Editorial: Stability needed for foster care

Monday, Nov. 1, 1999 | 11:51 a.m.

An interim legislative committee held its first meeting on Thursday to begin the process of determining what steps should be taken to repair the child protective system in Clark and Washoe counties. The Sun reported in 1997 that the system, which is supposed to offer care for abused and neglected children, was flawed.

As the Sun's Steve Kanigher noted in a Friday story, children here now start out under the temporary jurisdiction of Clark County Family & Youth Services, which investigates complaints involving abuse and neglect. If Family Court then decides that the children shouldn't be returned home, they are then sent to a state agency that provides the foster care.

The problem is that under this system, a lack of continuity can be damaging, since new case managers must be brought in once a child gets transferred from the supervision of the county to the state. In this system children's medical records have been lost and even notes taken by county social workers haven't gotten passed on to the state.

The comments made at the legislative interim committee, which will make recommendations to the 2001 Legislature, were consistent. Nearly all agreed that either the state or the counties -- not both -- should have sole responsibility in Clark and Washoe counties. This definitely would be a step forward, but the fact is there also will have to be a recognition that more funding is desperately needed.

The interim committee was told that Nevada relies heavily on federal money to pay for its child welfare system while few state funds are spent in this area. The caseload is staggering. In the last fiscal year there were more than 35,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in Clark County -- and that doesn't even include those cases referred by law enforcement agencies.

The time is long overdue for a uniform child protective system. Turf battles may have led to the creation of this bifurcated system in this state, but both county and state officials acknowledge the need for a single agency to coordinate these cases. It is hoped that common ground on both organization and funding can be reached so that the 2001 Legislature finally can change this system, ensuring that the children don't get lost in bureaucratic shuffles.