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Russian roulette A federal study shows that South Carolina's Department of Social Services flunks six of seven key measures in its foster care program. Six of seven failures - that's not just embarrassing, it's a disgrace. The measures being weighed pertain to how well the children's safety and health are maintained. The study indicates workers underestimate risks of abuse and neglect in some foster homes, and that kids are often kept in foster homes too long. Federal review teams studied 50 sample cases in three South Carolina counties involving foster children or families under investigation for child maltreatment. In a quarter of the cases, social workers went a month or more without visiting the foster homes, not nearly often enough to ensure the children are safe and healthy. This is akin to playing Russian roulette with children's lives. The problem is, little public notice is taken until a child or two dies - then it's too late. The spotlight never shines on all the kids who don't die but are abused and suffering under the system. The system also has to be mindful about how long kids are left in the good foster homes, lest they become too attached and are traumatized by separation anxieties when the time does come to leave. With a foster care record so catastrophically awful, it's too bad the state - not just DSS - can't be charged with child endangerment. Why the state? Because the study points out that judges, schools and mental health providers contribute as much to the failures as the social service agency. Also, in fairness to DSS, the state's fiscal crisis has bled it of 25 percent of its annual budget since 2000 - from $120 million to $88 million. In addition, social workers are about the lowest-paid employees on the state payroll, yet they must oversee many more cases than good social care standards call for - while making life-altering, if not life-and-death, decisions for the children in their charge. If the state doesn't improve on its record - that is, meet some carefully defined progress goals by next spring - it stands to lose even more money, $726,000 in federal funds. There's no secret about what has to be done: More hires, better staff training, more monitoring of casework and collaboration with other state agencies, none of which seem to know what the others are doing - and, of course, more funding. DSS officials tell Associated Press it will take at least a $575,000 infusion to have a shot at meeting the feds' progress goals in time to qualify for the federal funds. Yet the agency, which also pays for food stamps and welfare, could instead face additional cuts. The state is still in a fiscal crisis. Yes, it is like playing Russian roulette with children's lives.
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