TASK FORCE TO HOLD FORUM MONDAY ON FOSTER CARE

The Missouri Foster and Group Home Placement Task Force will hold a community forum Monday in Cape Girardeau.

The forum will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 300 N. Ellis.

The task force is charged by state statute to look at 11 specific issues related to foster, group and residential care. Those include the number of children in placements, training and qualifications of foster parents and residential-care personnel, and accessibility of special services.

The Cape Girardeau forum is one of five scheduled across the state.

Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed the 16-member task force last year to look at ways to improve foster, group and residential care for children.

"The main thing I think all of us want is what is best for the children," said foster parent Gloria Ann Wilson of Poplar Bluff. Wilson co-chairs the task force.

Wilson is one of two foster parents on the task force, which also includes representatives of social service agencies.

The task force is expected to report to the governor by the end of the year.

The Cape Girardeau meeting is the only forum scheduled for Southeast Missouri.

Wilson said she hopes area foster parents, legislators and teachers will attend Monday's forum.

The task force has talked some about money for foster care. But she said that isn't the major issue. Wilson said efforts to simplify government red tape and provide services sooner would help.

"The most important thing for me is that these children get the services that are needed and are reunited with their families sooner," Wilson said.