wexwimpy
December 8th 04, 02:30 PM
Privatization problems
Community-based care has the potential for improving child
welfare, but only with continued state oversight.
A Times Editorial
Published December 8, 2004
No one expected it would be easy to switch to a privatized
child-welfare system. But four years into the transition from using
state workers to relying on local organizations to provide family
supervision, foster care and adoptive services for abused and
neglected children, the effort continues to suffer major setbacks.
The community-based care mess in Volusia and Flagler counties is the
latest example. The state Department of Children and Families recently
issued an ultimatum to the lead private agency there: Shape up by
February, or expect to be terminated. DCF's notice followed
investigations revealing that the lead agency is flagging in nine
areas. Among the problems: Caseworkers falsified records, children
languished in foster care longer than necessary and kids in at-risk
homes were not visited to ensure they were safe. Those shortcomings
are inexcusable for an agency in its third year - and its performance
is getting worse, not better.
The lead agency in Volusia and Flagler would not be the first to lose
its state contract. Family Continuity Programs in Pinellas and Pasco
counties was forced out by the state earlier this year after multiple
failures, including overcrowding foster homes and shuttling children
from home to home. It has gone out of business, leaving dozens of
foster parents and contractors with unpaid bills and raising further
doubt about the viability of the state's demand for community-based
care.
"It will give the prudent individual pause for thought, that how
deeply do I want to get involved in this?" James Mills, executive
director of Pinellas County's Juvenile Welfare Board, told the Times.
Five of every six dependent children in Florida are served by a
privatized lead agency, and all of them will be covered by July. Where
it is wanted and done correctly, community-based care has potential
for improving child safety and building better families. But the
massive transition carries enormous risks, especially in communities
unprepared or unwilling to take on the responsibility. It also
requires a significant state contribution of money, technical
assistance and supervision.
When it comes to protecting abused children, the buck still stops in
Tallahassee.
[Last modified December 7, 2004, 23:47:14]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/08/Opinion/Privatization_problems.shtml
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action.
Community-based care has the potential for improving child
welfare, but only with continued state oversight.
A Times Editorial
Published December 8, 2004
No one expected it would be easy to switch to a privatized
child-welfare system. But four years into the transition from using
state workers to relying on local organizations to provide family
supervision, foster care and adoptive services for abused and
neglected children, the effort continues to suffer major setbacks.
The community-based care mess in Volusia and Flagler counties is the
latest example. The state Department of Children and Families recently
issued an ultimatum to the lead private agency there: Shape up by
February, or expect to be terminated. DCF's notice followed
investigations revealing that the lead agency is flagging in nine
areas. Among the problems: Caseworkers falsified records, children
languished in foster care longer than necessary and kids in at-risk
homes were not visited to ensure they were safe. Those shortcomings
are inexcusable for an agency in its third year - and its performance
is getting worse, not better.
The lead agency in Volusia and Flagler would not be the first to lose
its state contract. Family Continuity Programs in Pinellas and Pasco
counties was forced out by the state earlier this year after multiple
failures, including overcrowding foster homes and shuttling children
from home to home. It has gone out of business, leaving dozens of
foster parents and contractors with unpaid bills and raising further
doubt about the viability of the state's demand for community-based
care.
"It will give the prudent individual pause for thought, that how
deeply do I want to get involved in this?" James Mills, executive
director of Pinellas County's Juvenile Welfare Board, told the Times.
Five of every six dependent children in Florida are served by a
privatized lead agency, and all of them will be covered by July. Where
it is wanted and done correctly, community-based care has potential
for improving child safety and building better families. But the
massive transition carries enormous risks, especially in communities
unprepared or unwilling to take on the responsibility. It also
requires a significant state contribution of money, technical
assistance and supervision.
When it comes to protecting abused children, the buck still stops in
Tallahassee.
[Last modified December 7, 2004, 23:47:14]
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/08/Opinion/Privatization_problems.shtml
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action.