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Child Welfare Officials Agree to Implement Special Review Panel Recommendations

HeadlineMay 28, 2002

Child welfare officials agreed Monday to begin implementing dozens of recommendations made by a special review panel examining the case of a 5-year-old girl who disappeared for more than a year before authorities noticed. The case has led to widespread criticism of welfare officials and has become a difficult issue for Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who is seeking reelection and promised to fix the agency during his campaign four years ago. The panel, which was appointed by Jeb Bush, blamed the girl’s disappearance largely on the girl’s case worker. But the case worker was fired twice by the department before being rehired and assigned to the girl’s case. The panel’s recommendations include conducting criminal background checks on foster parents, photographing children every three months and having them come to court every six months.

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