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LWV: Studies of abused children inadequate SECTION 2 - PAGE 5 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY. MARCH ». 1*4 By Kirk Birginal Shaw Free Press News Media Inadequate investigation by the state Department of Children and Family Services is largely responsible for many sexually abused children being ordered back home to suffer possible further abuse, the Crystal Lake-Cary League of Women Voters has charged. The charge was leveled in conjunction with the release Friday of the annual summary of the League's McHenry County juvenile court watch program, conducted from mid- April to mid-October. In that report, the Crystal Lake-Cary LWV cited state figures showing a 41 percent increase, on an annualized basis, this year in the number of child sexual abuse cases reported in McHenry County. Court watchers for the LWV expressed concern about the high incidence of such cases in McHenry County and about the way those cases were being handled. The report concludes that many sexually abused children are being sent home too soon and are vulnerable to further abuse. The LWV laid a large part of the blame for the alleged mishandling of protective service cases on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the state agency responsible for providing social services to children and their families in cases of neglect or abuse. According to Janice Prunier- King, president of the Crystal Lake chapter of the LWV, the county's juvenile court often relies on information from DCFS caseworkers in deciding if a child should be returned home. Lax investigation and a tendency to side with the family lead DCFS workers often to recommend that a child be returned to a home despite the fact the child's safety might be endangered, Ms. Prunier-King said. "DCFS generally wants to keep the family together. It's easier that way because then they don't have to bother with them," LWV treasurer Peg Fletcher said. Don Schlosser, a spokesman for DCFS in Springfield, said the department had no response to the allegations until it had time to study the LWV report, adding that, "our focus is the protection of children." LWV court watchers cite the case of a sexually abused girl who was returned home on the condition that the father attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Three months after the child's return, the father had attended only one AA meeting and the girl was still in the home. Another monitor quoted in the report states that a child was placed in foster care. The DCFS worker testified that the family underwent counseling and recommended the child be returned. Asked ho w many sessions the father had attended, the worker did not know. Nevertheless, the child was returned home. "It would appear this year that the juvenile court judge has concurred more often with DCFS than other judges we have observed," Ms. Prunier-King said. Along with inadequate review of family situations involving alleged child abuse, Ms. Flet­ cher said the agency fails to sufficiently monitor its foster homes in the county. She said a foster mother not licensed by the agency told her that when licensing foster homes the department carefully checks the physical en­ vironment, even to the extent of measuring room sizes and in­ coming light. "But once that's done, they just want to get the child in there. There is no regular review of what kind of care the child is receiving or of the family situation," Ms. Fletcher said. According to Julie Covert, coordinator of Crystal Lake- Cary LWV court watch, two DCFS foster homes were reported to have problems with juvenile delinquency and drugs. The agency recruits foster parents throughout the county and state and reimburses them for the care of children declared wards of the court. Pay ranges from $200 a month for infants to $247 a month for children age 12 and over. "The professionals I've talked to say many of their foster homes are terrible. They take the children out of a bad situation and put them in a worse one," Ms. Covert said. Schlosser said the agency tries to screen potential foster parents, including having them undergo a fingerprint check to determine if they are convicted felons. Since many of the agency's children are so-called problem youths, Schlosser said that there is indeed a "strong likelihood" that difficulties will arise in foster homes. "We have thousands of children in foster homes and the statistical likelihood that we will have some problems is as great if not greater than in a natural home," he said. ^FWgeneral^^™ Hews Offer tips during county Tornado Preparedness Week If a tornado should hit, remain calm - panic never helps. Most tornadoes are short-lived, on the average lasting only four or five minutes and traveling on the ground for two miles. Closely inspect your property, including automobiles, for damage. Check immediately for electrical problems and gas leaks and report to utilities or fire department if danger is imminent. If you have extensive damage, contact your insurance com­ pany immediately. In the meantime, secure your property from further damage or theft. Heavy rains can follow a tor­ nado. Take an inventory of the damage to speed your insurance settlement. Your policy may provide coverage for additional living expenses should you not be able to stay in you home. There may also be a policy provision for paying the expense of debris removal. If you have not suffered damage, be a good neighbor and help those who need it. But, do not telephone directly into or visit a disaster area. Reports will be broadcast so let the resuce work proceed unham­ pered by spectators and curiosity seekers. Do not" enter a building damaged by a tornado until you are sure it is safe and will not collapse. Tornadoes can strike Illinois at any time. That's why County Board Chairman C. B. Claypool has proclaimed March 4 throuh March 10 as Tornado Preparedness Week in McHenry County. Further information is available by contacting McHenry County Emergency Services at (815 ) 338-6400 or picking it up at their office at 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock. Mayor Stanek to address community action group On Wednesday, March 14, the Citizens for Community Action will have a general meeting of all Task Force Committees, to be held at McHenry West Campus in Room 210-211. It will begin promptly at 7:15. There will be a short business meeting before Mayor Joseph Stanek speaks at 8 p.m. Af­ terwards, there will be time for questions and answers with the mayor. All are invited to attend. TTie Citizens for Community Action is concerned with helping to prevent drug and alcohol abuse in the community. Prevention is still the best medicine. One can help prevent drug and alcohol abuse in a family by helping children develop positive attitudes and values. Here are some of the things that most people, especially young people need as they grow, according to leaders in the movement. ...Love and affection from important adults in their life. ...Consistent and fair discipline. ...The opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts. ...Tolerance for mistakes. ...opportunities for successful and interesting experiences at home, in school, and within the community. ...Accurate information about all of the problems of growing up today: drugs, sexuality, crime, and other areas of which young people may be ignorant and fearful. Accurate and unbiased in­ formation about drugs and alcohol is an important part of prevention. HARDWOODS FOR SALE! •OAK •WALNUT •MAPLE •EBONY •BUTTERNUT •HICKORY •PADOUK •ZEBRA ONE DAY ONLY SAT., MARCH 10, 10AM -4PM ACE HAROWARf ACi HARDWARE 3729 W. ELM (RT. 120) McHENRY «HtH I just hid *2,000 from the I.R.S. 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