Oversight panel says state is withholding needed data (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sat, Sep. 27, 2003

DCF | BATTLE OVER MEDICAL RECORDS
Oversight panel says state is withholding needed data
A watchdog group on behalf of disabled and vulnerable Floridians says DCF is retaliating for a critical report by hindering its efforts to secure important files.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
[e-mail]

Data withheld, watchdogs say

A month after a watchdog group alerted the Florida Department of Children & Families about their concerns that hundreds of foster children were being given mind-altering drugs, social service administrators, for the first time in 28 years, stopped sharing records with the panel.

Among the watchdog group's concerns: They say DCF attorneys have begun screening all calls to the council's toll-free complaint line, which was created by lawmakers to protect vulnerable or disabled Floridians, and that the state is hindering the group's efforts to examine the records of foster children.

Craig Rappel, incoming chairman of the Statewide Advocacy Council, said his oversight group would ''absolutely'' have been unable to conduct its study of drug use in foster care if the current restrictions had been in place. (snip)

(snip) ''Someone is trying to hide the facts,'' said state Sen. Walter G. ''Skip'' Campbell, a Tamarac Democrat who has sought twice -- unsuccessfully -- to curb the use of psychiatric drugs among children in state care. ``They don't want us to know what is actually happening to kids in foster care.'' (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6872741.htm

[izzie]

1. Well I believe the mind drug thing

It is getting to be every one gets these pills. What is wrong with teaching children to learn to behave and so life can be sad. My sister died and every one said I must go on pills and I kept telling them. No I am sad my sister died and I would be nuts if I was not sad.On the children I do not understand how the same pills can control things that are so different. It is silly.

[Mari333]

2. Sounds like the BFEE is up to their old tricks again

Headed by Jeb

http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/08/1635631.php