Child Welfare

Child Welfare

Chronic underfunding, high caseloads and high-profile failures have plagued child welfare for many years and, predictable and sadly, avoidable tragedies have occurred as a result.

Partly in response to these problems, there are efforts to privatize child welfare functions and to substitute private settings for public custody of children whenever possible. Unfortunately, many of these efforts have compromised government accountability, while compounding the problems facing at-risk kids.

Florida privatized its child welfare system even though three of the initial five pilot studies failed. The state agency does initial child-abuse investigations, but once a child is in the public system, the responsibility for services transfers to a community-based lead agency. It was expected that local non-profit groups would take over the functions, but for-profit companies stand to make millions through their takeover of some of the non-profit agencies operating child welfare services in Florida.

Child Support Collection

The 1996 welfare law made key changes in efforts to collect child support from non-custodial parents. It required states to establish automated registries of child support court orders and to cross-reference them with employee lists so that parents owing support could be located and required to fulfill their obligations.

Statewide computer systems were mandated to be in place by October 1, 1997. Many states contracted out this function but have had trouble with contractors, including cost overruns, poor performance and an apparent inability to deliver the promised services.

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