Political Quotes

“reserving the right to object, I would just like to note that this bill, put together by the best child welfare experts across the country, has in it a requirement under section 223 requiring background checks to be conducted for each resident of a foster care placement for a noncitizen child. It prohibits children from being placed in a home if a resident has a conviction for child abuse or trafficking or convicted of any offense that has a direct and immediate impact on the safety of a child. I know that these sorts of dialogues--our staff worked quickly to try to prepare responses. But your actual criticisms are inaccurate. And, indeed, what these experts say is that a child should be put in the least restrictive setting that approximates a family in which the child's needs can best be met consistent with the best interests and special needs of that child. The experts know congregate care is not the place to do that. The problems that exist in one mass setting are bad, but they exist in the other mass settings.…”