SPAC Testifies Before NJ Legislature on Importance of Citizen Review Boards for Foster Children

(Trenton - May 13, 2010) - The State Public Affairs Committee, which is responsible for advocating on issues important to Junior Leagues throughout New Jersey, recently testified before the NJ Assembly Human Services Committee on an issue that has been near and dear to SPAC for many decades – protecting children in foster care. When Gail Houlihan and Julie Turner, former SPAC members and longtime child advocates, informed SPAC of a threat to legislation they helped to get passed in the 1970’s, SPAC responded quickly.

Gail, currently Chair of the NJ Child Placement Advisory Council and a former SPAC Chair, and Julie, a founding member of the Child Placement Review and CPA Council, explained the history and need for child placement review boards, 5 member citizen boards who serve as “eyes and ears of the court.” Each NJ county has at least on CPR board, which reviews all foster care placements on a periodic basis and reporting its findings to the family court judge responsible for each case.

Recently, the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) issued an administrative order that eliminates CPR boards’ authority to hold all reviews except their initial 45 day review – essentially gutting the legislation. The justification for the new policy seems to be that CPR boards duplicate the job of DYFS and family courts, and thus are not needed. Gail and Julie made compelling arguments for why CPR boards are still very valuable, and also argued that it is not within the Court’s authority to decide in secret to suddenly negate a longstanding state law. They asked current SPAC members to reach out to the legislature to request that a public hearing be held on the issue.

After listening to Gail and Julie, SPAC decided to request a public hearing on the matter. Legislators were very responsive, and a hearing was scheduled in short order. SPAC was invited to testify, along with a variety of child welfare advocacy organizations and the Director of the AOC. Amy Vincent, from the Junior League of Morristown, represented SPAC admirably at the May 13, 2010 hearing. Please see the attached Testimony on the New Jersey Child Placement Review Boards (PDF).

SPAC will continue to advocate for continued citizen involvement in review of foster placements. Stay tuned for further developments as the full NJ legislature considers the impact and legality of the AOC directive.