Waynesville vs. Clinton-Massie
Turtlecreek Twp. training fire
Althea Harper on 'Runway'
Bill to shield foster records
Amendment also would increase required training for foster parents.
More: Children Services told to cut spending | Fox opposes more secrecy
Comment: Post your thoughts about this issue
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
HAMILTON — In April 2007, Joyce Massie of Middletown was denied a foster parent certification for not reporting a disorderly conduct conviction in 2002 and not completing her required training.
Eight certifications were revoked or denied in 2006.
Extras
This is the only type of information about foster parents that is public record, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Services officials, though no specific exemption exists in state law.
"Current practice is that in the best interest of putting a shield around our most vulnerable children that the names and addresses of active foster parents with children placed with them is not public record," said agency spokesman Dennis Evans.
Rep. Jeff Wagner, a Republican from north-central Ohio, is looking to codify that policy as an amendment he's proposing today to House Bill 214.
The bill seeks to increase required training for foster parents from 24 hours to 36 — which Butler County already has done.
Wanger's amendment would shield all info about foster parents from public view unless a foster parent's certification was revoked or the parent was charged with a crime that could lead to revocation.
But Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, said the public needs much more access to oversee the state's child welfare agencies.
The ONA sought for foster parents' names to be public, as well as the age and gender of foster children and the reason a child is removed from a foster home.
If a certification is revoked, the group wants all records to go public.
Deaner said foster parents are paid with tax dollars, and likens the state certification to licenses for doctors and lawyers.
"It's unrealistic to believe that you should be able to do all those things behind a shield of secrecy," Deaner said.
The ONA's objection stalled the bill twice, but it gained new wind after Gov. Ted Strickland backed Wagner's amendment this week.
"In order to ensure the safety of foster children as well as foster parents (the governor) believes the names and addresses of foster parents should remain confidential," said Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman.
This is Wagner's argument: "If all of a sudden it becomes part of a public record you will immediately turn the system upside down and two bad things will result" — biological parents will track down their children in foster care, and potential foster parents will be scared away by the increased scrutiny, he said.
But even with the governor's backing, the amendment faces an uncertain vote.
State Democrats met Tuesday and emerged without a consensus either way, though some are still opposed.
"I believe foster children are safer by the transparency provided if these records are public records," said Rep. Jennifer Garrison, D-Marietta, adding that a determined biological parent will find a way to track down a child.
"I believe we get more protection from the scrutiny the media provides," she said.
Garrison said both sides have the same goal: keeping children safe after 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel of Middletown died last year at the hands of his foster parents, Liz and David Carroll.
Comments
By WarrenCountyFosterParent
October 10, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
Josh is absolutely right. While I respect Mike Fox’s belief that he is proposing the right thing, I guarantee you will lose foster parents. How can I be so sure? Because our 17 years as foster parents will end if this happens. I have nothing to hide from any agency that will keep my information confidential; I have been investigated and fingerprinted more than once as part of my current license. However, having anything publicly available is not acceptable.
By kbc
October 10, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this
Why are we persecuting foster parents when it is obvious that BCCSB is at fault? If the agency was following up with cases properly this would not be an issue.
By Randy Rouse
October 10, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this
How about screening people who take advantage of the agencies “free services” when they owe other city/county agencies as well as numerous creditors. Why propogate “deadbeats” when they should be held accountable for themselves? Providing for those who really need the services would be time/money well spent. I know of a party personally that is utilizing CESA yet has an outstanding judgement in excess of $1000 to the City of Hamilton. Why not eliminate “services abuse”?
By Concerned Mom
October 10, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
Take it from someone who has had the privilige of Mike Fox fighting for her child, MIKE FOX CARES ABOUT CHILDREN IN BUTLER COUNTY. During my divorce my ex-husband purgeried himself over and over, everyone knew it, NO ONE CARED except for Mike Fox and a detective at Butler County Sheriff’s Department. Because of the publicity Mike Fox was able to get on this subject my ex-husband received supervised visitations and my daughter has been safe. Mike Fox is a children’s advocate.
By Honest Abe
October 10, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
My…The Journal loves Mike Fox, as he is surely one who can always get print when things are slow. Mike Fox should not be in this position, and he is just making noise as always. Never a dull moment when Mike Fox and the Journal get together. I’d like all of commissioners home addresses and numbers to vent my frustrayion and acrimony as to the manner they selected Mike Fox. Once again, the Journal gives “Megaphone” Mike a voice heard through print. Ad nauseum.
By grammar please preacher
October 10, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
franklin,preacher,is,your,comma,key,and,space,bar,broken,?
By Smart Preacher
October 10, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
preacher, is, your, comma, key, on, your, keyboard, stuck,?
By Josh
October 10, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
I agree that foster parents need to be highly scrutinized before being allowed to foster or adopt children. However, I believe it creates a safety issue by making public the names and addresses of the foster families. Many of these children are pulled out of violent homes, homes were drugs are an issue. The last thing the child/foster parents need is some drugged up violent birth parent coming to their house with a weapon trying to get their child. How about Fox’s home address made public?
By Terry
October 10, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Fosterparents need to be thoroughly screened before child placement.The placement is between the agency and the foster family.Isee no point in making the placement public on who the child is or who they will be living with.Itis none of the publics business.It is the publics business when the foster family hasn’t been properly screened and there are no follow up visits that lead to child abuse including murder as in the Fiesel case.We wouldn’t need public scrutiny if the agency was doing it’s job
By j green
October 10, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Bravo for Fox to reiterate his message!
By joyce
October 10, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this
i havea ex dauger in law who works for for cildren servicios ihave letterscwritten by her ex husband father in law about the way she did her kids she stays every night her nane i Jean snelling
By preacher,franklin,ohio
October 10, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
about,time,they,did,something,geter,done,for,jesus,god,bless,you,all.
By Former CSB employee
October 10, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
I use to work at Butler County Children Services and agree with Mike Fox, there is a whole level of management that is not needed. While I was there I saw people promoted in Supervisory positions that should not have placed in a supervisory position, one was forced to step down about 3 or 4 years ago over the case where a child died in a trailer fire. The agency was quick to but people through 2 many prog. in 2 short of a time making it difficult to do the programs and maintain a job.
By Diane Burkart
October 10, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
When my grandson was in the care of Foster people, he was injured in two of the homes. In one home he was neglected. The foster people didn’t know how to give him a bath and change diapers. The other foster people hired a nurse (at the expense of the state) to take care of him. He was overdose on seizure medication which caused more seizures. We got him back, we cut him down on the medication, he became active and happy. If left in the foster homes he would have stayed a vegetable.
By Rick T.
October 10, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
I adopted a child many years ago. I feel that the adopting parents need to be checked out completely before they ever reach the point of adopting or fostering. However, to make their names public I feel would endanger the child. When I was in the process, they interviewed my co-workers, neighbors, friends, family, extensive police check. The part of the adoption that greatly concerned me was, after they place the child into my home for the six month trial, I never saw the case worker.