Calls have been made for two years to revamp Missouri’s foster care system ever since a two-year-old southwest Missouri foster child died. But, reaching agreement on a solution has been difficult. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway hopes to move her foster care bill to the Senate next week. Even as the House gave her bill preliminary approval she stated she understands more work needs to be done. Two sticking points: how best to balance protection of children removed from their homes against the constitutional rights of those accused of abuse, and whether the state should require abuse cases to come before a formal hearing within 72 hours. Hanaway has been workingwith the Governor’s office and other critics. She has changed the bill from the one vetoed by Holden last year. She tires of critics harping on one aspect of the bill they don’t like and disregarding all the parts they do.
