Foster Care Report: Privatization No Silver Bullet

A group formed by the legislature to study the feasibility of privatizing foster care says Kentucky should focus on strengthening the system it already has.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the study group's 26-page report was published Friday. It urges state officials to remember that privatization "is not a 'silver-bullet.'" The report says the private sector is limited by the same issues the public child welfare agency faces.

Problems include record numbers of minors in out-of-home care, high caseworker turnover and low retention rates, and insufficient funding. Report recommendations include lessening caseworker workloads and broadening the availability of intervention services that help families avoid the removal of their children in the first place.

The findings will be presented to the legislature's Child Welfare Advisory and Oversight Committee on Monday.