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Many foster parents kept in dark
Many foster parents kept in dark
Survey says state often fails to give facts on kids By CRAIG SCHNEIDER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/10/04 The state often fails to tell foster parents about problems with children coming into their care, according to many foster parents surveyed this spring. Less than half of the 663 foster parents surveyed said they received information about children's health and psychological problems or any history of abuse. It is the policy of the state Division of Family and Children Services to provide that information to foster parents as soon as possible, or within 90 days. EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR "Then the children are suffering, because the children's needs are not being met," Sharon Carlson, president of the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia, said about the survey's findings. Carlson said a lack of information can place foster children and families that care for them in danger. A child placed in a foster home that does not get enough information may not receive the proper medical care. The child may have behavioral problems that the foster parent has not been trained to handle. Carlson said she has heard of instances where a foster parent only discovers a child's bad habit, such as sexual touching, after the child has molested another foster child in the home. The survey, co-sponsored by the state Office of the Child Advocate and the Georgia Supreme Court Child Placement Project, obtained responses from foster parents in May and June. According to the survey, just 44 percent of the foster parents who responded received information on the child's history of abuse or neglect, while 31 percent were told of any history of psychological or behavioral issues. Forty percent were told of significant medical history, including current health needs of the child, according to the survey. Dee Simms, the state child advocate, said the lack of communication has led many foster parents to quit, contributing to a shortage of foster homes. Simms said many DFCS caseworkers are overburdened by a high number of cases, and are in a rush to go on to another child's case. As a result, she said, caseworkers don't have time to properly review a case before placing a child in a foster home. In addition, Simms said, a shortage of foster homes has led some caseworkers to place children without considering whether a particular home is a good fit. DFCS officials said there have been instances when caseworkers fail to pass on information, but that the problem is not widespread. Many times, caseworkers must remove a child from a troubled home before the child's full history is known. Caseworkers usually provide foster parents with a comprehensive assessment within 60 to 90 days, said DFCS spokeswoman Lola Russell. A child may be moved to a more appropriate foster home after the assessment is completed, she said. Carlson, a foster parent for 23 years, said the survey results are accurate. She said that in many instances, a child's information is never passed on. Carlson said she is optimistic about the state's commitment to improving the foster care system. The state this year adopted a Foster Parents Bill of Rights, declaring that foster parents have a right to background information on a child's mental and physical health. Also, foster parent advocates have had several meetings with state officials to discuss their concerns. "Right now I really think they're trying," Carlson said. But she added, "We've got major work ahead of us." http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met.../11foster.html Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action. |
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