DCYF head disputes report on foster-parent support

DCYF head disputes report on foster-parent support

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo-20071005-dcyf.13f6cc627.html

02:52 PM EDT on Friday, October 5, 2007

Michael P. McKinney
projo.com staff writer

The state Department of Children, Youth and Families director this
morning criticized a national study that found Rhode Island government's
reimbursement rates for foster parents are below those in Massachusetts
and Connecticut.

DCYF Director Patricia Martinez said in a statement that the report did
not account for several other kinds of payments made by DCYF to foster
parents.

The report, by the National Foster Parent Association, Children Rights,
a child advocacy group, relied only on DCYF's "standard board rate" in
figuring Rhode Island's support for foster families, DCYF counters.

The study says Rhode Island foster parents receive monthly rates of $463
for children from birth to age 3, $454 for childrren 4 to 11, and $543
from ages 12 to 18.

The national average is $479 monthly for children between birth and 3,
$501 for ages 4 to 11 and $559 for those ages 12 and up.

The average monthly payment to Rhode Island foster parents is actually
closer to $729.39 when all financial support is accounted for, DCYF says.

In Connecticut, the report says, foster parents are paid $756 monthly
for children from birth to to age 3, $767 for children ages 4 to 11 and
$834 for children over 12. In Massachusetts, it's $490 monthly for
children from birth to age 3, $531 for those ages 3 to 11 and $616 for
children over 12, the report says

DCYF's statement does not say whether the same additional financial
supports for fosters parents its cites are exclusive to Rhode Island or
would be found -- and therefore added to -- the numbers in other states.

"We all agree that foster parents should be compensated fairly,"
Martinez said in the statement. "Foster parents have earned our praise
and our gratitude for caring for many of Rhode Island's most vulnerable
children. They are the backbone of the child welfare system.

"The issue in the report, however, is in how to calculate what is
included in that compensation. Financial support for foster parents goes
beyond the standard foster board payment."

"For instance, the report incorrectly states that the standard board
rate is intended to cover regular ongoing expenses such as clothing,"
Martinez said. "However, the department actually pays ongoing clothing
allowances to all children in DCYF foster care totaling between $300 and
$750 per year (in 3 installments), depending upon the age of the child.
Inclusion of the clothing allowance increases DCYF's average board rate
to $530 per month from $438."

"The department needs more time to further analyze the data to make sure
that other important sources of DCYF support have not been similarly
overlooked," Martinez stated. "Nevertheless, as DCYF continues to
transform the system, supports for foster families are an important part
of the equation and part of the ongoing conversation with the Rhode
Island Foster Parents Association."








CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.


CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...