Foster Care Report Calls for Changes -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 10, Bulletin 3 -- February 14, 2003

An estimated 25 percent of children in foster care in California have not received timely medical care and 50 percent lack needed mental health services alleges a newly released report by The Little Hoover Commission. The commission published a similar report in 1999 which detailed problems prevalent in the state's foster care system at that time. The current report states that since 1999 an estimated 2,800 children have left the system at age 18 to become homeless, and that thousands of foster children in the system receive inadequate care because neither the state nor counties want to take responsibility for reforms.

Titled "Still in Our Hands: A Review of Efforts to Reform Foster Care", the report criticizes the system as being in disarray, particularly in Los Angeles County; a system that is funded by the federal government, overseen by the state, and administered by counties. The commission notes that California recently failed a federal performance review, and is facing federal penalties as high as $18 million dollars if conditions do not improve soon. On the other hand, the report praises lawmakers for instituting several reforms and increasing investments in programs that would help children remain with their families while noting that many of the reform efforts have proven futile.

To improve the condition of the foster system in California, the commission recommends appointment of a statewide official who would be responsible for overseeing the system which served 91,509 children in 2002. Other child welfare officials are opposed to such an idea because they argue that appointment of a statewide foster care official will only add to the bureaucracy, and will not necessarily serve to improve the situation.

For more information on The Little Hoover Commission or its reports, please visit: http://www.bsa.ca.gov

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