Child welfare bill called landmark legislation

Sandy Thompson

Thursday, March 15, 2001 | 10:54 a.m.

A bill to overhaul the child welfare system provides "the largest infusion of resources ever to aid abused and neglected children" in Nevada, according to Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

Buckley, whose interim legislative subcommittee recommended overhauling the system, made the statement Wednesday at an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on Assembly Bill 343, which would integrate state and local child welfare services.

Washoe Family Court Judge Charles McGee, who has been a critic of the present bifurcated system, called AB343 a "courageous piece of legislation." The proposal would transfer most of the child welfare services from the state to Washoe and Clark counties.

As recommended by Buckley's subcommittee, Gov. Kenny Guinn has included funds for the transfer in his budget. Buckley said the financial needs include increasing foster care reimbursement rates, addressing treatment needs of severely emotionally disturbed children, lowering caseload ratios and funding the cost to end bifurcation.

The last item includes the cost of transferring state workers to Clark and Washoe counties. Buckley said every state worker must be guaranteed a job.

Bob Gagnier, executive director of the Nevada State Employees Association, proposed amendments to the bill that would further protect state workers.

Because of those amendments, Gagnier said, he was not speaking "for or against the bill," but pointed out that workers with the state Division of Child and Family Services have serious concerns. "They feel they will be stepchildren when they go to the counties," he said.

A major issue is how workers will transfer longevity and other benefits from the state to Clark County. The transition will be easier for state workers transferring to Washoe County because of a pilot project there and a stream of funding to reduce caseloads, McGee said.

Saying the present child welfare system is esoteric and its effect on children "endless," McGee cautioned Clark County to be patient in developing the new system.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee also heard testimony on AB342, which would allow children to stay in foster care through age 21 under certain circumstances.

"How children leave foster care is a travesty," Clark County Juvenile Judge Gerald Hardcastle told the committee. "Extending jurisdiction and Medicaid coverage until 21 makes sense."

He supports better and earlier planning to prepare children for independence.

Four young adults who spent time in foster care told the committee of problems after leaving the system.

"The state moved me out and washed their hands of me," one young woman said. She works two jobs and attends school, but can barely make ends meet. She said she feels abandoned and has no support system. "Continued care, extending Medicaid and counseling services would have benefited me," she said.

The others talked of a lack of self-esteem and problems in dealing with unresolved family issues from the years they were in the foster care system.

"We need more time to work through these issues," said Judy Tudor, a former foster child who now works for the state Division of Child and Family Services.

Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who has been involved in overhauling the child welfare system, urged the Legislature to take a "long view of fiscal matters."

"This is a continuum, and in the long run will save money," she said. "For many years, we've dealt with the symptoms instead of the root problems."

Thom Reilly, the UNLV social work professor who designed the proposed child welfare model, noted that AB342 and 343 have bipartisan support. Those who testified Wednesday in support of the bills had high praise for Buckley, who led efforts to revamp the system.

The Judiciary Committee approved AB342, sending it to the Ways and Means Committee. It will consider amendments to AB343 before recommending its passage.

The committee also approved a resolution urging the Department of Human Resources to determine the feasibility of creating a new Medicaid eligibility group for those who "age out" of the foster care system at 18.