Report Inconsistency may impede child safety

A recent report from Idaho's Office of Performance Evaluations highlights critical gaps in the oversight of children's residential care facilities, revealing delays in case worker responses to abuse allegations. In some instances, case workers did not visit children for weeks after abuse reports were filed. Evaluators found that the existing protocols for investigating abuse in foster homes do not extend to residential facilities, creating a significant oversight gap. Recommendations include establishing a dedicated entity to handle abuse investigations and requiring unannounced visits to facilities. In fiscal year 2024, 447 children were placed in residential care, with the percentage of foster youth in such facilities rising from 8% in 2017 to 17% in 2024.

This increase reflects the growing complexity of needs among children entering the foster care system. The report emphasizes the necessity for improved protections for these vulnerable children, as current practices allow for potential abuse to go untracked. Without appropriate oversight, staff members who commit abuse could easily move between facilities without consequence.