Scathing 400-Page Report Uncovers Unaccounted Kids Report Submitted To Federal Court About Baltimore Social Services

Scathing 400-Page Report Uncovers Unaccounted Kids Report Submitted To
Federal Court About Baltimore Social Services
POSTED: 2:40 pm EST March 3, 2004
BALTIMORE -- A scathing new report on Baltimore City's Department of
Social Services uncovers hundreds of kids who have fallen through the
cracks, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Barry Simms reported.
The report shows children unaccounted for -- possibly more than 1,000
of them -- and caseload statistics that have been false for years,
Simms said. Both are part of the findings in a report on DSS that was
recently submitted to federal court, and 11 News obtained a copy
Tuesday night.

Line after line in the 400-page report lists problems and
discrepancies plaguing the DSS, an agency that serves more than 7,000
children. The report claims a whole generation has not received the
services and protections required by the federal court.
The report alleges that the department may be guilty of significant
errors in caseload data, including at least 718 children excluded from
the agency's caseload information.
The report also indicates the following statistics:
48 percent of the children did not receive recommended therapy for
mental health issues. 22 percent of foster homes did not have
criminal background checks. 22 percent of all children did not see
case workers on a monthly basis.
The report does say, however, that the department is making
improvements. DSS has agreed to an independent audit and 30 new case
workers are being hired and phased in. A spokeswoman for the Maryland
Department of Human Resources said "we are continuing to work
diligently to address all issues brought forth by this improvement
plan."
And DHR representative Elyn Jones told 11 News that DSS is a system
that has historically been grossly under-funded -- an issue that Gov.
Bob Ehrlich said he wants to change, Simms reported.
The report notes the funding problems and says if child welfare budget
cuts aren't restored, the federal court may have to intervene.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/family...04/detail.html

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