Ohio Bill Would Increase Foster Parent Training, Decrease Public Access to Records

By Sarah Harper

Published on October 10, 2007

House Bill 214 was created partly in response to the death of Marcus Fiesel, a developmentally disabled foster child who died at the hands of his foster parents. The bill would increase training for foster parents from 24 to 36 hours in order to protect children needing highly trained foster parents. Legislators added an amendment that would limit public access to foster parents’ private records, which detail the parents’ names, problems gaining certification, and children removed from the foster parents’ home. The results of mandatory criminal background checks for foster parents would also remain confidential.

Supporters of the bill claim that, by protecting foster parents’ privacy, the measure would enable the state to attract and retain foster parents and prevent biological parents from locating their children in foster care.

Opponents of the bill -- including the Cincinnati Enquirer, which is suing the state for access to foster records -- support increased public access to information on foster parents. John C. Greiner, an attorney representing the Enquirer, stated that Marcus Fiesel died because the public knew too little about his poor living situation, not too much.

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