00:00:00>> ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO,
I HELD OUR FIRST CHILD SAFETY
00:00:07SUMMIT IN CINCINNATI.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE hELD
00:00:11EIGHT OF THESE SUMMITS.
THEY WERE STARTED BECAUSE OF
00:00:18TRAGEDIES THAT OCCURRED IN THE
STATE OF OHIO WHERE WE HAD YOUNG
00:00:24PEOPLE BEING KILLED WHO HAD BN
IN FOSTER CARE.
00:00:28SOMETIMES THEY HAD BEEN TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY AND PUT
00:00:31BACK WITH A FAMILY AND KILLED.
THAT PROMPTED ME TO RENEW MY
00:00:37INTEREST IN THIS AREA.
THIS IS AN AREA I HAVE BEEN
00:00:42INTERESTED IN FOR MANY YEARS.
IT DATES BACK TO WHEN I WAS AN
00:00:48ASSISTANT COUNTY PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY AND WALK INTO MY FIRST
00:00:51DAY OF WORK.
SOMEONE GAVE ME A FILE.
00:00:59I WENT DOWN TO THE COURT HOUSE
ANDçó STARTED REPRESENTING
00:01:05CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND CHILD
ABUSE CASES.
00:01:06WHAT I SAW AS AN ASSISTANT
COUNTY PROSECUTOR AND COUNTY
00:01:12PROSECUTOR HAS STAYED WITH ME
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
00:01:13THAT IS THINGS THAT I SAW THAI
COULD NOT
00:01:21I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT
BELIEVE AS FAR AS THE ABUSE OF
00:01:25CHILDREN.
I HAVE CARRIED THAT INTEREST
00:01:30WITH ME.
WHEN I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES
00:01:32SENATE, I HELPED TO WRITE A
MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
00:01:41ONE OF MY FOCUSES WAS ON MAKING
SURE IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT
00:01:51WHILE FAMILY REUNIFICATION IS
IMPORTANT, THE SAFETY OF THE
00:01:55CHILD SHOULD ALWAYS BE
PARAMOUNT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT
00:01:58THING.
YmTHAT WAS WRITTEN INTO THE LA.
00:02:00IF YOU GO INTO MY OFFICE TODAY,
YOU WILL SEE A COPY OF THAT
00:02:06BILL.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT.
00:02:09IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN
INTERESTED IN FOR MANY YEARS.
00:02:11WE HELD OUR
CINCINNATI.
00:02:14WE HAVE HELD SEVEN MORE SINCE
THEN.
00:02:19WE HAVE NOT ONLY FOCUSED ON THE
ISSUE OF CHILD SAFETY.
00:02:24WE HAVE ALSO FOCUSED ON THE
ISSUE OF PERMANENCY
00:02:30TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, WE HAVE
LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM OF
00:02:35CHILDREN IN LEGAL LIMBO WHO ARE
IN FOSTERrCARE AND STAY IN
00:02:42FOSTER CARE FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY DO NOT HAVE WHAT EVERY
00:02:47CHILD IN THIS COUNTRY DESERVES.
THAT IS A PERMANENT, LOVING
00:02:50HOME.
WE LOOK AT THIS.
00:02:53OUR FORMULA WAS TO HAVE FIVE OR
SIX PEOPLE ON THE PANEL.
00:03:03WE WOULD BRING IN EXPERTS.
IT MIGHT BE THE JUVENILE JUDGE.
00:03:08IT MIGHT BE A VOLUNTEER
THE HEAD OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES.
00:03:15SOMETIMES A FOSTER PARENT.
THE MOST GRIPPING PART OF WHAT
00:03:22WE HEARD CAME FROM THE PEOPLE
WHO JUST SHOWED UP.
00:03:24THE PUBLIC.OPEN MEETINGS,
THE MOST TELLING COMMENTS CAME
00:03:32FROM THE FOSTER PARENTS AND FROM
PEOPLE3W WHO HAD BEEN FOSTER
00:03:40CHILDREN BEFORE.
WE HAVE TAKEN THESE COMMEND
00:03:49RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT THEM IN
THIS DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IN FRONT
00:03:52OF YOU TODAY.
THE HEARINGS.
00:03:59IT IS NOT A TRANSCRIPT
CONTAINED HERE.
00:04:04BUT
COMPLAINT OR ARTICULATION OF THE
00:04:11PROBLEMxD IN HERE WAS SOMETHINGE
HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
00:04:18THERE'S GOT TO BE A PATTERN OF
WHAT WE WERE HEARING.
00:04:24TODAY WE GO TO THE NEXT STEP.
I HAVE CONVENED A TASK FORCE.
00:04:32SOME OF THE MEMBERSñr BEHIND ME
WILLrSTART THEIR FIRST SESSION.
00:04:40I HAVE ASKED THEM WITHIN 90
IF POSSIBLE TO COME BACK WITH
00:04:48VERY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE STATE OF
00:04:53OHIO.
THESE MAYHt BE LEGISLATED.
00:04:55THEY MAY NOT BE.
THEY MAY BE OTHER TYPES OF
00:04:58RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY ARE NOTçóKo CONFINED TO WE
00:05:02FOUND IN THESE EIGHT HEARINGS OR
LISTENING SESSIONS.
00:05:08THEY CAN TAKE THESE AND DO WITH
THEM WHATEVER THEY WANT.
00:05:12THIS IS A PANEL I AM VERY PROUD
OF.
00:05:15WE WILL HAVE
POSTED THE NAMES AND TITLES OF
00:05:21EVERYONE ON THE PANEL.
NOT ALL OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY.
00:05:26THEY ARE PEOPLE WITH VERY
DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND MAYBE
00:05:33DIFFERENT ATTITUDES.
BUT THEY ALL SHARE ONE ATTITUDE.
00:05:35THEY CARE ABOUT KIDS.
THEY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN IN
00:05:39FOSTER CARE.
I AM PROUD OF THEM HAVE AGREED
00:05:43TO DO THIS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND
00:05:46SOME TIME.
IT WILL NOT BE AN EASY TASK.
00:05:48THIS IS NOT AN EASY AREA.
LET ME GO THROUGH SOME OF THE
00:05:58THINGS THAT CAME OUT FROMxD OUR
CHILD SAFETY SUMMITS, SOME OF
00:06:04THE ISSUES RAISED.
WHAT WE HAVE INCLUDED ARE THINGS
00:06:10WE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AFTER ABOUT A SECOND MEETING,
00:06:16YOU COULD ALMOST WRITE THE
SCRIPT ABOUT WHAT ISSUES WERE
00:06:21GOING TO COME OUT.
THEY WEREr CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT
00:06:24THE STATE OF OHIO.
WERE.
00:06:29THE SAME ISSUES COMING UP TIME
AND TIME AGAIN.
00:06:32LET ME TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THEM
RIGHT NOW.
00:06:36THE FIRST IS FOSTER PARENT
PARTICIPATION.
00:06:43THERE IS A COMPLAINT FROM FOSR
PARENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT ASKED
00:06:50MANY TIMES
SOLUTION.
00:06:54THERE'S ADVICE IS NOT BEING
THEY ARe
00:07:00KIDS EVERY DAY.
THEY LOVE THESEfá KIDS.
00:07:03WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE
DECISION ABOUT WHETHER THE CHILD
00:07:11SHOULD GO BACK WITH THE
NATIONAL.
00:07:13-- NATURAL PARENTS, THESE
PARENTS FEEL THEY ARE NOT
00:07:19CONSULTED AND CANNOT
PARTICIPATE.
00:07:21THEY FEEL THEY ARE THE ONESc
GOING
00:07:27SECONDLY, FOSTER CHILDREN
WHO HAVE
00:07:41THAT THEY ARE MANY TIMES NOT
CONSULTED THROUGHOUT THE
00:07:45PROCESS.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHOSE LIFE
00:07:50AT ISSUE.
MANY TIMES, THEY ARE NOT
00:07:53CONSULTED.
THE THIRD ISSUE IS THE ISSUE OF
00:07:59GUARDIAN APPOINTED AS LEGAL
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHILD IN
00:08:06THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO AE
SUPPOSED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE
00:08:10CHILD AND HAVE THE3W BEST INTET
OF THE CHILD.
00:08:12THEY ARE TO DO THE WORK TO
UNDERSTAND THAT AND PRESENT THAT
00:08:18TO THE COURT.
A COMMON COMPLAINT THROUGHOUT
00:08:22THE STATE THAT WHILE SOME ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB, MANY ARE NOT.
00:08:26THEY ARE NOT PUTTING THE TIME
IN.
00:08:30THEY ARE NOT PREPARED.
THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
00:08:33GOING ON WITH THAT CHILD.
THE FOURTH ISSUE THAT CAME UP
00:08:36WAS THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN
THE STATE OF OHIO WITH CASA
00:08:48VOLUNTEERS.
THESE ARE ADVOCATES FOR THE
00:08:49CHILDREN.
THEY'RE GENERALLY NOT LAWYERS.
00:08:55THE CONSENSUS FROM OUR MEETINGS
WAS THATrtQIS IS A VERY
00:09:00EFFECTIVE WAY TO REPRESENT THE
CHILD.
00:09:02THE VOLUNTEERS ARE AN INTEGRAL
PART OF S7THE DECISIONMAKING
00:09:11PROCESS WITH REGARD TO THE
FUTURE OF THE CHILD.
00:09:13THE PROBLEM EXPRESSED IS THAT
MANY COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF
00:09:17OHIO DO NOT HAVE THIS PROGRAM.
THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
00:09:20NUMBER FIVE, FOSTER CHILDREN
UNIFORMLY EXPRESSEDc CONCERN,
00:09:31AS DID FOSTER PARENTS DURING
VOCALLY, THAT
00:09:38MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
THE CHILD TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.
00:09:40THAT COMES FROM THE FACT IN
CASES THEY CANNOT SLEEP OVER AT
00:09:49THEY CANNOT GO TO A MOVIE.
THEY CANNOT DO ALL OF THE
00:09:53THINGS THAT CHILDREN NORMALLY
EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO DO.
00:10:01REGULATIONS, BECAUSE OF THE FT
THEY ARE FOSTER CHILD.
00:10:04THEY ARE DIFFERENT.
THAT IS A PROBLEM.
00:10:07IT WAS UNIFORMLY3W EXPRESS, THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A MENTOR
00:10:15FOR EACH FOSTER CHILDS A MR
BEYOND ALL THE OTHER CATEGORIES
00:10:22WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
SOMEONE THE CHILD CAN RELY ON,ñr
00:10:27SOMEONE WHO WILL SERVE AS A
PARENT FOR THE CHILD, IN THE
00:10:31SENSE OF BEING A MENTOR, A
PERSON TO GUIDE THEM, A PERSON
00:10:37TO BOUNCE THINGS OFF OF AS WE
ALL DO WITH OUR KIDS.
00:10:42THE NEXT ISSUE WAS THE ISSUEF
THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN TO AGE OF
00:10:47A FOSTER CARE.
I DO NOT LIKE THAT TERM BUT DO
00:10:54NOT KNOW IF I KNOW A BETTER ONE.
THESE ARE CHILDREN THAT WHEN
00:10:58BUSH IN FOSTER CARE FOR YEARS.
LOVING HOME.T HAVE A PERMANENT,
00:11:02THEY CANNOT BE ADOPTED FOR
WHATEVER REASON.
00:11:05MANY TIMES THE REASON THEY
CANNOT BE ADOPTED IS BECAUSE THE
00:11:10COURT HAS NOT SEVERED THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
00:11:13WHO DID NATURAL PARENTS
COURT HAS NOT SEVERED THE
00:11:18RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATURAL
PARENTS.
00:11:21THEY TURN 18 AND STILL IN FOSTER
CARE.
00:11:23THE CHALLENGES THESE CHILDREN
FACE IS IMMENSE.
00:11:29SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT HAVE A
HOME.
00:11:32SOMETIMES THEY ARE HOMELESS.
IN MOST CASES, THEY DO NOT HAVE
00:11:38ANYBODY CLOSE TO THEM TO BE
MENTORED.
00:11:40THEY DO NOT HAVE WHAT ALMOST
EVERY OTHER CHILD HAS, MAYBE
00:11:48NOT SOMEONE TO FINANCIALLY
SUPPORT THEM, BUT AT LEASTÑi6z
00:11:53SOMEONE TO
THEM.
00:11:55AT LEAST SOMEONE TO BE OF HELP
TO THEM AND HELP TO GUIDE THEM
00:12:02IN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR MOST OF
US, AT THE AGE OF 18.
00:12:05ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT THIS
GROUP TO LOOK WHAT BETTER
00:12:14SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDEÑi EITHER
IN THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR.
00:12:18cWE WANT TO PROVIDE THIS FOR
THESE C0I
00:12:25OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
THE NEXT IS PERMANENT PLANT
00:12:30LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.
THE SHORTHAND IS IN MY OPINION
00:12:37AND WHAT WAS EXPRESSED TIME AND
TIME AGAIN WAS THIS WAS A PLAn
00:12:42WHEREN CHILDREN HAVE A STATUS
THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR
00:12:49THEM TO BE ADOPTED.
IT ALMOST ENSURES THEY'RE GOING
00:12:53TO CONTINUE TO BE IN FOSTER
CARE WITHOUT ANY OTHER
00:12:58ALTERNATIVE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUEs
00:13:04THAT HAVE COME UP.
THIS GROUP IS NOT CONFINED TO
00:13:10THESE ISSUES.
THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT
00:13:13TO WITH THESE ISSUES.
GOING TO PROVIDE STAFFING
00:13:19FOR THIS GROUP.
LET ME INTRODUCEc
00:13:26AN ATTORNEY IN MY OFFICE.
WHAT IS YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE?
00:13:32DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S
INITIATIVES.
00:13:35SHE DOES IT VERY WELL.
SHE HAS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
00:13:42SHE WAS IN FOSTER CARE HERSELF.
SHE HAS BROUGHT A PASSION AND
00:13:51EXPERIENCE LEVEL AND EXPERTISE
WHICH HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL AS
00:13:56HAVE GONE ABOUT OUR BUSINESS FOR
THE LAST YEAR.
00:13:58SHE WILL BE STAFFING THIS GROUP.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO THIS GROUP
00:14:04TO DO RESEARCH, WHATEVER THEY
WANT US TO DO.
00:14:06LET ME INTRODUCE DAUNTEA SLEDGE,
A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHO IS NOW
00:14:18AN ADVOCATE FOR FOSTER CHILDREN.
HE IS CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT
00:14:21COLUMBUS STATE.
HE WILL SPEAK ABOUT HIS
00:14:26AGE AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM
WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME.
00:14:27>> HOW IS EVERYONE DOING?
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK ABOUT
00:14:37IS IN FOSTER CARE, THERE WERE
TWO POINTS IN MY LIFE THAT WERE
00:14:43THE HARDEST.
THAT IS ONE NIGHT
00:14:49WHEN I ENTERED ADN EXITED CARE.
WHEN I ENTERED CARE, I REMEMBER
00:15:03COMING INTO THE HOUSE AND
MEETING EVERYBODY.
00:15:05I SPOILED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT
KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
00:15:08WHEN IT CAME TIME TO -- I SMILED
EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT KNOW WHAT
00:15:13TO EXPECT.
WHEN IT CAME TIME TO GO TO BED,
00:15:15I HAD THIS OVERWHELMING FEAR.
I DID NOT KNOW WHAT EACH DAY
00:15:19WOULD BRING.
IT WAS KIND OF THE SAME THING
00:15:21WHEN I EMANCIPATED FROM FOSTER
CARE.
00:15:23I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
I DID NOT KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO
00:15:29BE IN MY CORNER OR HOW MANY
PEOPLE WOULD GIVE ME
00:15:34IT WAS THE END OF THEIR JOB.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE BIGGEST
00:15:38THING SINCE I HAVE BEEN OUT OF
CARE IS HAVING A MENTOR.
00:15:44PEOPLE HAVE COME INTO MY LIFE.
LIKE HE SAID, IT DOES NOT HAVE
00:15:48TO BE FINANCIAL.
IT CAN BE ADVICE ON THINGS YOU
00:15:51ARE GOING
IT CAN BE ADVICE ON SCHOOL,
00:16:01RELATIONSHIPS.
SOMETIMES THE ONLY RELATIONSHIPS
00:16:05THAT ARE THERE ARE
DYSFUNCTIONAL.
00:16:07WHAT YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IS
NOT HOW YOU HAVE TO RECIPROCATE
00:16:10THOSE FEELINGS TO OTHER PEOPLE
IN RELATIONSHIPS.
00:16:12DEFINITELY COME UPON --
DEFINITELY, WHAT I EMANCIPATED
00:16:21CARE, I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR THE
MAN TO BEAT YOUTH.
00:16:23WHEN I EXITED FOSTER CARE, I WAS
ALMOST 100 TURNED --
00:16:29110% SURE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE
KEPT ME AFTER FOR FOSTER CARE.
00:16:35WHEN SHE DID NOT, I DID NOT SAY
WHY IS THAT?
00:16:38YmIT WAS LIKE, WHAT EVER, ONCE
AGAIN.
00:16:42WHAT WERE MY NEXT STEPS?
HOW WAS I GOING TO DO IT?
00:16:48BECAUSE I WAS DEFINITELY GOING
TO COLLEGE AND I WANTED TO GET
00:16:51MY OWN PLACE AND WORK AND
PROVIDE FOR MYSELF.
00:16:54I ENDED UP MOVING BACK WITH MY
MOTHER.
00:17:00I DID NOT NECESSARILY WANT TOO
THAT, BUT WHERE ELSE COULD I GO?
00:17:04SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I GOT MY OWN
PLACE.
00:17:09THIS IS THE FUNNY THING BECAUSE
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT ONCE A
00:17:14KID IS EMANCIPATED FROM HERE AND
THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE AND
00:17:17THEY GET A JOB THAT EVERYTHING
IS OK.
00:17:20THE SYSTEM DID THEIR JOB.
AND A LOT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY
00:17:22FALLS ON THE KIDS AT TIMES, BUT
THE BIGGEST THING WAS ABOUT FOUR
00:17:26OR FIVE YEARS AFTER I WAS
EMANCIPATED.
00:17:29I DID END UP HOMELESS.
I WAS STILL WORKING, BUT I WAS
00:17:34HOMELESS.
WE ALL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
00:17:42STIGMAS THAT FOSTER KIDS HAVE TO
FIGHT THROUGH.
00:17:44THEY OFTEN THINK THAT THIS KID
DID SOMETHING WRONG, OR IS STILL
00:17:50DOING THINGS WRONG, OR THEY
DON'T HAVE A JOB OR THEY ARE NOT
00:17:52GOING TO SCHOOL OR THEY ARE NOT
BEEN PRODUCTIVE.
00:17:55THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
MANY OF THE KIDS AREMY
00:18:00AND STILL WORKING AND JUST DO
NOT HAVE PLACES TO GO.
00:18:01EVERYTHING THAT THE OHIO
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS
00:18:06DOING WITH THE SYMPOSIUMS AND
WITH THE BOARD, I AM NOT OFTEN
00:18:12NERVOUS WHEN I SPEAK, I SEE A
LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND YOU THAT I
00:18:15KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
00:18:16I AM TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY SOME GOOD
00:18:21PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD THAT WILL
MAKE ALL THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
00:18:24IT CAN'T GET NO BETTER THAN
THIS.
00:18:30OUR YOUTH ADVISORY, WE TALK
ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT
00:18:35YOWLER DOING HERE.
THERE IS NOT ANYTHING BAD --
00:18:38THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE.
THERE'S NOT ANYTHING BAD SAID.
00:18:42AS FAR AS FOSTER YOUTH AND
ALUMNI WANTING TO BE ADOPTED
00:18:48COMPONENT KEEP DOING --
TO BE ADOPTED, JUST KEEP DOING
00:18:54WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
KEEP AT IT.
00:18:57[APPLAUSE]
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
00:19:06GOING TO DO --
DAUTEA SLEDGE, THANK YOU VERY
00:19:12MUCH FOR YOUR COMPELLING
COMMENT.
00:19:15ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO IS HAVE PEOPLE
00:19:18TODAUNTEA --
PEOPLE LIKE DAUNTEA AVAILABLE
00:19:28FOR COMMENTS AND ANSWERING
QUESTIONS.
00:19:32LET ME OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT KICKED THIS OFT WAS
00:19:39SAFETY.
ONE OF THE GROUP --
00:19:46WHAT DID THE GROUP FIND THAT
EMERGED ON THIS TOPIC?
00:19:49>> ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 12,000 KIDS IN
00:19:58FOSTER CARE.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE 24,000 KIDS IN
00:20:02FOSTER CARE.
IF THE SNAPSHOT IS 12,000, THEN
00:20:06WHAT THAT MEANS IS MANY MORE
THAN THAT WILL BE IN FOSTER CARE
00:20:10DURING A 12 MONTH TIMEFRAME.
BUT THE SNAPSHOT WILL BE 12,000.
00:20:15REAL, TO ME, THE
MOST FASCINATING AND FRIGHTENING
00:20:24THING WAS THIS.
AS WE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS, WE
00:20:31HAD USUALLY ON THE PANEL PEOPLE
WHO WORK, WHAT I WOULD CALL THE
00:20:37ESTABLISHMENT.
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING HARD.
00:20:39THOSE WORKING WITH CHILDREN
SERVICES OR AÑi JUVENILE CUP --
00:20:46JUVENILE COURT JUDGE.
OUT IN THE
00:20:49PEOPLE WHO JUST SHOWED UP.
AND MANY TIMES THEY WERE FOSTER
00:20:52PARENTS.
SOME OF THE DIALOGUE WAS
00:20:57FASCINATING.
THERE IS --
00:20:58IT IS CLEAR THERE IS A GREAT
CHASM BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE
00:21:01WORKING IN THE SYSTEM, BETWEEN
HOW THEY LOOK AT THE SYSTEM AND
00:21:07HOW IS WORKING, WHICH IS
BASICALLY, HEY, IT IS TOUGH.
00:21:11WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB BY AND
LARGE.
00:21:14WE KNOW THEIR PROBLEMS.
THAT COMPARED TO THE FOSTER
00:21:20PARENTS THAT SHOWED UP, AND SOME
FORMER FOSTER CHILDREN WHO
00:21:25SHOWED UP, WHO WOULD TALK ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL CASES WHERE WE HAD
00:21:36ONE FOSTER MOTHER WHO STOOD UP
AND SHE SAID, I HAVE CARED FOR
00:21:4015 FOSTER KIDS.
I LOVED THEM ALL.
00:21:42LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF
THEM.
00:21:43SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT HAVING A
CHILD FROM THE TIME IT WAS SIX
00:21:48DAYS OLD AND SHE RAISED THE
CHILD.
00:21:50SHE WAS THE ONLY CHILD
THE MARKET --
00:21:54THAT IT KNEW AS ITS MOTHER UNTIL
THE CHILD WAS 4.
00:21:59SUDDENLY, SOMEONE THOUGHT THE
CRACK ADDICTED MOTHER WAS FIXED
00:22:05AND TOOK THE CHILD.
SHE HAD WANTED TO ADOPT THE
00:22:08CHILD.
AND SOME STORIES WHERE THE CHILD
00:22:11WAS PUT BACK WITH THE FATHER OR
THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD ENDS UP
00:22:15BEING KILLED.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SAFETY,
00:22:20THERE IS CLEARLY A DIFFERENT
POINT OF VIEWxD.
00:22:28MANY PEOPLE ON THE PANEL, BUT
NOT ALL, BUT THERE WAS A GENERAL
00:22:33CONSENSUS THAT WAS SIMPLY THIS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE
00:22:36KIDS.
I THINK TOO OFTEN, WE ARE
00:22:42TREATING KIDS LIKE PROPERTY.
AND WE ARE NOT CONCERNED AS MUCH
00:22:52AS WE SHOULD BE ABOUT THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE CHILD.
00:22:55AT SOME POINT, THESE KIDS HAVE
THE RIGHT TO GROW UP WITH WHAT
00:23:02EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE, SOME
SOME LOVE IN THEIR LIFE WITH A
00:23:11MOM OR DAD WHO IS GOING TO CARE
FOR THEM.
00:23:13AND THEY KNOW THAT
GOING TO BE.
00:23:19WHAT WE HAVE TOO OFTE
TO LANGUAGE IN --
00:23:23WHO LANGUISH IN FOSTER
AND THEIR NATURAL HOME
00:23:32TIME
NEED TO SAY TO THE CRACk
00:23:45ADDICTED MOM OR TO THE FATHER
WHO CANNOT CONTROL WHOANGER,
00:23:46HEY, WE WILL --
CONTROL HIS A6G
00:23:49FOR
THE CRACK-
00:23:53ADDICTEDTHIS LITTLE KID
YOU TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.
00:24:06WE CANNOT DESTROY THIS CHILD'S
LIFE WAITING FOR YOU TO GET THE
00:24:07TREATMENT YOU NEED, OR WAITING
FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH YOUR A
00:24:09AT SOME POINT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY THAT.
00:24:13w3YmAND THEN THESE KIDS ARE THE
VICTIMS.
00:24:18AND THEN THEY END UP WHILE WE
WAIT FOR THESE SO-CALLED
00:24:26PARENTS --
THEIR PARENTS BIOLOGICALLY, BUT
00:24:30WE WAIT FOR THEM TO GET THEIR
ACT TOGETHER.
00:24:33AND THEN WE HAVE A CHILD WHO IS
18 WHO HAS NEVER HAD KID CANNOT
00:24:39PERMANENT HOME WHO HAS AGED OUT
OF FOSTER CARE AND BEEN DENIED
00:24:41THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ADOPTED.
THESE KIDS NEED TO BE ADOPTED.
00:24:45THAT WAS THE CONSENSUS WITH A
LOT OF THEM.
00:24:49IT IS NOT EVERYBODY, BUT IT IS
CERTAINLY WHAT I BELIEVE AND
00:24:55WHAT MANY WERE THEREi] DID
BELIEVE.
00:24:58>> [INAUDIBLE]
ARE YOU SAYING THAT CHILD CARE
00:25:06AGENCIES, OR WHOEVER IS IN
CHARGE, AREñr NOT OBEYING THE
00:25:12TRUST OF THE FEDERAL LAW THAT
SAYS THE KID COMES FIRST, NOT
00:25:15UNIFICATION OF THE FAMILY?
>> WELL, WHAT THE LAW SAYS --
00:25:20AND THE LAW THAT I WROTE, ANDO
BACK UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
00:25:30BILL AND I REMEMBER THIS, BUT
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT, I
00:25:33INTRODUCED THIS BILL BECAUSE I
WAS TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE
00:25:36IN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
I KEPT COMPLAINING.
00:25:42THE THIS WAS WHEN I WAS IN THE
U.S. SENATE.
00:25:44I WAS SAYING, WHY ARE THESE KIDS
BEING PUT BACK INTO ABUSIVE
00:25:48HOMES?
AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS, WELL,
00:25:51THAT IS THE FEDERAL LAW.
I SAID, THAT CANNOT BE.
00:25:54I LOOKED IT UP AND WE STARTED
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
00:25:57BEFORE EVER WENT TO THE U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE
00:26:04BACK BEFORE 1980, CONGRESS
PASSED A LAW FOR FAMILY
00:26:09UNIFICATION.
IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IT'S THAT,
00:26:12WHEN SOCIETY TAKES A CHILD AWAY
FROM ITS PARENT, THEN YOU HAVE
00:26:16TO MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO
REUNITE THAT CHILD WITH HIS OR
00:26:20HER FAMILY.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
00:26:23BUT I FELT AT THE TIME THAT IT
WAS BEING MISUNDERSTOOD AND
00:26:28REASONABLE EFFORTS WERE
BECOMING UNREASONABLE.
00:26:30AND WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE
CRAZY AND MADE NO SENSE.
00:26:34AND WE WERE PUTTING KIDS BACK
INTO DANGEROUS HOMES.
00:26:39I WROTE THE LAW.
I HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN
00:26:41WASHINGTON IN MY OFFICE AND SAID
WE WOULD CHANGE THAT.
00:26:44THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD MUST BE
PARAMOUNT.
00:26:47AND THE NEXT DAY IN PAPERS
ACROSS THE STATE, I WAS
00:26:52VILIFIED BY PEOPLE IN SOCIAL
REUNIFICATION.
00:26:59I WAS NOT.
I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO BRING
00:27:03SANITY TO IT.
WE PASSED OUR LAW, SIGNED INTO
00:27:06LAW BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
IT SAID THAT SAFETY OF THE CHILD
00:27:10--
FAMILY REUNIFICATION, WE STILL
00:27:12KEPT THAT, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE
CHILD WOULD HAVE TO BE
00:27:17PARAMOUNT.
THAT IS IN A LOT TODAY.
00:27:19THE ANSWER IS, YES, BILL,
IMPORTANT THING, AND THAT IS,OST
00:27:24THE CHILD.
--
00:27:29AND THAT IS THE CHILD.
BUT IT IS NOT JUST THE QUESTION
00:27:32OF THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD
PHYSICALLY.
00:27:35SOMETIMES IT IS EMOTIONAL.
SOMETIMES IT IS OTHER THINGS AS
00:27:38WELL.
i]WE HAVE TO FOCUS MORE ON THE
00:27:41CHILDREN, OR TOGETHER THE WHEN
YOU HAVE PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN
00:27:44ABUSIVE --
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE
00:27:49PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE
AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT YOU
00:27:51WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE
OF THESE KIDS.
00:27:54--
THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
00:27:56TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS.
I THINK WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS,
00:27:59BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:28:01>> I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THEM.
I THINK PART OF THIS IS
00:28:07CULTURAL.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:28:10>> LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
00:28:38OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE
00:28:41MEMBERS.
WE STILL HAVE LIMITATIONS OUT TO
00:28:45SOME PEOPLE AND WE ARE NOT DONE.
THIS IS NOT
00:28:50I DON'T KNOW IF I ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTION, BILL.
00:28:55I'M SORRY.
YOU JUST SAY, HEY,
00:29:01FOLKS, BE A FeDERAL MANDATE?
>> I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT
00:29:05SIMPLE.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE
00:29:15SYSTEM ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY ARE TRYING.
00:29:17THEY FACE A VERY3W DIFFICULT
CHOICES.
00:29:21AND WE SHOULD NOT MINIMIZE THE
DISRUPTION TO A CHILD WHEN THAT
00:29:28CHILD IS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIS
NATURAL PARENTS.
00:29:30AND EVEN CHILDREN WHO ARE IN
TOUGH SITUATIONSMY, GENERALLY M
00:29:37TOLD, DO NOT WANT TO BE TAKEN
AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS.
00:29:41WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW
WE DO IT AND WE DO NOT WANT TO
00:29:45OVERGENERALIZE.
WHAT I DO BELIEVErISU IT IS A
00:29:52CULTURAL PROBLEM --
AND I SAY CULTURAL, NOT
00:30:00IT IS A CULTURAL PROBLEM WE
WE ARE NOT FOCUSED ENOUGH ON
00:30:07THESE KIDS.
POINT WAS THE EVIDENCE IS IN, --
00:30:16ONCE THE EVIDENCE IS IN, TO SAY
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND SEVER THE
00:30:17RELATIONSHIP.
IT IS NOT JUST A QUESTION OF
00:30:20TAKING THE CHILD OUT OF THE
HOME.
00:30:22SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ARE VERY
SENSITIVE TO TRYING TO DO THAt.
00:30:25THE REAL TO TAKE
TO DEMONSTRATED TIME
00:30:36THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE Of THIS
THEY WILL BE ABUSIVE TO THIS
00:30:39WE DO NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
00:30:44WE DO NOT HAVE THE GUMPTION TO
SAY, WE ARE SEVERINGxDt( THAT
00:30:51RELATIONSHIP PERMANENTLY.
EVERYONE CHOKES ON THAT, AND I
00:30:53UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO, BUT AT
SOME POINT
00:31:06ABOUT THE KID.
THAT IS ALL.
00:31:07>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> I WILL TRY TO REFLECT WHAT WE
00:31:10HAVE LEARNED OVER THE EIGHT
DIFFERENT SESSIONS.
00:31:13UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DOT
SOME,WE CERTAINLY HAVE GARDEN-
00:31:52GUARDIANS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY
THE COURT WHO DO A GOOD JOB.
00:31:54BUT THE FEELING WAS THAT THERE
ARE TOO MANY OF THEM OUT THERE.
00:31:55--
OUT THERE WHO DO NOT DO A GOOD
00:31:56JOB.
MARY, WHAT WAS EXPRESSED WAS AS
00:31:57A REASON --
AND WE DID NOT PUT THIS IN THE
00:31:58REPORT.
BUT WHAT WAS EXPRESSED AS A
00:32:00REASON IS THEY ARE HIRED BY THE
COURT, THEY CAN ONLY MAKE SO
00:32:01MUCH MONEY, AND THEY'RE ONLY SO
MANY HOURS THAT THEY CAN JUSTIFY
00:32:03FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW
THAT THEY CAN PUT INTO THE CASE.
00:32:04UPON SPECULATION, THAT MAY BE
PART OF THE PROBLEM.
00:32:05WE HAVE CARDAMOM --
GUARDIAN ITEMS.
00:32:11WE HAVE CONSTANT VOLUNTEERS.
AND WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF THE
00:32:14TWO, RIGHT?
WE CERTAINLYG
00:32:19>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE
00:32:25DESCRIBE THIS.
MANY ARE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS, BUT
00:32:32THERE WAS A CONSISTENT PLAINTSS
--
00:32:36A CONSISTENT COMPLAINT ABOUT
GUARDIANS NOT PUTTING IN A TIME.
00:32:38THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
IF YOU'RE A LAWYER, THAT IS WHAT
00:32:44YOU'RE SELLING, YOUR TIME.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH TIME
00:32:48TO SPEND ON IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT GOES WITH
00:32:51THAT IS THE LACK OF COST OF
PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
00:32:54HOW MANY COUNTIES DO NOT
MANY CASes?
00:32:59WE HAVE --
DO NOT HAVE CASA?
00:33:0436 DO NOT HAVE CASA.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
00:33:16LOOK AT.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE
00:33:18OF FUNDING AND WHERE WE ARE.
IT PARTIC
00:33:25TALK ABOUT COUNTY THAT DO NOT
HAVE A CHILDREN'S SERVICES LEVY
00:33:30BECAUSE THEN THEY ARE TOTALLY
DEPENDENT ON STATE MONEY.
00:33:34THOSE THAT DO ALLOW A TIP --
ALLOW LEVY, KIDS AT ONE LEVEL TO
00:33:37GET THAT LEVEL, BUT THEN ANOTHER
COUNTY DOES NOT.
00:33:43>> [INAUDIBLE]
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SLEEP OVER AT
00:33:50SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE?
>> WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT ONE
00:33:54ON?
STAND RIGHT UP HERE, SO MR.
00:33:58COHEN CAN GET YOU ON TAPE.
>> THE PROCESS IS --
00:34:03LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, IN
FOSTER CARE.
00:34:10SON, OR WHENEVER THE CASE MAY
BE.
00:34:15I MENTIONED TO MY FOSTER
PARENTS, I WANT TO SPEND A NIGHT
00:34:17AT TIMES.
THEY WILL SAY, YOU KNOW THE
00:34:18PROCESS.
THEY HAVE TO GET A BACKGROUND
00:34:19CHECK, FINGERPRINTS, --
>> AND A LIST OF ALTERNATIVE
00:34:27CARE GIVERS.
>> YOU MAY THINK, THAT IS TOO
00:34:31MUCH.
SOME OF ITS PARENT MAY SAY THAT
00:34:36IS TOO MUCH.
THEY WILL NOT EVEN GO THROUGH
00:34:39THE PROCESS.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:34:40>> A COUPLE OF WEEKS, MAYBE.
IF THEY'RE WILLING TO GO THROUGH
00:34:46IT.
>> SOME PEOPLE TAKE OFFENSE.
00:34:48THEY THINK I CAN TAKE CARE OF
THE KIDS.
00:34:54I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
AND IF YOUR THAT FOSTER CHILD,
00:34:58IT IS EMBARRASSING.
NOW PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW YOUR
00:35:01BUSINESS.
MAYBE YOU DID NOT TELL TOM YOU
00:35:03WERE IN FOSTER CARE OR WHAT.
THOSE QUESTIONS MIGHT COME UP.
00:35:07AND OTHER QUESTIONS AND YOU END
UP HAVING TO SAY, MY MOTHER WAS
00:35:15A DRUG ADDICT OR MY DAD WOULD BE
ME AND THINGS LIKE THAT --
00:35:19WOULD BEAT ME AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
00:35:24>> WHEN HE MENTIONS THAT MAYBE
HE HAS NOT REVEALED THESE THINGS
00:35:39TO HIS FRIEND, WHAT THIS
PRACTICE DOES, AND IT VARIES
00:35:41FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY AND THE
AGENCY TO AGENCY, WHETHER HE CAN
00:35:45EVEN RIDE WITH HIS FRIEND TO GO
TO THE MALL FOR A COUPLE OF
00:35:50HOURS.
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE
00:35:53PERMITTED.
THE CHILD HAS TO REVEAL MORE AND
00:35:56MORE TO THIS PERSPECTIVE
FRIEND'S FAMILY.
00:35:59STIGMATIZES THE CHILD AS MAYBE
BEING A DANGER OR FEARFUL.
00:36:02THAT CAN BE TROUBLING FOR
CHILDREN AS THE MESSAGE IS
00:36:06SPREAD THROUGHOUT SCHOOL.
IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THEY ARE
00:36:09DIFFERENT.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT
00:36:11THAT WE DO NOT ALWAYS ADDRESS.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS JUST THE
00:36:14WILLINGNESS OF THE FAMILY TO
PARTICIPATE IN BACKGROUND
00:36:17CHECKS.
OR THE WILLINGNESS OF THE
00:36:20AGENCIES TO ALLOW IT OR NOT.
BUT WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE
00:36:24CHILDREN WHEN WE SINGLE THEM OUT
IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY?
00:36:26>> [INAUDIBLE]
[INDISCERNIBLE]
00:36:35THE PARENT MAY SAY, WHAT DID
THIS KID DO?
00:36:53WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS?
LIKE YOU SAID, THERE IS A
00:36:58STIGMA.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
00:37:11>> WHO ELSE?
ANYTHING ELSE?
00:37:17>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE?
00:37:35>> KNOW, ULTIMATELY, THAT IS
WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
00:37:36THE COURTS LOOK AT WHAT
CHILDREN'S SERVICES IS
00:37:39RECOMMENDING.
AND AND THEY MAKE THEIR
00:37:40DECISION.
IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO IN ONE
00:37:45COURT CASE LIKE THE EQUIVALENT
TO THE DEATH PENALTY.
00:37:51YOU ARE SEVERING TOTAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PARENT.
00:37:53YOU CANNOT ADOPT A CHILD UNTIL
YOU HAVE TAKING CARE OF THAT
00:37:59RELATIONSHIP.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS CHILDREN WHO
00:38:04ARE IN THIS NO-MAN'S LAND IN THE
SENSE THAT THEY CANNOT GO BACK
00:38:09TO THEIR PARENT, BUT THEY MIGHT
BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR
00:38:13PARENT MAY BE, SOME TIME, BUT
THEY CANNOT BE ADOPTED.
00:38:15ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS
DONE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY
00:38:22POSITIVE --
MOST RECENTLY, THEY HAVE WORKED
00:38:28WITH WENDY'S TO REALLY HAVE
ADVOCATES TO TRY TO GET KIDS
00:38:34ADOPTED AND TO PUT THEM INTO
THESE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
00:38:37AND THAT WORKS, WHERE YOU HAVE
ONE PERSON AT SITTING THERE
00:38:43EVERY DAY THINKING ABOUT, I'VE
GOT THESE KIDS AND THEY'RE ALL
00:38:45ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION.
BUT WHAT DOES NOT WORK IS WHEN
00:38:49THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
ADOPTION.
00:38:50YOU CAN TRY TO GET THEM ADOPTED,
BUT IF THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO
00:38:55BE ADOPTED, THEY ARE NOT EVEN IN
THAT POOL.
00:38:58THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:39:02A FEDERAL CHANGE TO AT LEAST TRY
TO CHANGE THE THRUST OF THE
00:39:08PRIORITIES?
ARE THERE ANY STATISTICS THAT
00:39:14SHOW THAT 20 YEARS AGO THERE
NUMBER OF DEATHS IN KIDS IN
00:39:18FOSTER HOMES AND NOW THERE ARE
SOME OTHER SET OF NUMBERS?
00:39:24>> DOES ANYONE HAVE STATISTICS
ON THAT?
00:39:27MELINDA WILL SEE IF SHE CAN DIG
THOSE UP.
00:39:31>> THERE ARE DEFINITELY
STATISTICS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF
00:39:36KIDS THAT HAVE GONE INTO FOSTER
CARE AND EXPERIENCED THE TRAUMA
00:39:40OF FOSTER CARE.
OHIO WAS A NEW --
00:39:47WAS AN EARLY LEADER IN REDUCING
THE DROPOUT IN THAT SCENARIO --
00:39:53THE TRAUMA IN THAT SCENARIO.
TREATMENT HAS STABILIZED.
00:39:56I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A SAFE
REDUCTION.
00:40:02IT IS NOT PERFECT.
WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE
00:40:08HORRIBLE TRAGEDIES, BUT I THINK
WE HAVE WORKED TO TRY TO
00:40:10MINIMIZE THE TRAUMA THAT KIDS
HAVE.
00:40:13WE HAVE HAD TO MANAGE OUR
BUDGETS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME --
00:40:19>> DO YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF?
>> I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
00:40:27OF THE CHILDREN'S PUBLIC
SERVICES DIVISION.
00:40:32AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE
REDUCED CARE, WE'VE HAD TO
00:40:36STABILIZE THE NUMBERS OF
REINFORCEMENTS IN MALTREATMENT.
00:40:44WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING.
[INAUDIBLE]
00:40:49UTHE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US
okA REPORT CARD EVERY FEW YEARS.
00:41:02WE HAVE PERFORMED VERY WELL ON
THE RATE OFok MALTREATMENT IN
00:41:09FOSTER CARE.
STRUGGLE WITH REPEAT
00:41:13MALTREATMENT JUST IN GENERAL.
MY IMPRESSION IS NOT
00:41:24STATISTICS.
MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WE'RE
00:41:26DOING BETTER AS WE ARE FOCUSING
ON THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS.
00:41:29I DO NOT THINK WE ARE DOING
BETTER IN REGARD TO MOVING THE
00:41:37KIDS OUT OF LEGAL LIMBO AND
MAKING THEM ELIGIBLE FOR
00:41:43ADOPTION.
I DO NOT THINK WE ARE
00:41:45GOOD JOB IN THAT AREA, OR AS
GOOD AS WE COULD BE.
00:41:49LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
ANYBODY ELSE?
00:41:51ñrANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENT THEY
NEED TO MAKE UP HERE?
00:42:05I'M WITH CHILDREN SERVICES.
THE LEGISLATION THAT THE
00:42:15ATTORNEY GENERAL IS REFERRING TO
WHEN HE WAS SENATOR IS CALLED
00:42:18THE ADOPTION OF STATE FAMILIES
ACT.
00:42:20--
AND SAIF FAMILIES ACT.
00:42:25THIS PARTICULAR BIT OF
LEGISLATION HAS HAD AN ENORMOUS
00:42:33IMPACT IN CHILD WELFARE IN THE
U.S. AND THERE IS NOTHING
00:42:37COMPARABLE TO IT.
IT STANDS ON ITS OWN.
00:42:41IT HAS HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON
US ON SEVERAL LEVELS.
00:42:45FIRST, IT DID CREATE THREE NEW
MANDATES --
00:42:52SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND THE
WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.
00:42:55IT ALSO CREATED SO MANY OUTCOMES
AND INDICATORS THAT WE ARE
00:43:06CONSTANTLY LEARNING NEW THINGS
ABOUT ALL OF THESE OUTCOMES AND
00:43:09INDICATORS THAT APPLY TO US.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CONCERNS
00:43:18THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAVE
DISSIPATED.
00:43:21THEY HAVE REALLY CAPTURED WHAT
IS GOOD CHILD WELFARE PRACTICE.
00:43:25AND THEY HAVE EYES FOCUSED ON
THE SAME TRACK.
00:43:27THE FACT IS, 20 YEARS AGO, YOU
COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY
00:43:37COUNTY IN OHIO AND EVERY STATE
IN THE NATION AND THAT EVERYBODY
00:43:41WAS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
TODAY, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME
00:43:45TRACK.
THAT IS AN ENORMOUS
00:43:46ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE OTHER THING THIS LEGISLATION
00:43:52DID WAS TO PUT A FOCUS ON BEST
INTEREST.
00:43:55AND IT ALSO PUT LIMITS ON
PARENTS AND FAMILIES.
00:43:57IT HELPED TO CAPTURE FOR US THE
BALANCE, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN
00:44:04BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN AND
PARENTS RIGHTS.
00:44:06THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL DILEMMA
THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
00:44:11IT IS WHY OUR SYSTEM IS SO
CONFOUNDED WITH DILEMMAS.
00:44:20WE HAVE MANY MORE THAN THOSE,
BUT EVERYTHING ARISES FROM THAT.
00:44:24IS THERE A PERFECT SOLUTION?
NO, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE
00:44:30DECISIONS GET MADE ON A CASE BY
CASE BASIS.
00:44:33AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR
RULES THAT APPLY TO MAKING THOSE
00:44:38DECISIONS.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
00:44:41BUT ESPECIALLY, WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT IT IN TERMS OF THE HIGHLY
00:44:45VULNERABLE YOUNGSTER WHO IS TOO
YOUNG TO DISCLOSE ON THEIR OWN.
00:44:48THE INFANT AND THE VERY YOUNG.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SO
00:44:59VULNERABLE IN OUR SYSTEM.
THAT IS AN AREA I WOULD TAKE A
00:45:04GOOD, STRONG LOOK AT.
BUT AGAIN, THERE IS MUCH TO BE
00:45:08SAID FOR LOOKING AT THIS ON A
CASE BY CASE BASIS BECAUSE EVERY
00:45:11FAMILY, EVERY CHILD, LIKE
SNOWFLAKES ARE DIFFERENT FROM
00:45:15EVERY OTHER ONE.
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions