DFCS problems in Georgia

There's a long history behind this news story, of course. Fulton and Dekalb County (these are the main two metro Atlanta counties) have also had some major problems, but have improved a lot recently.

U.S. fines Georgia over child welfare services
The Associated Press - ATLANTA

Federal child welfare authorities have fined Georgia $4.3 million for failing to adequately address a critical review of services to find homes for foster children and protect children from abuse.

The Administration for Children and Families, part of U.S. Health and Human Services Department, also said Georgia had not done enough to involve parents of children in the system and had not adequately provided for the children's physical and mental health.

Georgia officials say the penalty applies to a review period from 2001 to 2004, and that the system has improved since then.

B.J. Walker, commissioner of the state Department of Human Resources, said Georgia was fined for not taking about a dozen of roughly 200 steps that the state agreed to take after the critical review by the federal agency.

....

Walker said the $4.3 million fine will not hurt services provided by DFCS.

The penalty comes at a time when the state Division of Family and Children Services _ a part of DHR _ is reeling from the death of 2-year-old Nateyonna Banks.

On the recommendation of the Fulton County arm of DFCS, the Atlanta girl was moved from foster care to her troubled mother who is now charged in the child's death.

DFCS officials say Nateyonna should not have been returned to the mother, who had a history of sexual child abuse reports and emotional problems.

Three workers resigned and another was fired after the Nov. 9 death, and DFCS officials have ordered widespread staff retraining.

I'm fascinated with these cases. My husband, on the other hand, is so sensitive that he can't even bear to watch Law and Order: SVU if there's child abuse being featured that night.

About five years ago I was called in for jury duty and drawn for a jury I'm so glad I didn't end up serving on. I don't remember the exact ages, but it was something like a 14-year-old boy being charged with multiple counts of aggravated rape and assault against his 10-year-old girl cousin. The boy was also related to a toddler who had died in an abuse case the previous year. It was pretty famous locally. The toddler had been placed by DFCS in the custody of relatives, a grandmother and aunt, who tortured and starved him to death. What an incredibly messed-up extended family.

It seems these cases trickle in at a regular pace: child placed back with abusive parents and dies horribly, child placed back with abusive relatives and dies horribly, child placed with abusive foster or adoptive family and dies horribly. I never pay any attention anymore to sweeping "we have to change the system by doing more of ____ and that will solve everything" pronouncements found in op-ed pages because they obviously don't work everywhere. I think real solutions have to come at the basic funding and training level and also need to be local, specific and pragmatic.