Following the recommendations in Larson’s 634-page report to improve County services, Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill to help improve communication within foster agencies.
After the eight-month Riverside County investigation, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Sept. 23 that allows adult and child protective services to share information about clients and their families.
Stephen Larson noted in the report, “A theme that crossed many of our interviews was the perception that (the public guardian) maintains a defensive posture and a reluctance to share information about clients and about its processes, making care coordination challenging.”
The Press-Enterprise notes, “A lack of communication between agencies tasked with protecting vulnerable children and adults was cited in an independent review of allegations that the 13 Turpin siblings, found chained to their beds and subjected to a lifetime of abuse and neglect, were further abused on the county’s watch after being placed in foster homes and with the public guardian, which looks after adults who can’t care for themselves.”
The county has dealt with a number of high-profile cases in recent years and this bill will allow for a more streamlined process to share information between all parties ensuring at-risk children and adults are getting services to improve their lives.
Read the full article by Jeff Horseman of The Press-Enterprise here (subscription required).
