Every time I tried to post this entry, I’d find something new in my inbox.
News
DCF says its investigators and caseworkers are still carrying dangerously high caseloads. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/247809-workloads-work-life-balance-continue-hobble-children-services-workforce
The Tampa Bay Times is asking for records regarding abuse of adults by home health care providers. The case was assigned to Karen Gievers. DCF is not objecting to the request. http://floridapolitics.com/archives/247326-times-court-order-dcf
The Orlando Sentinel reports on the use of $1B in state scholarships at poorly regulated and poorly managed private schools. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-florida-school-voucher-investigation-1018-htmlstory.html
A federal case in Kentucky recently ruled that relative caregivers were entitled to the same payments as foster families. (Will Florida follow? Relatives get a fraction of what strangers get to care for the same kids.) http://www.the-messenger.com/news/local/article_0b84ad05-2c0c-5e14-abad-7772c6b4b7a9.html
Commentary
Agreed, judges cannot ban children from courtrooms. Please stop it. http://justicebuilding.blogspot.com/2017/10/kids-are-people-too.html
Legislation
The Senate Finance Committee issued a report on the states’ weak oversight and control of their privatized child welfare providers. The report finds that 86 kids died while under one company’s care. (Florida uses/used this company too, but reportedly did not respond to the committee’s request for information.)
“State child welfare agencies report they have procedures in place to monitor child welfare providers’ performance and outcomes,” the report said. “But this investigation … shows that these policies are not always followed; exceptions are made, waivers are granted, profits are prioritized over children’s well-being, and sometimes those charged with keeping children safe look the other way.”
In coordination with the release of the report, the Child Welfare Oversight and Accountability Act of 2017 was filed. It would increase incentives for relative care, monitor privatized systems more closely, and increase scrutiny of child deaths. https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/child-welfare-2/senate-foster-care-bill-incentivize-kin-monitor-private-providers-child-fatalities
In Florida, a bill to allow pro bono attorneys for kids to access due process funds is moving through committee. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/00146
And a bill to ban child marriages is also moving forward (which is to say we could stand to be a little less backwards). http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/00140
Regulation
DCF amended its rules on placing kids in out-of-state residential mental health programs. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19571319
Sheridan House Ministries, which runs a child care facility (group home), received an exception to the rule that its program director have the required educational and experience levels. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19541928
DCF is amending its rules to clarify the procedures for missing kids. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19459478
DCF is also creating a rule on emergency and runaway shelters. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19411851 and https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19411948
And DCF is amending its rule on out-of-state criminal checks. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=19604008
Whew that’s it for now.
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