Child Welfare
The Michigan Department of Human Services plans to hire 500 new graduates from the state’s colleges and universities by late spring to serve as child welfare caseworkers, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Bloomberg Businessweek reports on a new study showing children removed from their home fare better behaviorally and socially when placed in kinship care than when placed in foster homes.
Columnist Daniel Ruth of the St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) calls to task Florida’s child welfare system and all its bureaucracy for the death of a 16-month-old last weekend. It seems all the agencies involved in the life of young Ronderique Anderson are pointing fingers at one another in the child’s death, admitting “mistakes were made,” but no one is accepting responsibility in the case.
Education/Jobs
A Senate committee hearing on for-profit colleges scheduled for Feb. 17 has been delayed to accommodate a key witness’ schedule. According to Bloomberg’s John Lauerman, the hearing has not yet been rescheduled. Neither the name of the witness not the subject of the hearing was disclosed.
Lisa Krieger of the San Jose Mercury News reports that two California community college campuses have been warned by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that unless they fix deficiencies in planning, student evaluation and governance within two years they will lose accreditation.
Juvenile Justice
Two news items on sexting this morning: one in the Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Md.) in which Don Aines reports that even though few Washington County (Md.) youth accused of sexting have gone through the juvenile justice system, there are still long-term repurcussions for sexting offenders; and the Las Cruces Sun-News’ (N.M.) Zahira Torres writes about a proposed Texas bill that would reduce a juvenile’s penalty for sexting.
The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board is opposed to California Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed plan to have the counties assume control of the state’s entire juvenile justice system, saying that the counties are ill equipped to care for the youths. More on this issue from the Bay-area’s The Informant, as reported by Rina Palta here.
Opening statements were scheduled for this morning in Lubbock, Texas, for a man accused years ago of sexually molesting boys at a Texas juvenile prison. The accusations sparked an upheaval in the Texas Youth Commission and prompted the resignations or firings of several top state officials responsible for caring for youths in state custody. The Associated Press reports the trial was moved to Lubbock from at the request of the defense.
