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Commission to examine child-welfare and dependency-court concerns after public comment
Summary
Following public comments alleging problems with legal representation and child-welfare procedures, the commission agreed to add child-welfare system issues to the March agenda and to invite the county ombudsperson, CASA and other stakeholders to provide information.
The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission heard several public comments and a detailed letter alleging procedural problems in child-welfare and dependency-court cases and agreed Dec. 4 to place the topic on the March agenda for additional inquiry.
A public commenter who identified as Nicole Norris had raised concerns about child custody and the effectiveness of legal representation; commissioners said the correspondent provided substantial documentation and that the commission could consider inviting relevant officials to describe recurring procedural issues. "I've had a handful of parents reach out to me," Roberta said, describing families who report long separations from their children and procedural problems.
Commissioners discussed inviting the county ombudsperson for child welfare, CASA representatives and agencies such as Changing Tides to explain supervision and visitation practices. One commissioner noted limits on supervised visitation capacity and cost barriers: Changing Tides offers two hours per week for low-income families and private supervision can cost about $100 per hour, a commissioner said.
The commission concluded it could use its convening authority to raise awareness, gather testimony and, if appropriate, make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors or other oversight bodies. Commissioners asked Roberta and others who know affected families to send contact names and documentation to the commission's email, hhr@co.humboldt.ca.us, so the item can be scheduled and witnesses invited in March.
