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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ind. Gov't. - Improving the child welfare system

Chirs Worden, "a family law attorney and former public defender for parents in CHINS cases before the Marion County Juvenile Court," has a "My View" column in the Indianapolis Star today. Here are some quotes:

Tim Evans' June 14 story about the tragic death of Jalen Blake is a clarion call for improving Indiana's child welfare system. But sadly, Jalen's story is nothing new. Each new death generates a wave of outrage that ultimately dwindles while achieving little substantive change. Will you let it happen again?

All of us can do three things right now to improve the child welfare system.

• Contact your legislators and urge them to vote for a special session budget that fully funds guardian ad litem (GAL) and court-appointed special advocate (CASA) programs now. * * *

• Donate your time by serving as a GAL/CASA. Organizations like Child Advocates in Marion County have in-house supervisors, but they need community volunteers to perform the legwork. * * *

• When you talk with your legislators, ask them to support the creation of a real ombudsman for the Indiana Department of Child Services. The ombudsman's job would be to investigate politically sensitive cases like that of Jalen Blake to ensure that any DCS misconduct or nonfeasance, if any, is rooted out. Respectfully, this investigative function will never be fulfilled adequately without true independence for any ombudsman office we create.

While I applaud state Rep. Charlie Brown for soldiering on this fight while others stood silent, the bill he introduced during the regular session permitted the governor to appoint and remove the ombudsman at his pleasure. Subsequently, in changes proposed by DCS, the ombudsman would serve under the DCS commissioner.

True independence requires that an ombudsman be appointed by a commission composed of the governor and legislative leaders. An ombudsman should have an independent budget and subpoena authority. The ombudsman's salary should not be subject to change during his or her term, which should be four years. Finally, the ombudsman should not be removable during his term except for misconduct. Only with true institutional independence can the ombudsman serve the best interests of children as his or her sole master.

The Star's lead editorial today urges:
Let's insist that our leaders, from the governor down to his appointees within DCS, honestly examine how and why the system failed, not just this time but also so many times before.

Let's pressure state lawmakers to set up an independent ombudsman to provide real accountability over DCS. Yes, creation of a new office will divert money at a time when resources are incredibly tight. But the price is minimal, especially when weighed against the incalculable costs of children suffering from unimaginable abuse and neglect.

Let's vow also to not leave the job of safeguarding children merely to the government. It's a task that requires many skilled hands and open hearts. Good foster parents able to nurture wounded children are always in demand. Adoptive parents able to provide a safe and loving family are precious but too few. Dedicated volunteers who stand as guardian ad litems or court-appointed advocates can help blaze a path through a legal thicket that often leaves children's best interests in the brambles.

Sometimes the complex task of guarding children in distress simply requires the work of good neighbors, who take the time to meet families in their neighborhood, who help overwhelmed parents cope with demands large or small, and who react when things appear amiss.
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It's too late for Jalen. Too late for TaJanay. For Mason. For Donnie. For Kaitlyn. For Travis. For Kimberly. For Destiny. For Kalab. For Christine. For Miyanna.

But there's still time, still hope, for thousands of other children in Indiana who live at risk of abuse, neglect and even death.

They are our children, and every elected leader, every state worker, every Hoosier must not relent in the drive to secure their safety.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 21, 2009 10:28 AM
Posted to Indiana Government