Calif: Large foster care probe sought by legislators

Los Angeles Daily News


Foster system probe sought by legislators
By Troy Anderson
Staff Writer



Friday, March 05, 2004 -

State lawmakers asked Los Angeles County on Friday to begin investigating its
foster care program, but said they may order a state probe of the system later
this month.

"We've heard a lot of complaints about fraud and waste," said Assemblyman
Mervyn Dymally, chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Urban Youth, which
held a public hearing in Paramount to discuss public complaints about the
county's foster care system.

"The governor and the Assembly Budget Committee have called upon us to find out
where the fraud and waste is and to go after it."

Dymally, D-Compton, said the panel will hold another hearing March 23 in
Sacramento, focusing on financial aspects of the foster care system. Lawmakers
will decide afterward whether to call for a state audit or investigation.

David Sanders, director of the county's Department of Children and Family
Services, said he plans to present the panel with previous audits and internal
investigations.

"It's hard to say how easily it can be identified as specifically fraud and
waste, versus the dollars haven't resulted in the kind of outcomes we want for
our kids," Sanders said.

The hearing followed a Daily News investigation which uncovered estimates that
as many as half of the 75,000 children in county foster care and adoptive homes
were needlessly placed in a system often more dangerous than the homes from
which they were removed. For each child placed in the system, counties receive
$30,000 to $150,000 a year, officials say.

Private foster care agency officials and social workers told lawmakers that the
system is in crisis and workers are overwhelmed with huge caseloads and
paperwork.

Former Glendale resident Fred Baker, who ran group homes in Lancaster and South
Los Angeles, said an agency separate from DCFS should investigate allegations
of child mistreatment because of financial incentives that encourage the
placement of children in foster care. "It's a money-driven, demonic system."

Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985



DESCRIPTORS; CPS, DSS, SACRAMENTO, DSS, CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, GROUP HOMES,
FOSTER CARE, CAPTA, FEDERAL FALSE CLAIMS ACT, FRAUD,DCFS,WASTE, CHILD ABUSE