Fern5827
September 18th 03, 05:25 PM
Subject: MI: Michigan will intensively search out relatives to foster FIA lax
From: (Fern5827)
Date: 9/9/2003 3:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: >
Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Report: Foster care system fails kids' relatives
By Associated Press
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DETROIT -- A report to the Michigan Supreme Court criticizes the handling of
foster care by the Family Independence Agency and the state's courts, saying
not enough is being done to find relatives of children who might make suitable
parents.
The report from the court's Adoption Work Group details reasons that children
languish in foster care -- often for years -- as their cases drag through
Family Court and appellate courts.
The work group, made up of lawyers, judges and child welfare specialists, noted
that in 2002 Michigan had 4,615 permanent state wards with the goal of
adoption, while the state finalized 2,833 adoptions that year.
As of July 31, 12,673 children were temporary wards of the state as the result
of child protective proceedings, and a total of 19,490 were in foster care.
Relatives and foster parents frequently are left uninformed about issues
involving the children, the report said. After parental rights are terminated,
people who try to adopt related children often find stiff resistance from
foster parents and agencies.
The group urges judges, court referees, the FIA and private foster agencies to
increase efforts to locate relatives of abused or neglected children, and to
notify those relatives of court hearings and other issues regarding the
children.
"There is a gap in the statutes and rules that may inappropriately limit
participation by relatives," the report said.
The report also urges judges and referees to expedite legal proceedings and to
give termination of parental rights cases the highest scheduling priority.
It also encourages the enforcement of a state law that requires lawyers
representing children to visit their clients in their foster homes or relative
placements.
"A comprehensive attack on the issues facing the foster care system will
require the cooperation of all involved," said FIA Director Nannette Bowler.
The report said the state's appeals courts already are shortening the time
needed to hear appeals from fathers and mothers whose parental rights were
terminated. But it said family court, the FIA and attorneys for the children
can do more to speed the process.
Chief Justice Maura Corrigan, a driving force behind efforts to reform the
foster care and adoption systems, said "crisis" may be too strong a word to
use, but noted that the removal of any child from a home can be considered a
crisis.
"The best safety nets that we have, they're not perfect and they don't always
work," Corrigan said. "The goal, I think, is to reduce the need for safety nets
in the first place."
On the Net: http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt
DESCRIPTORS: FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, FOSTER CARE, ASFA, KINSHIP CARE, FIA,
CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE, MICHIGAN, MI, ADOPTION, CAPTA, SOCIAL WORK, FAMILY LAW
From: (Fern5827)
Date: 9/9/2003 3:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: >
Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Report: Foster care system fails kids' relatives
By Associated Press
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
DETROIT -- A report to the Michigan Supreme Court criticizes the handling of
foster care by the Family Independence Agency and the state's courts, saying
not enough is being done to find relatives of children who might make suitable
parents.
The report from the court's Adoption Work Group details reasons that children
languish in foster care -- often for years -- as their cases drag through
Family Court and appellate courts.
The work group, made up of lawyers, judges and child welfare specialists, noted
that in 2002 Michigan had 4,615 permanent state wards with the goal of
adoption, while the state finalized 2,833 adoptions that year.
As of July 31, 12,673 children were temporary wards of the state as the result
of child protective proceedings, and a total of 19,490 were in foster care.
Relatives and foster parents frequently are left uninformed about issues
involving the children, the report said. After parental rights are terminated,
people who try to adopt related children often find stiff resistance from
foster parents and agencies.
The group urges judges, court referees, the FIA and private foster agencies to
increase efforts to locate relatives of abused or neglected children, and to
notify those relatives of court hearings and other issues regarding the
children.
"There is a gap in the statutes and rules that may inappropriately limit
participation by relatives," the report said.
The report also urges judges and referees to expedite legal proceedings and to
give termination of parental rights cases the highest scheduling priority.
It also encourages the enforcement of a state law that requires lawyers
representing children to visit their clients in their foster homes or relative
placements.
"A comprehensive attack on the issues facing the foster care system will
require the cooperation of all involved," said FIA Director Nannette Bowler.
The report said the state's appeals courts already are shortening the time
needed to hear appeals from fathers and mothers whose parental rights were
terminated. But it said family court, the FIA and attorneys for the children
can do more to speed the process.
Chief Justice Maura Corrigan, a driving force behind efforts to reform the
foster care and adoption systems, said "crisis" may be too strong a word to
use, but noted that the removal of any child from a home can be considered a
crisis.
"The best safety nets that we have, they're not perfect and they don't always
work," Corrigan said. "The goal, I think, is to reduce the need for safety nets
in the first place."
On the Net: http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt
DESCRIPTORS: FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, FOSTER CARE, ASFA, KINSHIP CARE, FIA,
CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE, MICHIGAN, MI, ADOPTION, CAPTA, SOCIAL WORK, FAMILY LAW