4. Do you believe changes are necessary in the state's child welfare system to ensure it does not violate parents' rights?

Yes.

If the system is out-of-balance and needs some changes, what specifically do you recommend?

Parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children. Unfortunately, there are certain familial situations requiring government intervention and support. I believe such involvement is justified only when the security of a child is at stake. Restoration of families must be the primary objective in such situations and the removal of a child from their family should only be pursued after all other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted. I am troubled about the inadequacies and subjectivity of determining at what juncture a child is deemed 'at risk.' I am also concerned that this pivotal decision of 'at risk' is too often blurred by other irrelevant issues involving bureaucratic vindication and institutional pride.

We must do better for our children. And if the system requires reform then Utah families will be the beneficiaries of those initiatives. Family disintegration is placing increasing stress upon our child welfare system. Admittedly, DCFS has a challenging task on the front lines of one of society's most perplexing problems. Burgeoning case loads and scarce resources test even the best of the many dedicated child welfare workers. However, many Utahns fear that DCFS is either unwilling or unable to exercise good judgment in making child welfare decisions. Whether or not that perception is real, the image of DCFS must and will change under my administration.

We must ensure that child safety determinations are made in a consistent and uniform manner according to clearly defined parameters. These decisions must also be made pursuant to due process without the influence of special or personal interests. The welfare of children and preservation of families must be the primary objective of this agency.

In addition, it may be appropriate to review the agency's hiring practices to ensure that highly competent individuals are involved in child safety determinations. I believe DCFS would benefit greatly from recruiting a variety of individuals with not only strong academic qualifications but also with practical and real world experience in supporting and improving our families.

Moreover, appropriately trained senior citizens may be a tremendous resource of volunteer expertise in assisting in child welfare determinations.