Q&A
Potential revisions to ACS policies for admitting youth into foster care
2:52:01
·
3 min
Council Member Stevens inquires about potential revisions to ACS policies to address gaps in care for youth who don't meet State Central Register (SCR) criteria but require foster care services. Stephanie Gendell discusses the current process and potential for change.
- Providers note inconsistencies in ACS's decisions to admit young people into foster care.
- ACS currently relies heavily on the SCR process for efficiency and established procedures.
- Gendell agrees to consider alternative methods for bringing cases to ACS's attention, such as the FSS stage.
- The discussion highlights the need for a balance between efficiency and meeting the needs of young people who may fall through the cracks of the current system.
Althea Stevens
2:52:01
According to providers, ACS only emits a young person into foster care if if it's directed by s r of SDR, but not if they are referred to by RHI or HERC facility.
2:52:13
Would your agency consider revising this policy to address gaps in the care of these youth who have not met SDR and narrows criteria, but require the protection and services offered by foster care?
Stephanie Gendell
2:52:24
I will definitely bring back that recommendation.
2:52:27
I do think that it is much more efficient on our end when the reports are coming in through the SCR.
2:52:34
We have a whole process in place of how to work with young people when they come through that process, and we have teams ready and available 247, and that is typically how cases come to our attention.
2:52:50
But I've heard people today talk about wanting another way to bring young people and care into our attention.
2:52:58
And I think they're referring to what's called an FSS stage, which I don't totally know what that means.
2:53:02
But I know that's what they're referring to, and I'm happy to bring back that suggestion and see if there's a way we can do that in a way that makes sure that we are as efficient and responding as quickly as possible.
Althea Stevens
2:53:17
Yeah.
2:53:17
Because I don't think that it necessarily means that, you know, dual way SDR, but I think that if we're seeing that folks are having issues with the narrow criteria of which you have to have under SDR, it's not capturing young people.
2:53:32
And so we're in the business of helping us supporting young people.
2:53:34
So then sometimes we have to adjust to make that happen.
Stephanie Gendell
2:53:38
Agree.
2:53:38
I do wanna add that if the SCR doesn't believe the young person's destitute, We do have the challenge of we need to find that they are a destitute because we can't bring young people in foster into foster care without legal authority.
2:53:51
And we do need to file a petition in family court to be able to keep a young person in foster care as destitute.
Althea Stevens
2:54:00
But we know sometimes there are examples and it becomes bias because humans have biases.
2:54:04
So sometimes we need other options.
Peninna Oren
2:54:09
Yeah.
2:54:09
I the only thing I would add to that about the SCR call is that that sparks an investigation, and there are situations.
2:54:16
I mean, I understand I think all of us here really understand that this is a a newer thing and that we have to
Althea Stevens
2:54:28
Adjust.
2:54:28
Adjust.
2:54:29
What's happening?
2:54:29
That, apparently, and Yeah.
2:54:31
Haven't been, and we're trying to make something that is a nuance fit into a system that's been pretty archaic.
2:54:39
So I'm not really sure why we're not trying to be more innovative and creative about our approach.
Peninna Oren
2:54:44
I agree with what you said, and I I do think we are trying to be innovative and creative, and we're we're adjusting as it's coming up.
2:54:52
The point that I wanted to make about the SDRs, there are situations where children are abused and neglected, and it may look one way initially.
2:55:00
It may look like a destitute child like these situations where a young person is here without an adult, but there really is more to the story, and we wanna have the opportunity.
Althea Stevens
2:55:09
But that still have to be an investigation.
2:55:11
So I don't I I think we're just thinking about different entry points.
2:55:15
I'm not it wouldn't do away with actually doing the due diligence and the work we would still have to do, but it's just another entry point.
Peninna Oren
2:55:22
Right.
2:55:22
Under Understood.
UNKNOWN
2:55:25
You had a pleasure.
Alexa Avilés
2:55:25
Yeah.