Anchorage Daily News

Alaska's system to protect children from abuse and neglect falls short on most measures, from timely investigations of reports that children are in danger to regular caseworker visits, a new federal report says.

But the system is getting better, and tough federal standards are helping guide the reforms, said Tammy Sandoval, director of the state Office of Children's Services.

"The bar is set so high. And it should be. Children and families deserve the best kind of service from the system," Sandoval said.

OCS on Monday released the results of the second big federal review of Alaska's child protection system in seven years.

The report on Alaska by the federal Children's Bureau is based on statistics as well as an examination of 65 individual cases, and interviews with key people including children, parents, foster parents, OCS employees, lawyers, advocates and private agency representatives.

To gain federal approval in a particular category, 95 percent of the cases reviewed would have to meet a target.

"No state that has gone through their second review has passed, either," Sandoval said.

The new report rated 10 items as a strength for Alaska. Among them: keeping siblings together in foster care, and putting children in foster homes near their parents or other relatives. The state also earned high marks for its computerized case management system.

But far more items -- 35 -- were rated as an "area needing improvement." Too often, children were left in risky home situations. State workers didn't investigate allegations of abuse or neglect quickly enough. Children taken away tended to be shuttled from foster home to foster home. OCS workers only made concerted efforts to support the child's relationship with the parent in 47 percent of the cases. And if their parents couldn't take care of them, children waited too long for an adoptive family.

Amanda Metivier, coordinator of the youth-led advocacy group Facing Foster Care in Alaska, said a big problem highlighted by the report is the lack of monthly caseworker visits, something required by agency policy. Also, she noted, the report said older teens who exit foster care may have no connection to any adult.

Among the improvements that Sandoval said are under way:

• Initial training for new caseworkers has expanded from two weeks to four weeks. Supervisors now are getting targeted training as well.

• Caseworkers are visiting children more frequently. During the period covered by the federal report, which ended in September 2008, only 26 percent of the children were being visited enough, the report said. As of January, 55 percent were getting monthly visits, Sandoval said.

• Caseloads are coming down. In the last two years, the Legislature has added funding for 14 additional caseworkers statewide.

Sandoval said she also is trying to improve services to families in their homes, like mentors for parents, so children aren't put in foster care to begin with.

OCS, she said, is only one piece to the system.

Find Lisa Demer online at adn.com/contact/ldemer or call 257-4390.

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