A shocking report from a federal watchdog has revealed that several state agencies in California have failed to report cases of missing foster children to the national authorities, putting them at risk of harm and exploitation. The report exposes a serious breach of duty and law by the California Department of Social Services and other agencies that are supposed to protect vulnerable children.
The Report: A Federal Audit Finds Five Missing Children Unreported
The report was issued by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, which conducted an audit of 100 foster children who went missing for more than two days between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. The audit was part of a nationwide review of how state agencies comply with federal requirements to report missing foster children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The Law: A Federal Requirement to Report Missing Foster Children
The federal law that requires state agencies to report missing foster children to NCMEC was enacted in 2014 as part of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The law aims to improve the safety and well-being of foster children who may run away or be abducted by traffickers or predators. The law also requires state agencies to develop protocols and procedures for reporting and locating missing foster children.
NCMEC is a nonprofit organization that works with law enforcement, families, and communities to prevent child abduction, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. NCMEC operates the national AMBER Alert system, which connects to the internet, radio, television, and cell phone to alert the public of child abductions.
The report has been met with denial and defensiveness from some California agencies involved in the oversight of foster care. The California Department of Social Services said that it disagreed with the findings and methodology of the audit, claiming that it had reported all missing foster children to NCMEC as required by law. The department also said that it had implemented policies and procedures for reporting and locating missing foster children since 2018.
Other state agencies such as county child welfare offices and juvenile courts also disputed some aspects of the audit, saying that they had followed their own protocols and procedures for reporting and locating missing foster children. They said that they had communicated with NCMEC through other means than formal reports, such as phone calls or emails.
The Consequences: A Risk for Missing Foster Children
The report has raised serious concerns about the safety and welfare of missing foster children in California, who may face dangers such as abuse, violence, exploitation, and trafficking. The report has also exposed a lack of accountability and transparency among state agencies that are responsible for protecting vulnerable children. The report has recommended that state agencies improve their compliance with federal requirements and enhance their coordination and communication with NCMEC and other stakeholders. The report has urged state agencies to take immediate action to ensure that all missing foster children are reported and located as soon as possible.
Missing foster children are a national problem that affects thousands of kids every year. According to NCMEC, more than 23,000 foster children went missing in 2020 alone. Many of them never return home or are found dead. Missing foster children deserve better protection and care from state agencies that are supposed to safeguard their rights and interests. Missing foster children need more attention and support from society at large, which can help prevent them from going missing in the first place.