How can Ohio foster care be improved?

County revises foster-care rules
Better communication, more background checks planned
By Howard Wilkinson, Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer

Hamilton County Job and Family Services officials are upgrading their procedures for placing children in foster care in light of the death of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel.

Department officials said last week that until the state and the county finish their investigations, the county will place no more children with Lifeway for Youth. That private agency put Marcus in the Clermont County home of Liz and David Carroll Jr., who are charged in the death of the boy.

In a written report Tuesday to Hamilton County commissioners, Job and Family Services Director Rick Roberts said his agency would:

-Require private agencies under contract to provide documentation for state licensing of a foster home within 10 days of a child being placed in a home.

-Require private agencies to conduct quarterly criminal, civil and credit background checks for all foster parents.

-Seek increased communication with law enforcement agencies so that the department is alerted to situations where crimes have occurred in households containing children.

-Ask the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to alert the county department when the state is investigating a home managed by a private agency under contract with the county.

Commissioner Pat DeWine said the measures proposed by Roberts will be discussed by the commissioners at Monday's meeting.