Period II Monitoring Report: January 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005

The New Jersey Child Welfare Panel was formed as part of the settlement of class-action litigation (Charlie and Nadine H. v. McGreevey) aimed at improving serious and long-standing problems in the State's child welfare system. Following the settlement, New Jersey developed a comprehensive and ambitious reform plan (A New Beginning: The Future of Child Welfare in New Jersey, June 2004), which was approved by the Panel and the United States District Court and applauded by concerned citizens and groups who have long advocated for major improvements in New Jersey's child welfare work. Now the Panel is charged with monitoring the State's progress in implementing the plan and bringing about better resultsin increased safety, more rapid movement to stable and permanent homes, and improved well-being for vulnerable children and their families.

This document is the Panel's second monitoring report, and it covers the period from January 1through June 30, 2005. In some areas where significant activity has occurred since the end of the monitoring period, we also provide information on developments in July and August 2005. Our first report, covering the period ending December 31, 2004, was issued on March 7, 2005. For a discussion of the methods used by the Panel to gather and evaluate information, we refer the reader to that document. We extend our thanks to the many dedicated individuals, staff of the Department of Human Services and other arms of State government, the non-profit community, advocacy organizations, and community representatives, along with parents and children who have experienced the system first-hand, whose thoughtful comments have informed our work.

Excerpt