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Hillsborough Kids Inc. Getting Kids Out Of The System

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

Whenever the "system" fails to produce the results we all wish for every child, it can be a painful reminder that no matter how hard we work to improve our child welfare system, there will be heartbreaking cases of abuse.

Hillsborough Kids Inc. and numerous community partners of caring professionals and volunteers work tirelessly to protect children from harm, hoping always that appropriate services will be available to provide the safety and permanency of a loving family for each child.

Unfortunately, the efforts of the frontline staff so often go unnoticed until there is a negative in the system and the community forgets about all of the children who are helped by the sometimes thankless efforts of these staff.

Obviously, intervening and providing services as quickly as possible once abuse is validated is the goal. In the past year, HKI and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department have been doing just that with family preservation and diversion services. Whenever possible and the child can safely remain in the home, case plans, wraparound services and support are put into place.

As a result of this early intervention, coupled with highest number of adoptions in the state, HKI has reduced the number of children in our foster care system by over 1,500 kids, while always keeping the safety of children paramount.

But the ultimate diversion is prevention. In this, we agree with the Feb. 2 editorial, "Florida Must Face Reality That Prolonged Foster Care Hurts Kids." The greatest need is for parents to safely and lovingly nurture their children. We must ask ourselves, are we as a community doing all we can to prevent child abuse?

We should all be committed to improving the lives of our most vulnerable, not by "closing it down," but by getting involved and making a difference. What can you do to help?

Liz Kennedy is chair of the Hillsborough Kids Inc. board.

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