Gov. Bush touts state's handling of foster care, adoptions

Gov. Bush touts state's handling of foster care, adoptions

Thursday, August 30, 2001

By MIKE BRANOM, Associated Press

ORLANDO — Gov. Jeb Bush touted his administration's accomplishments in handling foster care and adoptions at the state's annual Dependency Court Improvement Program Senate on Wednesday.

"When I was elected governor, the system was broken, basically," Bush said. "It was not funded properly and, systemically, it was not organized right."

The Dependency Court Improvement Program is a state program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which assesses and improves the handling of court proceedings relating to foster care and adoption.

Bush noted that funding for Florida's child welfare system has increased 94 percent in the three years since he's taken office. The state's most recent budget allocated $787.3 million for such services.

Other facts that Bush cited to show the state's improvement included:

— Outreach efforts have enrolled more than 1.2 million children in KidCare and Medicaid. That's more than 83 percent of all children eligible for these programs.

— The number of child abuse investigations has increased 49 percent in three years, from 128,260 in 1998 to a projected 191,031 in 2001.

— The number of children who are successfully placed out of foster homes within a year has grown to 35 percent. Three years ago, the success rate in that time frame was less than 10 percent.

"By any indication, we're doing a far better job," Bush said.

But Bush admitted there needs to be more progress in establishing community-based care for child welfare services.

Two years ago, the Department of Health and Human Services allowed Florida to contract community-based nonprofit agencies that would provide social services.

"It's not government's responsibility to deal with this; it's all of our responsibility," Bush told the 1,400 summit attendees, who included child welfare workers, members of the judiciary and representatives of community-based care organizations.

"The faster we move to the community-based model, the clearer that will become," Bush said.

Click herefor US HHS FOURTH ANNUAL ADOPTION 2002 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Here's an excerpt, and look here, someone tell Rosie and Janet a national winner includes the Florida Department of Children and Families, Division of Family Safety, District 11 Adoptions Team:

HHS ANNOUNCES FOURTH ANNUAL ADOPTION 2002 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced this year's recipients of the Department of Health and Human Services' "Adoption 2002" Excellence Awards. Given annually since 1997, the awards honor states, organizations, businesses, individuals and families for giving abandoned, neglected or abused children a loving family and a safe and nurturing home.

"The people we honor with these excellence awards are real heroes to the many children who need loving homes and families. In this week of Thanksgiving, we are truly grateful for their leadership and generous spirit," said Secretary Shalala. "By making these awards, the Clinton administration is recognizing in a small way the great courage, commitment and love these people have shown and the hope for a better life they've given these children."

…..

Increased Permanency for Children with Special Needs

Florida Department of Children and Families, Division of Family Safety, District 11 Adoptions Team, Miami. Using an innovative and creative team approach, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), District 11, has a record of successfully meeting and exceeding their adoption goals of permanency for children. As of May 2000, 238 finalizations had been completed, exceeding the target of 200 for the fiscal year and last year's accomplishment of 173. Of the 238 adoptions finalized, all fall under at least one category of special needs children. The team's success is based on the support it receives from a host of public and private agencies, community groups, and volunteers, including the courts, providers of emergency services, counselors, the media and the faith community.

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