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View Full Version : Calif. waiver *services 4 families* not foster care


Fern5827
November 17th 03, 04:52 PM
Subject: Calif FC funds to go to services for families, instead
From: (Fern5827)
Date: 11/17/2003 9:41 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: >

Long Beach Press Telegram


Road to recovery
County department coming to grips with its failures.


By L.A. Daily News




Sunday, November 16, 2003 - The first step to getting better, the therapists
say, is admitting you have a problem. By that standard, the Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services finally has started down the long
road to recovery.

Recognizing that its foster- care system is tragically broken -- kids in foster
care are six to seven tines more likely to be mistreated -- the DCFS has
applied for a federal waiver that would allow it to put funds usually
designated for foster care toward directly aiding troubled families. The idea
is that if families get the help they need, kids might not need to be moved
into foster care in the first place.

Whether DCFS, which is understaffed and has a track record of failure, can
successfully provide that level of care remains to be seen.

But the agency deserves credit for realizing that things won't get better
without some major changes, and for having the courage to try them.

DESCRIPTORS; DCFS, CALIFORNIA, FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, SERVICES,WAIVER, IV-E,
FUNDING, CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE, ABUSE, NEGLECT