Date: 04/23/2010
Final
Comments from the Department of Human Services
COMMITTEE ON CHILD WELFARE
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04:26 PM -- Comments from the Department of Human Services
Jenise May, Deputy Director, Department of Human Services, offered to respond to committee questions. Ms. May addressed the recommendations discussed by Dr. Wells and Ms. Fox, stating that the Governor has committed to further vetting those recommendations prior to their implementation. She stated that the recommendations require further planning, and she asked that the committee not introduce legislation on those issues. Ms. May stated that the child welfare system is complex, and there is no one solution to preventing child deaths in the state. Ms. May responded to questions from the committee regarding the time line for final approval of the recommendations, the implementation of a monthly monitoring system for the completion of fatality reviews, and funding for the Child Welfare Training Academy.
04:34 PM
Lloyd Malone, Director of the Division of Child Welfare, Department of Human Services, responded to committee questions regarding a document distributed to the committee showing the number of child fatalities due to child abuse or neglect that occurred in Colorado in 2007, 2008, and 2009. He described the criteria for conducting a state child fatality review. He further described, of the cases highlighted in the document, how many children were in foster care, how many children had an open assessment or case with the county department of social services, and how many children did not have active child abuse or neglect case at the time of their deaths. Ms. May responded to questions from Representative Kefalas regarding the lessons learned from the child deaths that occurred in 2008. Mr. Malone responded to additional questions from Senator Lundberg regarding delays in completing investigations of deaths of children who were known to the child welfare system, stating that he was unaware of issues in completing the investigations at the county level, but noted that there were instances in which the written final reports of the state reviews were not forwarded to the counties. Mr. Malone further clarified the state review and reporting process. Mr. Malone responded to additional questions from Representative Kefalas regarding the issue. The committee further discussed actions taken against counties in child welfare cases.