Audit of Protections Provided to Foster Care Children Through the Juvenile Justice System in California

This final report points out significant problems in California's administration of federally mandated foster care protections provided foster care children in the State's juvenile justice system. State plan requirements for the case review system were, in large part, not met. Also, one or both of the required judicial determinations pertaining to the child's removal from the home were not always made for these children. These protections were not effective due to a lack of sufficient oversight by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). We recommended that CDSS periodically review a sample of cases to ensure that the protections are being provided and furnish oversight and technical assistance to the county probation departments to ensure the proper administration of Federal foster care requirements. The CDSS concurred with our recommendations.