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Tucson AZ Critics want CPS records open to public
Critics want CPS records open to public
Mary K. Reinhart, Tribune http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95522 The state’s child welfare system has needlessly taken poor children away from their families, according to critics demanding that Child Protective Services open its records to the public. Joined at a Capitol news conference Monday by a current and former legislator, Richard Wexler, who runs a small Virginia-based child welfare group, said CPS removes too many children “in cases where a family’s poverty is confused with neglect.” Wexler, former Tempe Rep. Laura Knaperek and Sen. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, said reforms instituted by Gov. Janet Napolitano have floundered, yanking a record number of children out of their homes, overwhelming caseworkers and failing to get substance abuse and other services to troubled families. But a pair of Republican lawmakers are concerned that CPS has done just the opposite: giving parents too many chances and, in two recent cases, failing to protect three Tucson children whose parents are charged in their deaths. And the case last week of a Mesa mother who, once jailed in the death of her infant, was accused of beating her 10-yearold bloody in a Wal-Mart, also raised questions about CPS supervision. Reps. Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, and Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, agree, however, that legislation is needed to open court hearings and CPS records. They’ll hold a hearing next month regarding the Tucson cases, a meeting that’s been delayed because the lawmakers want it open to the public. “Anytime that we can shine sunshine in any dark places I think it’s better for public policy in the long run,” said Adams, who chairs the House Government Committee. “My personal opinion right now is the current confidentiality law is too restrictive and is not conducive to good government.” Ken Deibert, deputy director of the state Department of Economic Security, which oversees CPS, said more services have been provided to help keep children safely in their homes, and that’s decreased the number of kids in foster care. After reaching a peak of nearly 10,000 children in foster care in 2005, the number has been declining, Deibert said, in large part because more families are receiving in-home services, like parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, family therapy, child care and job training. The number of kids in group homes and shelters declined by 21 percent from March 2005 to March 2007. Nearly 9,800 children were in foster care as of March, according to CPS statistics, about one-third of them living with relatives. “We don’t remove a child because of neglect,” he said. “Where we can care for a child safely in the home, that’s what we’re going to do.” The agency has expanded a program called Family to Family, which focuses on tapping broad community and family support to keep children at home, reunify them or, if necessary, find families nearby qualified to adopt them. Deibert said he’s also willing to work with legislators to broaden the CPS confidentiality law, which allows the agency to withhold records and claim the release could interfere with a police or judicial investigation. Wexler, Knaperek and Gray cited a new MIT study, based on children in the Illinois system, that showed those who were allowed to remain with their families fared better than those who were placed in foster care. “We need to get the parents help instead of that emotional trauma that occurs when children are taken out,” Gray said. Wexler, who distributed a 52-page report on Arizona’s child welfare system, called for $54 million in new funding, all of it directed to alternatives to foster care, with the caveat that the foster care system receive no more money. He also recommended beefing up the Family to Family program, and giving parents legal counsel and staff to investigate CPS reports. Adams said he doesn’t disagree that more in-home services are needed, but that’s not always enough to keep kids safe. He said Mesa CPS caseworkers tell him that 70 percent to 80 percent of the cases where children are removed involve methamphetamine. “When you begin to look at the circumstances of these children being removed ... I’m hesitant to say all children are better off” in their homes, he said. Deibert, who came here nine months ago from Idaho, said the push and pull between those who want more children removed and those who call for keeping more families together is a perennial debate in child welfare. “That’s one of the delicate balances that you have to deal with,” he said. “I think we’re making good progress in the right direction.” Reader comments (3) This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author. My comment disappeared! What's going on? Karen Confidetiality could be maintained by blacking out the names of the children and adults involved in CPS referalls. A CPS report could be published in the newspaper, similar to the police and fire reports. No names are used when reporting those incidents. By publishing such a report in the newspaper, the general public and those in power would KNOW the State of Abused Children in Arizona. Knowing how overworked CPS is (I am a former foster parent) this information could be done electronically as part of their in-house paperwork. A template could be created, questions could be asked and aswered, and the information could be emailed to the newspaper for reporting in the paper. Knowledge is power. The more people who are aware of the abuse of children, the more likely the abuse can be addressed before yet another tragedy occurs. Family and neighbors who read of these incidents "in their neighbordhod" might assist at some level. Politicians would be forced to address the reality of child abuse in Arizona. Foster care agencies, CASA, and the Foster Care Review Board might find themselves swamped with volunteers. CPS needs help. This incident reporting could be the first step! Suggest removal of this comment August 21, 2007 Kara I feel that CPS removes children when they shouldn't and returns children when they shouldn't. My children were removed from me and given to their dad and put into a worse situation. He mentally and physically abused the kids for many years and nothing was ever done. They finally removed the younger 2 when my oldest called CPS on her dad. My youngest child who will turn 18 next week has been in the foster care system for 3 years. My middle child who is 19 ran away from a group home and CPS didn't seem to care what happened to her. I think CPS needs to be investigated and their records gone over with a fine tooth comb. I don't feel the records need to public because they included things that has happened to children and they (children) need to be protected at all times. Suggest removal of this comment August 21, 2007 FIRE NAPOLITANO I CANNOT believe that the good people of Arizona continue to sit on their hands and squelch the voice of disdain toward out Governor..NAPOLITANO Made promise after promise regarding CPS reform and has absolutely delivered NOTHING..WHERE is she on these issues..Hiding in her office, sticking her finger in the wind to guage the wind of public opinion...SHE HAS FAILED THE STATE Suggest removal of this comment August 21, 2007 CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA WIRETAPPING PROGRAM.... CPS Does not protect children... It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even killed at the hands of Child Protective Services. every parent should read this .pdf from connecticut dcf watch... http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US These numbers come from The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN) Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS *Perpetrators of Maltreatment* Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59 Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13 Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241 Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12 Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON... BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION... |
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