Legislation requiring employees of both public and private child welfare agencies to undergo fingerprinting background checks won Senate committee approval Wednesday. The measure also pertains to more than 17 hundred staff members in state protection and permanency family services.
Department for Community Based Services Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Cawood said these workers are dealing with an extremely vulnerable population in foster care. “These staff people have very intimate access to these children. They transport these children. They may be staff in 24/7 facilities with these children with minimal supervision. These children are ripe for re-abuse. They’re statistically higher for human trafficking,” said Cawood.
Cawood noted the senate measure affects both existing and future employees at child welfare agencies. She added the current number at public and private entities is estimated at 38 hundred.? The bill now heads to the senate floor.
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