[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KEEPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE ACT OF 2003

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                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 26, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill. 
It provides states with Federal funds to train caseworkers in child 
protective service systems, an initiative that the State of Florida 
desperately needs.
  Florida's Department of Children and Families has an abysmal record 
of monitoring the children entrusted to its care, and I am hopeful that 
an infusion of Federal funds, aimed at increasing both training and 
oversight of social workers, will alleviate this disgrace.
  I am sure you will recall the story of 5-year-old Rilya Wilson, the 
young Florida child whose whereabouts are still unknown. Eight months 
after her disappearance, her social worker was still filing reports 
indicating that she had routinely conducted home visits and that the 
child was safe and well cared for.
  Regrettably, investigations into Florida's child welfare system 
revealed that this was not an isolated case. Last September, in 
response to public outcry over the Rilya Wilson incident, Governor Bush 
replaced the secretary of Florida's Department of Children and 
Families.
  He also created a governor's task force in an attempt to locate an 
additional 393 children missing from Florida's child welfare system.
  After a 15-week effort, the Governor described the results ``a 
success'' even though only one-fourth of the 393 missing children had 
been located, and the task force was disbanded.
  I am hopeful that an infusion of Federal funds, specifically geared 
towards training caseworkers, will improve the child welfare system in 
the State of Florida and the rest of the Nation.

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