A troubling investigative report published by The Los Angeles Times reveals that we have no factual basis for concluding that the millions of dollars we spend on services to help families reunify with their children actually help those families. Nor do we have any factual basis for concluding that when a parent successfully completes court-ordered services, it is predictably safe to return a child to the parent's care.
Earlier this year, a Times investigation found that the state lacked oversight of court-ordered parenting classes routinely required by judges as part of case plans when parents seek to regain custody of their children after child protective services have intervened.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 3145 on Sunday, which creates the Foster Care Justice through Meaningful Help for Parents Act and requires that parenting courses provided as part of 'family preservation services' prove that those services are actually working.
Participation in them can sway custody rulings despite a lack of oversight and data, according to more than 20 child welfare experts who spoke to The Times, including social workers, attorneys, retired judges, parents and providers.
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