Hearing Statement D.C. Child and Family Services Agency

HEARING STATEMENT D.C. CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY

Good morning. This hearing will come to order. Today I am convening this subcommittee's second hearing within six weeks regarding the foster care system in the District of Columbia.

On April 2nd, we heard testimony that revealed a number of serious problems and shortcomings with the District's Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). It is imperative that CFSA address these problems to protect the lives of this City's children.

Clearly, the paramount reason for exposing CFSA's failures is to determine ways to make life better for our most vulnerable and precious citizens -- our children. That is why today's hearing will focus on ways that this subcommittee can target resources toward new initiatives aimed at improving the foster care system.

Before we hear from today's panel, I think that some of the points that were raised at our earlier hearing bear repeating. First, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has determined that CFSA is not meeting the most crucial requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

This law -- which I helped pass and get signed into law in November 1997 -- includes a number of specific provisions that require states to change policies and practices to better promote children's safety and adoption or other permanency options. In fact, since this law has been in effect, adoptions have increased by nearly 40 percent nationwide! But, as I said already, according to the GAO, CFSA is not meeting the most important requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

Another troubling finding that the GAO testified about is the District's inability to track its children in foster care. In fact, data is not even available for 70 percent of the District's children in foster care. This is true even though the District has invested resources in a new automated information system that has been operational for over three years! How can we track these children and determine their well being when they are not even entered into an automated system?

In addition, Anne Schneiders, Chair of the National Association of Counsel for Children, testified that children wait weeks or months before a foster care placement is available. Some older children wait at group homes or overnight at CFSA offices. They are often placed in whatever home has a vacancy -- irrespective of the needs of the child or the preference of the family.

With the findings from last month's hearing as our backdrop, I want to now turn to today's panel.

These witnesses will describe their experiences with CFSA and will provide ideas about ways that we can better protect our children.

Tragically, most children in this system have been traumatized by neglect and/or abuse, then by separation from their caregivers. We should see to it that they do not experience additional and avoidable traumas because of a failed foster care system. I look forward to hearing our witnesses describe ways that we can work together to fix this system.

Witnesses are limited to 5 minutes for oral remarks; however, your written statements will be included in their entirety in the Record.