Franceen Rea, MSW, BSW, GRMS

CPS Social Worker, Foster Care, Adoptions, & APS

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

With over 30 years of experience in Social Work, I specialize in Child Welfare Services (CWS)/Child Protective Services (CPS), Adoptions, Foster Care, and Adult Protective Services (APS). My career includes thousands of child and adult welfare investigations, removals, and placements, making me a trusted expert for legal professionals seeking testimony in cases involving social work, child abuse/neglect/exploitation, sexual abuse, adoptions, permanency planning, elder and dependent adult abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation. Areas of Expertise: • Child Welfare Services (CWS)/Child Protective Services (CPS) • Adult Protective Services (APS) • Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation/Self-neglect Investigations • Adoptions (including TPR, voluntary relinquishments)/366.26 Hearings • Foster Care, Guardianships, Adoptions, Permanency planning • Social Work Standards of Care, Case Management, Risk Assessments, Safety Planning • Court Testimony, Report Preparation, Court Orders • Foster Home Certifications, Evaluations, De-certifications, Group Homes, STRTPs • Structured Decision-Making Tools, S.A.F.E. Adoption Home Studies, ICWA • APS Core Curriculum • CDSS Core Curriculum for CWS, Title 22 Policies, 300 WIC • Record/Case Reviews, Consultations, Best Practices, NASW Code of Ethics • Trainer for Social Workers, Educators, Resource Families, Foster/Adoptive Parents • Trauma- and Grief-Informed Care, Grief Education & Counseling • Mandated Reporting & Training, Crisis Intervention and Counseling • Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, Physical/Emotional Abuse, Neglect, Substance Abuse, Domestic/Interpersonal Violence, Mental Health, Homelessness, Failure to Protect, Caretaker Absence • Non-Minor Dependents/AB 12, and Independent Living Skills • Adoption Assistance/Post-Adoption Services/Post-Adoption Contact Agreements • Social Work with Adults Placed into Residential and Community-Based Care: AL, ARF, HCBS, AFH, CBRF, and ILS • CWS/CPS Liaison for Schools & Law Enforcement • CWS/CMS (Child Welfare Services/Case Management System) • LEAPS (Adult Protective Services Client/Case Management System) Education & Credentials: • MSW – Master of Social Work • BSW – Bachelor of Social Work • GRMS – Grief Recovery Method Specialist • ACT – Adoption Clinical Training • 31+ years in practice Professional Experience: • Conducted thousands of CPS and APS investigations, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation (including financial), sex/labor trafficking, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and self-neglect. • Managed numerous child removals, emergency placements, group home placements, foster/adoptive placements, adoptive placements, and adoption finalizations. • Served as CPS/APS investigator, social worker, supervisor, and trainer for public and private agencies. • Directed and managed adoption programs for a foster family agency across six offices in California. • Provided expert witness testimony in juvenile, civil, criminal, and family law courts. • Consulted on standards of care, best practices, and regulatory compliance. Other Focus Areas: • Dementia, Alzheimer’s, TBI, Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities, Cognitive Impairments • Cultural competence, diversity, equity, and inclusion • Attachment, trauma, crisis intervention, and clinical issues • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) • LGBTQIA2S+ Support and Advocacy • Attachment Theory • Forensic Interviewing & Motivational Interviewing • Suicide, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse Screenings & Assessments • Familiarity with DSM-5-TR for diagnostic purposes