Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan “Foster Care Placement Transparency Act” would require State foster care agencies to report to HHS incidents in which children are separated from their parents and placed with a caregiver informally, to help ensure their wellbeing and safety
Under Sen. Ossoff’s bill, HHS would also be required to submit a public report to Congress on the use of “hidden foster care,” or informal placements of children
Atlanta, Ga. — Following his 13-month investigation into the abuse and neglect of children in Georgia’s foster care system, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight of State foster care systems.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ossoff, Chairman of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, released a 64-page report detailing the findings from his Subcommittee’s 13-month investigation into the safety of foster children, which uncovered pervasive abuse and neglect of vulnerable children in Georgia, including incidents with “hidden foster care” placements.
These informal placements, or “hidden foster care” placements, occur when a state child protection agency places a child with a caregiver (often a relative) informally, instead of going through official foster care placement. Historically, states have not taken responsibility for the care and placement of these children, and this transfer of custody occurs without the involvement, authority, or oversight of a court of law.
These children are not counted in official foster care numbers, and although the state agency may do follow-up visits and provide services or supports for the relatives, there is not currently a Federal requirement for the state agency to do so.
For example, Sen. Ossoff’s investigation uncovered reports that ‘voluntary kin placements are not appropriately vetted, and CACs [Child Advocacy Centers] have reported cases where children are placed in the homes of people with histories of sex crimes or DFCS involvement’ (Subcommittee on Human Rights Majority Staff Report, April 9, 2024, page 58).
In an October hearing, Sen. Ossoff’s Subcommittee heard testimony from a Georgia mother, Rachel Aldridge, who testified that her daughter was murdered after DFCS informally placed the child “with plainly unsuitable caregivers.”(Subcommittee on Human Rights Majority Staff Report, April 9, 2024,page 23).
Now, Sens. Ossoff and John Cornyn (R-TX) are introducing the bipartisan Foster Care Placement Transparency Act, which would require states to measure and report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) incidents in which children are separated from their parents and placed with a caregiver informally to help ensure their wellbeing and safety.
HHS would also be required to submit a publicly available report to Congress on the use of hidden foster care.
“Last year, I led a 13-month investigation into the safety of foster children in Georgia and nationwide, which uncovered widespread abuse and neglect of our most vulnerable children,” said Sen. Ossoff.“I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation alongside Senator Cornyn that will strengthen Federal oversight of State foster care systems and better protect foster children from physical abuse, sexual abuse, or human trafficking.”
“Every child deserves a safe and loving place to call home with someone to nurture them to their full potential,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation seeks to ensure that every foster child in Texas and throughout our country is accounted for and taken care of, regardless of their informal or formal custody arrangements.”
In February 2023, following reports from independent watchdogs and the press that children in the care of Georgia DFCS have been subjected to abuse and neglect, Chairman Ossoff launched an inquiry to assess the safety of children in foster care in Georgia and nationwide.
Over the course of this 13-month investigation, the Subcommittee convened four public hearings, receiving public testimony from witnesses including juvenile court judges, former foster youth, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and the former ombudsman of Georgia’s child welfare system.
In total, the Subcommittee interviewed more than 100 witnesses and sources and reviewed thousands of pages of documents to investigate the human rights violations children may suffer in foster care.
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan Foster Care Placement Transparency Act.
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