Report release simultaneous with Ombudsman's report

OLYMPIA -- Today the Department of Social and Health Services Children's Administration and The Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman released respective reports on reviews of the Colville Children's Administration office, based by concerns raised by Rep. Joel Kretz and the Stevens County prosecutor. Children's Administration is in the process of analyzing the Ombudsman's report.

"We appreciate the Ombudsman's thorough review and analysis, we are reviewing both our own internal report and that produced by the Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman and have found consensus on several key issues involving a systemic lack of communication and cooperation among all the parties involved," said Children's Administration interim assistant secretary Randy Hart. "Overall, we concur with a number of recommendations in the Ombudsman's report and will move to implement those, as well as those raised in our own internal review. We have been working with the Ombudsman on this situation for more than a year, and now that we have these reports we will put in place a corrective action plan. We look forward to working with the Ombudsman and our partners in the Colville community to improve working relationships to better serve the children and families in Colville."

The DSHS investigators interviewed local community providers (such as therapists, child advocates, law enforcement, Child Protection Team members, and public health and court officials), relative care providers and foster parents, as well as management and staff at the Stevens County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Office, Children's Administration in the Colville Division of Children and Family Services and the Spokane Division of Licensed Resources.

Consensus among Colville providers indicated improvements in leadership and community outreach in the last year and a half, and they asserted that Children's should make a concerted effort to foster positive community relations. Some providers noted that communication and information sharing problems between the CASA Office and the Colville Office were a focal point of many of the issues between providers, the CASA, and Children and Family Services.

Providers' recommendations to DSHS included improving information sharing with those providers about children and families, use of team decision meetings to develop family plans and being open to alternative points of view and solutions. In addition, the CASA director indicated they wanted to continue with a program though the University of Washington School of Law, which assists court officers, judges, attorneys, CASA and Children's Administration staff in developing and enhancing working relationships. Several cases about which the Stevens County Prosecutor had inquired were reviewed. In addition, contracts and staff history with providers who had felt that they had experienced retaliation by the Colville Office were reviewed. The main problem with two providers was that their contracts had expired.

In October 2007, Children's Administration appointed a new area manager to cover Colville, Newport and Republic. This change reduced the span of control for that manager, allowing more focus on the area. In addition, in the past year and a half, Children's Administration has been actively engaged with this office by reviewing cases, making office and community visits and conducting ongoing case reviews.

"Both reviews identified similar areas needing improvement and provides an opportunity – we will work with our partners to implement the recommendations as appropriate," Hart said. "We remain convinced that, despite sharp differences and disputes among the various parties involved, the shared goal has always been to provide the best system for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children and families in Stevens County. Children's Administration looks forward to continuing to improve the relationships with our community partners who help make up the safety net for children and families in our communities, including law enforcement officers, doctors, service providers, foster parents and relatives."

To view the DSHS and Ombudsman's reports click here or go to http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/general/index.asp under "Current News."

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