Orange County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Fostering a Better Foster Care System Grand Jury 2015-2016
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 10 findings
F1
Orange County has a shortage of foster families and this shortage will become more acute with the implementation of AB403. The shortage is particularly acute for special populations such as teens, sibling sets, and children with special medical or psychological needs.
F2
Current Children and Family Services recruitment and retention efforts are inadequate and ineffective as evidenced by zero growth in available foster homes.
F3
Children and Family Services does not collect, analyze, or track data on the success of foster parent recruitment and retention efforts.
F4
Children and Family Services has not implemented the principles of the Quality Parenting Initiative in spite of its four year involvement in the project.
F5
Children and Family Services does not adequately serve the needs of hard to place populations such as teens, large sibling sets and children with medical and psychological disabilities.
F6
Children and Family Services has not utilized Samueli Academy as a resource to enhance educational opportunities for foster teens because they have not proactively promoted the school or provided transportation to the school.
F7
Children and Family Services has failed to clarify the role of Foster Family Agencies contracted by the County.
F8
Children and Family Services does not adequately monitor the 51 Foster Family Agencies contracted by the County to ensure that they are adequately meeting the needs of the children in their care.
F9
The current caseload of Orange County social workers exceeds industry standards and will hamper efforts to implement AB403.
F10
Effective outreach is hampered by limited and outdated technology. 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury Fostering a Better Foster Care System
Recommendations 1
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R4Use available AB403 funds to provide additional transportation services for foster youth to appointments, visitations, court dates, etc. beginning in County Fiscal Year 2016-2017. (F2, F4,)
Conclusions 1
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CL1During its investigation, the Grand Jury learned that most counties in California and throughout the nation are grappling with the challenging responsibilities of foster parent recruitment and retention. It is not the intention of this study to suggest that Orange County alone is remiss in adequately caring for dependent children in “hard to place” categories. In fact, even the most vocal critics of the system frequently stated during interviews that Orange County Children and Family Services is far better to work with and for than social service agencies in neighboring counties. Nevertheless, every County has an ethical responsibility to care for its children – all of its children, regardless of how difficult the task. Statements of need and intent must be followed up with genuine efforts, with resources and with dedicated staff. In the Academy Award winning film, Spotlight, which told the story of the Boston Globe’s expose of child abuse in the Catholic Church, a child advocate poignantly states, “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one.” (Spotlight, 2015) Orange County cannot be a County that contributes to the 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury Page 26 Fostering a Better Foster Care System neglect and abuse of already victimized children who cannot advocate for themselves by simply declaring that “they present a problem,” or “we are working on that,” or “we don’t have funds.” CFS must adhere to the spirit of AB403. For those County officials, employees and citizens unmoved by moral and ethical arguments, it is important to consider practical realities. If foster care children are not given the opportunity to become healthy, educated, stable and contributing adults, the County will “pay” later when they emancipate to unemployment, mental instability and prison. 2015-2016 Orange County Grand Jury Page 27 Fostering a Better Foster Care System
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 1
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Orange County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office