State Moves to Shut Down Foster Family Agency

State authorities moved Friday to revoke the license of a Carson-based foster family agency, alleging that the group has repeatedly failed to ensure the health and safety of more than 100 children under its supervision.

Since early 2000, the International Foster Family Agency has been cited and penalized for dozens of violations, including allowing unqualified staff members to evaluate potential foster families, failing to properly perform criminal background checks, and failing to make a timely report of an incident of alleged sexual abuse.

In January 2002, the foster agency promised to improve its performance, but in papers served on the group Friday, the state said it had not done so and began the process of closing the agency. However, the state also said that officials might allow the agency to remain open on probation for three years if it demonstrated that it is working to solve its problems.

“We’re making a very loud statement that we will not accept that personnel, health and safety, and supervision are compromised, especially if these are chronic problems and they are not improving,” said Blanca Barna, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Social Services.

However, Barna said, the charges do not warrant removing children from homes where the agency has placed them.

The International Foster Family Agency is a private group that contracts with Los Angeles County to place children with foster families and monitor their care. The group, which also has offices in Perris and San Bernardino, has recently undergone management changes.

According to county officials, the agency at one time had as many as 300 children under its care, with more than 100 certified foster parents. Los Angeles County recently stopped sending children to International, citing its noncompliance with state regulations. In addition, the county is conducting a separate audit of alleged financial mismanagement under the agency’s previous administrators.

Linda Kollar, an attorney representing the foster agency, said she had not seen the state’s accusation and could not respond to the individual allegations. But she emphasized that the agency is undergoing reforms.

“There has been a complete change of administration within the last 90 days, and the board of directors is taking very seriously their responsibility to provide superior quality care to foster children,” Kollar said. “The board is taking strong measures and moving forward to make sure it is in absolute compliance with all state laws.”

Among the state’s accusation are that the agency placed a “medically fragile” child in a home without contracting for a registered nurse to provide care; that an agency staff member hit a child and the agency failed to report the incident until the next month; that on several occasions medication and toxic substances had been accessible to children; and that an agency official had told foster parents to use a chest of drawers as a crib.