These are important stories copied from the Child Welfare Information Gateway;
Child Welfare in the News
AZ: Money for foster care in Arizona could be cut by more than half
ABC15.com April 18, 2012
The Chandler couple doesn’t understand why state lawmakers would even consider a 60 percent cut to Child Protective Services.
Under one of the two proposed budgets, $49 million used for monthly expenses would be slashed.
The Bartos said their monthly allowance was already cut by 20 percent a year and half ago.
AZ: Arizona CPS seeing increase in child-abuse reports
Associated Press April 18, 2012
A record-high number of child abuse reports in Arizona has led the state’s child welfare agency to turn to a special investigative team to help with case management, officials said Wednesday.
CA: Audit slams L.A. County child welfare agency for improper spending
Los Angeles Times April 18, 2012
Forty percent of employees at Los Angeles County’s troubled child welfare agency improperly received mileage reimbursement from taxpayers on days they did not work, according to a random sample of reimbursement reports examined by the county auditor-controller.
FL: No Savings Are Found From Welfare Drug Tests
New York times April 17, 2012
Ushered in amid promises that it would save taxpayers money and deter drug users, a Florida law requiring drug tests for people who seek welfare benefits resulted in no direct savings, snared few drug users and had no effect on the number of applications, according to recently released state data.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us/no-savings-found-in-florida-welfare-drug-tests.html?_r=2
IN: Cutting special needs subsidies bad on balance
South Bend Tribune April 19, 2012
No one argues with Indiana’s Department of Child Services Director James Payne when he says that people should adopt for love, not money.
But it’s hardly the proper rationale for ending financial assistance to parents adopting special needs children.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/opinion/sbt-20120419sbtmicha-05-06-20120419,0,6928022.story
KS: Wichita teacher loses license over alleged late reporting of suspected abuse
Wichita Eagle April 18, 2012
A Wichita teacher had her license revoked this week after allegedly failing to report suspected child sexual abuse quickly enough, and some education officials say the punishment was too severe.
http://www.kansas.com/2012/04/18/2302355/wichita-teacher-loses-license.html#storylink=cpy
MA: Mass. faulted on abuse reporting: Report says data on children must be more available
Boston Globe April 17, 2012
A nationwide survey to be released Tuesday that ranks how states report the deaths and near-deaths of children due to abuse and neglect gave Massachusetts a letter grade of C, saying the state could do more to make public how the tragedies occurred, to help combat the problem.
MD: Nonprofit seeks further access to child abuse case data in Md.
Washington Examiner April 17, 2012
A nonprofit that advocates for the victims of child abuse is questioning the access to information Maryland has been granting the organization, even though it says the state has improved in policy on public disclosures of deaths or near deaths in abuse or neglect cases.
NE: Nebraska Child and Family Services Director Confirmed
WOWT.com April 18, 2012
Thomas Pristow was confirmed Wednesday on the final day of this year’s legislative session. He will serve within the Department of Health and Human Services.
NC: Rowan hires Donna Fayko as county’s new DSS director
Charlotte Business Journal April 17, 2012
Davidson resident Donna F. Fayko was named today as the new director of the Rowan County Department of Social Services.
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/041712-WEB-New-DSS-director-named-qcd
SC: Tribal adoption case’s impact could be far-reaching
Tusla News April 19, 2012
The hearing was scheduled to last 35 minutes, but the oral arguments went on for an hour and a half at the South Carolina Supreme Court.
With the public barred from attending, and both sides under a strict gag order, nobody who was in the room Tuesday can talk about what happened.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120419_11_A9_CUTLIN952298
TN: Tenn. gets better grade on child abuse disclosures
Stamford Advocate April 18, 2012
Tennessee has improved its grade on the public disclosure of details about preventable child deaths and abuse, two child advocate groups said.
Also: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/18/tenn-improves-in-abuse-disclosures/
WA: LEGISLATURE: Sexual assault center spared
Bellingham Herald April 18, 2012
Lawmakers spared the Sexual Assault Response Center in Kennewick from a $90,000 cut to services for abused children.
In anticipation of the cut, the center laid off two part-time employees and canceled a trip to Seattle to train local law enforcement officers in child abuse investigation, SARC Executive Director JoDee Garretson told the Herald.
WV: W.Va. Catholics react to bishop abuse allegations
The Associated Press State & Local Wire April 18, 2012
Roman Catholics reacted with disbelief, shock and anger Wednesday after a witness at a clergy-abuse trial in Philadelphia testified that the leader of West Virginia’s 76,000 Catholics committed sexual abuse.
http://wvgazette.com/News/201204180196
International
Canada: Judge orders hearing in child welfare funding case
Winnipeg Free Press April 19, 2012
A judge has ordered the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to proceed with a hearing to determine if the federal government is violating the human rights of aboriginal children with its child welfare program funding.
Also: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/18/pol-first-nations-court-welfare.html
Dominican Republic: NJ officials: Child support orders in Dominican Republic will be enforced
New Jersey.com April 18, 2012
“This partnership is historic and signifies important progress for our Child Support system,” said Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez, whose department oversees collections and payments. “Child support is an essential anti-poverty component. Custodial parents who receive timely, consistent payments are more self-sufficient and less likely to require state or federal social service benefits.”