Louisiana social services officials are attempting to improve oversight of state-licensed group homes for abused and neglected children, reports the Natchez Democrat.
Children battered by staff, sexual assault and abhorrent sanitation
conditions are among the charges against the homes. Numerous facilities fail
to provide basic health and safety for the children.
Shortly after being appointed Social Services Secretary, Kristy Nichols
ordered inspections of all homes and increased licensing staff and
inspectors for reviewing facilities. A task force was also formed with
group-home owners.
The Democrat reports that a bill now on the Governor's desk for
signing would give the State's Department of Social Services increased
power to crack down on homes. "Currently, the department needs approval
from an outside advisory panel to revoke a license," says the paper,
"even though DSS monitors and licenses the homes."
All but one of the Committee members are Governor-appointed. It also oversees some of the state’s daycare facilities.
The Democrat says the Committee has allowed numerous group homes to
stay open despite DSS recommendation to shut them down. According to
the Department, it recommended license revocation for 5 homes since
January. Only 1 has been revoked.
A legislative audit revealed that DSS had licensed facilities without
bothering to make sure they met minimum standards. Licensing staff was
ill-equipped and poorly-trained on how to manage complaints and enforce
whatever standards did exist. Almost 90% of the homes audited had
deficiencies when DSS renewed their licenses.
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The National Association to Protect Children is a national, pro-child, anti-crime membership association. We are founded on the belief that our first and most sacred obligation as parents, citizens, and members of the human species is the protection of children from harm.
PROTECT is a bipartisan pro-child, anti-crime lobby whose sole focus is making the protection of children a top political and policy priority at the national, state and local level.
