Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2002
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Carla Crowder, News Staff Writer

RULES ON DRUGGED NEWBORNS REVERSED

Following an outcry by juvenile court judges, Alabama DHR leaders have 
reversed a controversial policy change concerning drug-positive newborns.

Social workers will again handle cases of newborns who test positive for 
drugs as automatic child abuse or neglect reports, Department of Human 
Resources spokesman Mike Gibson said Tuesday.

Earlier this fall, the agency had changed the policy, lessening the 
seriousness of these cases.

That change was to have gone into effect Nov. 1. It called for 
drug-positive newborns to be handled as less serious "prevention" cases. 
That meant social workers would first determine if the mother's drug use 
warranted DHR's continued involvement. However, the judges who oversee 
cases involving troubled families warned DHR that loosening oversight of 
these families could be deadly for vulnerable children.

"The opinion of the judges was taken into account," Gibson said.

The controversy, in part, led to the creation of a DHR Judges Policy 
Council, Gibson said. The council will work with DHR officials on rules and 
other issues.

Jefferson County Family Court Judge Sandra Storm said Tuesday she was still 
waiting on a written version of the newest decision. Storm, an outspoken 
critic of loosening the policy, was relieved over DHR's announcement.

"I feel more confident about that policy," Storm said.

For the last several weeks, judges from numerous counties have been in 
lengthy discussions with DHR leaders trying to sort out their differences 
of opinion.

Storm said DHR officials seemed surprised at the judges' alarm.

"They were looking at it more from a theory. I don't think it occurred to 
them the kind of impact it would have on courts and on the community," 
Storm said.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager