Foster care overhaul planned

Foster care overhaul planned
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI, STAFF WRITER
April 23, 2010 12:05 AM Department of Children & Families , foster care

DAYTONA BEACH -- More than 60 percent of local child-abuse cases stem from a combination of substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence, officials said.

In an attempt to prevent abuse in the first place and get services to families more quickly, local child-welfare officials are changing the way they do business.

Changes to the foster-care system will begin in the next several months, with the goal of reducing the number of children entering foster care.

Child-welfare officials have been working with others in the community since September and have developed a proposed Foster Care Redesign. The plan will be discussed in community meetings before July 1.

"There are some exciting things that will come out of this," said Reggie Williams, local administrator for the state Department of Children & Families.

Currently, 803 children are in out-of-home care, which is foster and group homes or with relatives/nonrelatives. Another 392 are getting services at home.

"It's really about solving problems on the front end and thinking about things differently," said Bill Babiez, CEO of Community Partnership for Children, the main local foster-care agency.

Here is more information about the redesign:

What is the goal?

To reduce the number of children in out-of-home care by 50 percent by 2012 and create more services for families, Williams said.

How has the redesign helped in other areas of the state?

Similar plans were formed in 2008 in the Jacksonville and Gainesville areas. Nancy Dreicer, director of DCF's Northeast Region, said the Jacksonville area has seen a 64 percent reduction in children in foster and group homes, while Gainesville has seen a 45 percent decrease. More services are also going to families.

"We're helping the whole family and keeping the family intact and keeping frequent contact with that family so we know the children are safe," Dreicer said.

What changes are proposed locally?

Adding two family intervention specialists in May with expertise in substance abuse and mental health. The specialists with Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare will work with child protective investigators, Williams said. Families will get referrals for services and specialists will follow up over a four-month period.

What other new teams will there be?

An outreach unit would be formed by the end of August with eight people, including six counselors. The counselors will work with families who have multiple prior abuse reports, but where the risk to the child is not high. In dealing with domestic violence, agreements would also be made between area agencies to provide crisis intervention and assist investigators. Grants would be sought to fund domestic violence victim advocates by the end of December to work with families. A team within the Community Partnership for Children will staff critical cases and work to keep families together.

How much will the redesign cost and where will the money come from?

An estimate has not been determined. Existing resources will be used. By reducing the number of children in foster care, Williams said, a federal waiver allows officials to use those foster care dollars for prevention services.

When are the community meetings?

A special Community Alliance meeting in Daytona Beach has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. May 18 at DCF at 210 N. Palmetto Ave., Room 148.

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