DCFS must build on success

Fifteen years ago, the state Division of Child and Family Services was sued in federal court over conditions in the state's foster care system. The lawsuit, known as David C. v. Leavitt, alleged that the state had neglected and endangered children who had been taken into state custody because of abuse in foster homes.

Today, after years of federal court oversight, millions of dollars in new state funding and an overhaul of child welfare protocols, Utah will emerge from the lawsuit with "one of the best" foster care systems in the nation. This praise is noteworthy because it comes from John O'Toole, director of the National Center for Youth Law, the plaintiffs' attorneys in the lawsuit.

In a letter to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., O'Toole wrote that the governor, Utah Department of Human Services executive director Lisa-Michele Church and DCFS director Duane Betournay were key to bringing the lawsuit to a "positive end." He had high praise for the state's attorneys, too. "We all should have great pride in what the Utah foster care system has become," he wrote.

Come Dec. 31, this chapter in Utah history will come to an end when the NCYL asks the federal court to dismiss the lawsuit. The long journey has resulted in positive outcomes. Aside from Utah leaders, credit is due front-line caseworkers who have put the well-conceived "Milestones Plan" into action. The plan was developed by child-welfare expert Paul Vincent. It sets high expectations and employs the best practices for caseworkers.

As much federal court oversight of the Division of Child and Family Services was an affront to many state officials, this supervision helped to ensure the state kept on track with components of the settlement agreement with NCYL and that the Utah Legislature funded needed reforms. It was not an optimal situation by any stretch but, ultimately, it kept the process moving.

Once the lawsuit is dismissed, DCFS must build upon its successes. This may prove to be particularly challenging at a time that state revenues are dwindling and all departments of state government could be asked to do more with less. Hopefully, reforms in DCFS are sufficiently entrenched so that budget cuts will not undermine the important progress that has been achieved.