Audit: DCF privatization is on track, needs some strengthening

Audit: DCF privatization is on track, needs some strengthening
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state's effort to privatize child welfare
services meets the letter of the law, but needs to be strengthened to
better ensure that private agencies are ready to take over, a state
audit released Tuesday said.
Specifically, the audit said, the Department of Children & Families
needs to strengthen oversight of privatized services and provide
better technical assistance to the private agencies it will have under
contract.
In addition, DCF should follow more stringent procedures during site
visits to prospective providers, and require agencies to submit
long-term business plans soon after they apply for contracts, the
audit said.
DCF has already started improving those areas, said Bill Spann, a
department spokesman.
"We concur with recommendations in report and had already implemented
many prior to its completion," he said.
The state is in the process of converting its entire child welfare
system to what it calls community-based care. As of last month, 11
private agencies in 28 counties were providing services to 42 percent
of the children in the DCF system - about 21,083 kids - the audit
said.
Overall, the audit from the Legislature's Office of Program Policy
Analysis and Government Accountability, or OPPAGA, said DCF uses a
"reasonable process" to determine whether agencies were prepared for
their tasks.
A DCF response to the audit said the department already requires
long-term business plans, and has named a point person for technical
assistance. The department is also working on a stronger monitoring
system that will take effect by July.
Cecka Green, a spokeswoman for Voices for Florida's Children, said
issues such as oversight need to be a department priority, but the
privatization seems to be going smoothly.
"Overall it probably is going in the right direction, but we won't
know the results for several years," she said.
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/8030260.htm



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