Editorial: Don’t botch it this time

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 9:17 a.m.

The current child welfare system is in need of a sweeping overhaul. No longer does it make much sense to have Clark and Washoe counties -- the state's two major urban centers -- oversee child protective services, only to then have their cases transferred to the state for foster care and adoption. As the Sun's Sandy Thompson noted in a story Wednesday about a legislative hearing on this issue, children often languish in foster care for years as the state has to "start over" with the cases. This not only causes delays in family reunification, but it also can hamstring efforts to find a permanent home for the children.

Under a plan that is winning support, Clark and Washoe counties would assume the bulk of the responsibilities that the state currently has in this area. Rural counties, however, could still rely on the state to take care of foster care and adoption because they generally don't have the resources to do so. There still are a number of vexing issues that need to be addressed, including the need to establish caseload standards and assess the financial impact on the counties. The money involved is an important piece of the puzzle, and any plan would have to adequately compensate the counties for taking on this responsibility. Enlisting the support of Gov. Kenny Guinn -- whose administration is conducting a fundamental review of what services government should be providing, and whether they are more appropriate at the local or state level -- will be crucial if t he plan is to have a realistic chance.

While child welfare issues are being assessed, it is time, as state Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, mentioned Tuesday, to look at all parts of a responsive system, including the reopening of the Boulder City Children's Home. The Legislature's mean-spirited closure of the children's home, even though there was a shortage of available foster homes, not only was heartless but it didn't make any sense. After all, many siblings have been split up in the wake of the closure, with one estimate that as many as half of the sibling groups in the state's care are placed in different facilities or homes.

The public is used to hearing a lot of rhetoric from politicians who only pay lip service to children's issues. But state policymakers have a golden opportunity to get it right this time. A whole new way of providing care in Nevada's child welfare system, leaving the bad parts behind and enlisting the good parts, can be accomplished if legislators and the governor use common sense.