A task force for the state Department of Children and Families met in Tampa this morning to discuss the possibility of collecting DNA samples from children in state care, but ultimately decided against it.
The recommendation, made by law enforcement task force members, was aimed at collecting information for locating or identifying foster children.
Alan Abramowitz, state director of the Office of Family Safety, said "some people believe that having a DNA swab from a mouth or somewhere else could help us later if a child is missing, find the child years later, or if something happens in another state."
Department of Children and Families officials said as of June 2, there were 309 foster children missing and the DNA could help track them down.
Foster care advocates, however, called the idea unconstitutional and a violation of privacy.
Youth Shines advocate and former foster child Michael Dunlavy said DNA samples contain personal information that could lead to social stigma and discrimination.
"It's a traumatic experience for kids, and now for us to think that we're going to add DNA fingerprinting or swabbing of their cheek to pull out more information, that's not sending a really clear message that they're going to be safe," Dunlavy said.
A University of Florida report shows DNA would expose race, gender, heredity, diseases and genetic defects.
"There's a reason why law enforcement can't just run up in your house and start turning things over and looking for things, and there should be no reason for people to go into your body and do the same thing."
At the end of today's meeting, the task force decided against using DNA sampling, but members say they plan to continue searching for the best way to identify and keep track of children in Florida's foster care system.
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