New National Adoption Month Celebrations

Greetings Senators Grassley and Byrd, Representative James McDermott:

While the work in supporting this nation's efforts to protect our children with the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008 is to be commended, I take this time to publicly address a pernicious issue: the lack of transparency, accountability and oversight in child welfare.

I would like to challenge you, sirs, by having you ask yourselves:

(1)"Why has there been no fundamental change with the adoption of transparency, accountability and oversight policies?" Time and time again, the U.S. DHHS OIG has documented billions and billions of dollars every year in child welfare fraud, yet the only actions on your parts are to further advocate the child welfare system in its current state;

(2)"Are children entering foster care because the guardians have failed them or are these children being placed in the custody of the states because we, as a nation, have failed the people?" There has been a dramatic shift in resources for children and guardians to the point where a child must be placed in foster care in order to receive medical and special needs addressed?

(3) "Why is poverty considered as abuse and neglect? As poverty increases, so shall the number of children entering the child welfare system, as the criteria for eligibility is poverty.

(4)"Foster care and adoption are an entitlement programs that never were designed with internal controls for fraud. This is why, throughout each state, there is waste, abuse and fraud that is reeking havoc upon our nation's economic security.

(5)"Is fraud not a matter for the Department of Homeland Security?" The largest funding portion to foster care is Medicaid Targeted Case Management, covering more than just administrative services but also training. There is no oversight in this area. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Justice have embarked on a joint venture to stop Medicare fraud. Unfortunately, the resources to stop Medicaid fraud are abysmally dearth and there seems to be very little interest on the parts of you and your fellow Congressional colleagues to do anything about it except continue to perpetuate the child welfare system's lack of regulation.

(6)"Lastly, why have not the issues of Medicaid fraud and federal false claims not been brought to the table for discussions?" Understanding that it would not be in your best interests to disappoint constituents and powerful financial supporters by advocating for the end of Medicaid fraud in child welfare, perhaps these prevailing issues could be addressed in resolution to acknowledge the lack of regulation of the child welfare industry.

It is no longer a shame for a woman who does not have a vow of matrimony to bring forth life into this world, nor is it mandatory for a woman to hide the pregnancy and place the child up for adoption, or should it be, for this is an example of the effects of the Optional Target Case Management population. Targeted populations are the poor and minorities, where the rates are disproportional to other counterparts of society.

Let us take this time to look at National Adoption Month from a new perspective by celebrating the national adoption of new policies to end fraud in child welfare.