FOSTER CARE REFORM A Model for the Nation By Judge Tom Glaze
T
oo often, Arkansans hear or read how poorly our state is doing. Our unemployment rate exceeds the nation's average, for example, and we appear to lead the nation in the number of births to teenagers. While we might also experience major problems in other socio-economic areas, let me offer some words of encouragement to dispel any thought that all is bad here. Recently, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) commended our foster care program and the work performed by the Arkansas Permanency Planning Task Force in improving the program. In fact, it called our task force "one of the models for the nation." The rareness of these laudatory remarks of commendation was not apparent until I spoke with a representative of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. In his more than five years experience of working with" the permanency planning projects in the 50 states, he had never heard the "feds" bestow such praise upon a state's foster care program. Customarily, states receive from DHS what charitably may be called "constructive criticism." Reflecting upon those nice words from DHS, I thought about the hard work done by our 20member task force and the staff of the state's Social Services Division. While realizing how much everybody has contributed toward earning this national recognition for Arkansas' foster care program. those of us involved in the process are aware of how much more remains to be accomplished. My involvement in the foster care program began in February 1984, following one of my family law class lectures. A young law
111111111111111
student introduced herself as Pat Page, the administrator of our state's Foster Care Division, and asked me to serve on a task force which would work to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Federal Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (hereinafter the act). In a weak moment, I said yes. A few months later I found myself chairing this task force. Quite candidly, I have never worked with people who were more dedicated to helping Arkansas and its children. With virtually no experience in the problems plaguing our foster care children, I had much to learn. All I knew was that Arkansas had failed to comply with the requirements of some 1980 congressional act. and, because of such failure, had to repay the federal government $890,000. Pat also told me there was a strong likelihood that the state would lose another $500,000 unless we immediately brought our foster care program into compliance with the federal law. January 1986/Arkansas Lawyer/27