Substantial changes must be made to the state?s foster care system. That?s the conclusion of state auditors, who presented their findings to a key legislative committee today. Nhpr?s Trish Anderton
reports.
CAROL MARTIN IS A FAN OF FOSTER CARE. SEVEN OF THE EIGHT KIDS NOW LIVING IN HER HUDSON HOME CAME OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. MARTIN SAYS THE REWARDS OF FOSTER PARENTING HAVE OUTWEIGHED THE FRUSTRATIONS. BUT SHE SAYS, DEALING WITH THE STATE IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO SCHEDULING.
for instance a visit is changed and I?m not notified about it other than getting a call from a driver on the way to my home, to pick up the child. So we just need to work on the communication a lot more.
MARTIN SAYS SHE?S ALSO BEEN LEFT OUT OF SOME KEY MEETINGS TO EVALUATE HOW HER FOSTER KIDS WERE DOING. COMPLAINTS LIKE THOSE ARE NOT NEWS TO JACK LIGHTFOOT OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES HELP TO FOSTER FAMILIES.
foster families not visited regularly, they?re not paid enough, there?s not an excellent recruitment and retention plan for them. And I think kids are at risk of being hurt. I can't say they?re being hurt, but its something we need to be careful of.
STATE AUDITORS AT THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE BUDGET ASSISTANT AGREE THE SYSTEM NEEDS AN OVERHAUL. THEIR REPORT FINDS THE DIVISION FOR CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES OR DCYF IS FAILING TO MAKE PROMISED MONTHLY VISITS TO CHECK UP ON FOSTER PLACEMENTS. IT RECOMMENDS THE DIVISION IMPROVE ITS RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS ITS SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR FAMILIES. AND IT FINDS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DCYF USES TO TRACK CASES INADEQUATE. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER DONALD SHUMWAY IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPROVING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SHUMWAY SAYS HE APPRECIATES THE AUDITORS? SUGGESTIONS, BUT HE NEEDS A BIGGER STAFF AND A BIGGER BUDGET TO PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE.
I have on my own pulled staffing wherever I could find them and have transferred 10 workers into dcyf but that does not come close to meeting the reasonable expectations of this audit. The legislature will have to step up to the plate on this one.
SHUMWAY HAS THE SUPPORT OF A KEY LAWMAKER. REPUBLICAN SENATOR NED GORDON OF BRISTOL CO-CHAIRED A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT INVESTIGATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STATE?S CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. GORDON HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF THE CULTURE OF DCYF IN THE PAST. BUT HE SAYS THE PROBLEMS WITH FOSTER CARE RESULT FROM A LACK OF MONEY.
004 115 I think the foster care people are well meaning and they want to do the job. They?re encumbered by a lack of resources they need to get it done.
GORDON SAYS DCYF HAS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF DOCUMENTING ITS NEEDS. COMMISSIONER SHUMWAY SAYS HE?LL DO THAT SOON. HE?S PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A REPORT DETAILING HOW MANY EMPLOYEES AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT WILL TAKE TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. SENATOR GORDON SAYS HE?S CONFIDENT HE CAN GET INCREASED FUNDING FOR FOSTER CARE IN THE COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. BUT IT MAY NOT BE EASY, SINCE LAWMAKERS ARE STILL ENMESHED IN A FOUR-YEAR BATTLE OVER HOW TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
