Re: DRG's and Child Welfare

["Julie Forman Jones" <russauto@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I urge you to do as you have asked us to do - take a look at the law.  As
an agency attorney, I can assure you that we are not setting out to make
legal orphans - but we are also not assuming that a 15 year old boy cannot
be adopted.  This legislation has forced us to take a long, hard, and
serious look at cases - from a child's perspectvie.  Try it - it's a little
different than what most of the system is used to, but it sure looks
different and makes a lot of sense.  

It starts with taking children into care only as a last resort.  We then
work openly and honestly with parents, letting them know that the days of
floating in and out of their child's life are over.  They must make a
commitment and make some changes - TODAY.  It's the parent's decision.  If
they are not willing to provide a safe home for their child within 12
months - then a determination is made on a case by case basis.  If there
are grounds for tpr, and if it is in the child's best interests, then we
file.  If there are no grounds, or if it is not in the child's best
interests, we don't file.  It's really not rocket science, but it has
turned some heads and moved a lot of cases (many kids have been adopted,
and many have returned home - most importantly, many have been placed in a
permanent home as opposed to foster care!)