Most missing foster kids in four major states weren't screened to see if they'd been sex trafficked
More than three-quarters of foster children who went missing in four populous states were not screened after they were found to identify whether they had been victims of sex trafficking, in violation of federal law, according to a newly released federal audit.
The report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services found that in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Illinois, the vast majority of recovered foster children were not screened, despite evidence that missing children are often sexually exploited. A fifth state, Texas, has a better record, with 83% of the children screened, the report found. But the inspector general said the screenings often were not thorough.
A federal judge recently threatened Texas with contempt fines by for what she said was the state’s failure to improve conditions in its foster care system, including inadequate background checks of caregivers and the high rate of sexual abuse of children.
Brian Whitley, a Health and Human Services regional inspector general, said his agency believes that most states are not complying with the requirement to properly screen every child who disappears from the system and then returns.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missing-foster-kids-four-major-states-werent-screened-see-sex-traffick-rcna35937
How about identifying the ones who are abused while IN care? HMMMMMM?
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