Ritter Appoints Initial Members of Child Welfare Committee

Gov. Bill Ritter announced the appointments today of 23 Coloradans to a new Child Welfare Action Committee, which will recommend improvements to Colorado’s child-protection system following 13 child deaths at the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008.

Ritter established the action committee by executive order in April and through follow-up legislation – House Bill 1404, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Stafford, D-Aurora, and Sen. Moe Keller, D-Arvada – in May. The committee will deliver interim recommendations to Ritter by Oct. 31 and a final report by Dec. 31, 2009.

The action committee’s first meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Doubletree Denver North, 8773 Yates Drive, Westminster. All meetings will be held at this location, and all meetings will end with a public comment period.

“I am pleased to announce these appointments today so this committee can get to work,” Ritter said. “When it comes to protecting our most vulnerable children – those in foster care, those who have suffered abuse or neglect – the status quo is no longer acceptable.”

Appointees include Stafford, Lincoln County Commissioner Steve Burgess, Larimer County Commissioner Kathay Rennels, 17th Judicial District Court Judge Katherine Delgado, Cyril “Skip” Barber of Denver, Phyllis J. Bigpond of Aurora, Shirley Chapman of Denver, Kenneth Crichlow of Denver, Barbara Drake of Colorado Springs, Linda Fairbairn of Lamar, John Faught of Denver, Megan Ferland of Evergreen, Mary W. Lewis of Aurora, Jose Mondragon of Pueblo, Adrienne Pederson of Arvada, Patricia Schene of Littleton, Barbara Shaklee of Denver, Shari Shink of Denver, Theresa Spahn of Denver, Deborah Valentine of Fort Collins, and Dr. Kathryn Wells of Denver. The executive directors of the Department of Public Health and Environment and Department of Health Care Policy and Financing also will serve on the action committee.

The committee will:

1. analyze Colorado's current state-supervised/county-administered child-welfare system to determine whether this system is most effective in protecting children;

2. examine the quality and quantity of training that child-protection caseworkers should receive;

3. recommend ways to make the system more responsive to people reporting child maltreatment;

4. explore the role that independent oversight committees can play in ensuring that human service agencies are held accountable, and recommend how these bodies can be incorporated into Colorado's child-welfare system; and

5. develop recommendations as to how public/private partnerships can improve the services and care provided to children who reside within the welfare system.

Ritter Signs Foster Kid Sibling Visit Bill

Gov. Bill Ritter signed the first bill of the session into law Thursday, approving a measure that guarantees foster children the right to have visits with their siblings.

HB 1003, which was suggested to its sponsors by a group of foster children, requires social service agencies to arrange the visits unless there is a reasonable basis to believe a visit would not be in the best interest of the foster child or his or her siblings.

"When it comes to foster care and foster children, we know from experience that permanence and connections to family can make a tremendous difference," Ritter said. "A sibling may be the only sense of permanence, safety or family that a foster child has. So when a foster child makes a request to see their brother or sister, we should listen and put it at the top of the priority list. It might seem like a little thing, but it's not."

There are about 6,800 children in foster care in Colorado.

Joining Ritter at the Capitol signing ceremony were two of the former foster children who provided the inspiration for the bill, 22-year-olds Tony Corley and Renee Manke.

Tony has four siblings and currently mentors children in foster care. Renee was placed in foster care at age 17 and lost contact with her younger sister. She plans on attending college this summer to get a degree in early childhood development and eventually become a kindergarten teacher.

HB 1006 was sponsored in the House by Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Golden, and in the Senate by Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver. It passed both chambers with unanimous bipartisan support.

Foster Child Sibling Visit Bill Goes to Governor

The Senate gave final passage today to HB 1006, which guarantees children in foster care the right to have visits with their siblings.

The bill sailed through both chambers of the General Assembly and now heads back to the House to consider a Senate amendment before it can go to Gov. Bill Ritter.

Ritter hasn't publicly said whether he will sign it. However, there has not been any indication of opposition from the administration.

Senate Gives Preliminary Approval to Foster Child Sibling Visit Bill

The Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that requires social services agencies in Colorado to permit foster children visits with their siblings.

HB 1006 passed by consent on second reading, meaning there was no opposition to the bill. It faces one more reading in the Senate and then goes to the Governor, where it may become the first bill enacted into law this session.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Golden, and Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver.

Senate Considers Foster Child Sibling Visit Bill Friday

The Senate will take up HB 1006, which would require social service agencies to permit a foster child to visit his or her siblings, Friday morning.

The bill previously passed the House unanimously.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Golden, and Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver.