Editorial: Foster parents need to know

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 | 8:29 a.m.

The recent deaths of two babies released to the care of foster parents have exposed flaws in the enforcement of policy in place at the Clark County Family Services Department.

Both babies were born prematurely, and each was considered to be in fragile medical condition when released to their foster parents by department employees. One died in November, and one died last month. Abuse and neglect were ruled out as possible reasons for the deaths.

But in each case, hospital and police records show that Family Services employees had not given the foster parents enough information about how to care for the babies' special needs. Records also revealed that the foster parents were not properly informed of the babies' medical histories.

One of the children had been born to an 11-year-old, the other had tested positive for drugs when born.

Susan Klein-Rothschild, director of Family Services, declined comment on the two deaths, citing confidentiality rules. But she did say that it is the department's responsibility to provide foster parents with full information, including relevant medical information, that is available about the children coming under their care.

She qualified her statement, however, when pressed by Sun reporter David Kihara. "There is information shared," she said. "Is there always enough information? That's a good question."

Klein-Rothschild said she plans to meet with doctors and hospital staff to discuss sharing more information. But the policy seems to have been clear all along: The medical history of all babies must be shared with foster parents. It is the responsibility of the department managers to ensure that there is no question about whether that policy is being carried out.