Nevada fails abused kids, feds say

Monday, March 1, 2004 | 11:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state system that oversees abused and neglected children is fragmented and fails to respond properly to some instances of mistreatment of the youngsters, federal inspectors say.

Among the findings in the preliminary report by the federal Children's Bureau is that youngsters who come under the care of the state Division of Child and Family services stay too long in temporary shelters, such as Child Haven in Las Vegas.

The inspectors, completing a weeklong evaluation of the state division, gave a preliminary report Friday. Linda Mitchell, who headed the federal team, said a final report will be out in a month and a fine could be imposed on Nevada for its deficiencies.

Mitchell said if the state makes the corrections within two years, the fine will not be imposed.

Jone Bosworth, administrator of the state division, said a plan for improvement is already being drafted and should be ready by the end of June.

Michael Willden, director of the state Department of Human Resources, said officials recognized improvements were needed.

"We were ready to take our medicine," he said.

Nevada was one of the last four states inspected by the federal agency. State officials said no other state has passed the evaluation.

The federal team looked at state programs and talked with parents, foster parents and children in the system to get an idea of what was and what wasn't working.

Mitchell said she was "impressed" by the support of Gov. Kenny Guinn and the Legislature for funding such programs when many states are cutting back. She said the division has a "dedicated staff on the front lines."

But there are plenty of gaps in the system, she said. Child protection programs in Clark, Washoe and rural Nevada operate under different standards and policies, she said.

Staff members in the three locations are "not clear what is required of them," Mitchell said. She said the systems should be integrated.

The federal inspectors found there was a "need for a clear policy" in investigating reports of child abuse. Mitchell said in some cases, the state worker confers with the supervisor and in others the worker goes out to the family.

If there are second and subsequent reports of abuse of the child, these complaints are often not fully assessed or investigated, Mitchell said

In cases where a child might be abused in a family, the state must develop a "safety plan" for all children in the family, not just the victim, the inspectors said.

The team found there was an "overuse of shelter care in Clark and Washoe counties," where the child is housed after being pulled out of the abusive home.

"Children who come into care are staying far too long," sometimes as long as two or three weeks, and that "is not acceptable," Mitchell said.

In some cases, Mitchell said, the state worker "focuses on mom and dad and the kids at home," and the child in the shelter is not assessed.

Children in foster care are getting strong support in education and physical care, the preliminary evaluation said. But the state needs to do more assessments of the mental health needs of children in this area.

Mitchell said Child Haven, which provides temporary care of abused and neglected children, is not under the authority of any licensing body.

"No regular licensing requirements are being met," she said. "That's a real concern because they house a lot of kids."

Other areas the state needs to focus on are speeding up the adoption process, making a diligent effort to find fathers who have left their families, and improving the state's computer system, the inspection team said.

The state was praised for its foster care licensing and recruitment program; for meeting the medical needs of children in foster care; and its effort to preserve the family, rather than putting a child into foster care.

"Some things you do are stronger than others but that does not mean they are in substantial compliance," with federal standards, Mitchell said.