From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Help  

Missouri's foster care program lacks organization and funding

December 9, 2003
By: Megan Clarke
State Capital Bureau

The latest State Audit has found that some foster children facilities are being overpaid. Megan Clarke has the story.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

State Auditor Claire McCaskill says the state's foster care program is facing major problems including mismanagement of money. The state continues to pay residential facilities for up to seven days after a child has runaway. Some were paid up to 20 extra days. McCaskill questions this policy and suggests this money could be spent on other services than merely to hold a place for high flight-risk children.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

THIS AGENCY IS NO QUESTION UNDERFUNDED. THESE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE PAID AMONG THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. IT'S AMAZING THAT WE CAN'T PRIORITIZE.

St. Louis Democrat Representative Margaret Donnelly says the real problem is the lack of support for foster parents.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

FOSTER PARENTS, IN MY OPINION, ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES IN THIS SOCIETY. THEY PROVIDE CARING, SAFE HOMES FOR CHILDREN WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS.

Missouri's foster care system serves 19,000 children a year.

The State Auditor calls the status of Missouri's foster care database shocking in her latest audit. Megan Clarke tells us about the major glitches in the system.

Actuality:Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

State Auditor Claire McCaskill says the foster care databases are in such disarray that auditors are unable to determine the average caseload per social worker.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

HOW CAN WE EVEN MAKE A CASE TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY NEED MORE FUNDING IF THEY CAN'T EVEN SAY HOW MANY CASES EACH WORKER IS HANDLING.

McCaskill says the database was so out-of-date that more than 900 social workers are listed in the foster care system that aren't even employed by the agency.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

WHAT THIS AUDIT STANDS FOR IS THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS DIVISION NEEDS TO BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE AT MAKING SURE THEY ARE KEEPING TRACK OF THE CHILDREN AND THE INFORMATION THAT GOES WITH THE CHILDREN.

Missouri's foster care system serves 19,000 children a year.

According to a recent state audit, Missouri's payments to foster parents are among the lowest in the nation. Megan Clarke has the story.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

State Auditor Claire McCaskill says Missouri ranks in the bottom third in nation for reimbursing foster care parents. McCaskill adds that the state covers less than 50 percent of the total costs for supporting foster kids.

THIS AGENCY IS NO QUESTION UNDERFUNDED. THESE SOCIAL WORKERS

ARE PAID AMONG THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY AND WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. IT'S AMAZING THAT WE DON'T PRIORITIZE.

Director of the Children's Division of Social Services Frederic Simmens says while the agency lacks money, the audit points out management improvements that need to be made.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents:

I DON'T THINK THAT IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO FUNDING. CERTAINLY, FUNDING IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, WE CAN CONTINUALLY LOOK AT OUR OUTCOMES AND PERFORMANCE AND MAKE CHANGES INTERNALLY AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

Missouri's foster care system serves 19,000 children a year.