[nmh]

Do you really think Jeb has done a bangup job with CHild Welfare services too? Don't get me wrong, I'm a registered, voting Republican but having a toddler ... really drives home just how helpless these little ones are. I think it's a disgrace for Jeb NOT to address how Child Welfare can "lose kids" and nothing happens.

[summer]

Actually, he has addressed this repeatedly, and recently, and I will post a link for you. In addition, for the first time, I read an article about another state's problems with child welfare - the state of Michigan can't find 300+ kids. This is not a situation unique to FL.

[summer]

FYI -- Gov Bush Applauds Plan to Locate Missing Children - August 2002

[summer]

FYI --

AUGUST 30, 13:25 ET

Michigan Agency Loses 302 Children

DETROIT (AP) — The state has lost track of 302 abused and neglected children — 189 of them from the county encompassing Detroit, according to the Michigan Family Independence Agency.

FIA spokeswoman Karen Smith said the ``vast majority'' of the missing youths are older than 14 and that many of them are runaways from foster care.

Teenage girls, especially those who come from homes where they were abused or neglected, often run off with boyfriends they think they are in love with, Smith told the Detroit Free Press for a Friday story.

The issue comes as Florida struggles with similar problems.

Last April, Florida authorities discovered a 5-year-old foster child named Rilya Wilson had been missing for 15 months. That state's Department of Child and Family Services came under intense criticism after reports that 500 children were missing.

In the wake of Florida's problems, Smith said, the Michigan FIA began reviewing the placements of all 19,000 abused and neglected children under its charge. Caseworkers were checking with relatives of the 302 missing children for any leads, she said.

The fact that hundreds of Michigan foster children are missing disturbs some child advocates.

``How can you have a system in place and not know where 189 children are?'' said Nannette Bowler, director of the Chance At Childhood Program at Michigan State University and the Detroit College of Law in East Lansing.

The agency has procedures to notify local police and juvenile courts immediately when a foster child is missing, said Mark Jasonowicz, FIA's deputy director.

Police agencies handle such reports by waiting for a child to turn up in a traffic stop or other action. But not by conducting door-to-door searches, officials said.

[summer]

Also - Gov. Bush touts state's handling of foster care, adoption

[summer]

Finally, no offense to you at all, but the topic I wrote about is JOB GROWTH and FL's ECONOMY. It is remarkable that FL has been, and continues to be, #1 in the NATION for new job growth. This is an election year, and this fact should be the subject of some tv commercials from Gov Bush's campaign, IMHO. Also, it is quite impressive to me that more people in FL are starting new small businesses than anywhere else in this country. Obviously, Gov. Bush is doing something right! :)

[reg45]

I think it's a disgrace for Jeb NOT to address how Child Welfare can "lose kids" and nothing happens.

Would you care to make a bet as to what percentage of "Child Welfare" staffers are registered Democrats. I'll say at least two-thirds. The problem isn't JEB, it's the unionized, Democrat, bureaucratic staff. I wonder how many kids were lost while the "Child Welfare" staff was attending "Gore 2000" rallies.