prosecution, advocates, health-care providers, educators and courts.

"It allows all parties to work together as a team to respond to child abuse or negligent reports," Borna said.

CACTIS also generates the Child Abuse Investigation Team Case Staffing Agendas and Case Information Sheets for the team, a process that previously involved tedious work over several hours by the staff.

This new method enhances preparation by team participants and ensures that all abuse reports receive proper, thorough and timely review, Borna said.

"Before CACTIS, it would take us an entire two weeks to put the agenda and information sheet on each child together and get it out," she said.

Information that is shared at the meetings is put into the system, which is administered by Terri Morton at the county's Children's Advocacy Center.

"The information is back at their workstation before they can drive back themselves," Borna said.

The information is protected by several layers of security including firewalls, access control lists, encryption and authentication and role-based permissions. The system serves as a model for the state and funding is being sought by the Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia to implement CACTIS statewide. The groups are a finalist for the Technology Innovations Award, given annually by TechBridge and technology firm Accenture Ltd.

"Using technology, these organizations found a way to address one of the most important issues we have in our society, which is child abuse," said Betty Hanacek, vice president of Information Resources at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. and an awards judge.

Technology Innovation Award
Juvenile Justice Fund and Fulton County Children's Advocacy Center

Mission: The Juvenile Justice Fund identifies and responds to the unmet needs of children and families coming through the juvenile justice system and other related community support services.
The Fulton County Children's Advocacy Center coordinates a multidisciplinary team approach for responding to child maltreatment reports, which includes prevention, investigation, prosecution and protection through to treatment and healing.

Award use: Develop a CACTIS training and demonstration site, update and improve Web sites and purchase Microsoft Office software that can be loaded on laptops for field program workers in the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation Program and eight Satellite Family Visitation Centers.