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A happy foster family.

California's State Auditor, Elaine Howle, has released a highly critical report on child protective services. One significant finding is that the state's Department of Social Services does not use the sex offender registry to identify offenders who may be living or working in foster homes and similar care facilities.

Despite a recommendation back in 2008 that such cross-checks occur, in July of this year Howle's office found addresses for more than 1,000 state-licensed care facilities matching addresses on the state sex-offender registry. The facilities include foster homes, group homes and day-care facilities for children, as well as facilities for adults with special needs and the elderly.

In July, Howle informed county agencies about her findings and investigations began. Since then, Social Services says it has completed over 800 investigations and county agencies have completed nearly 250. They have barred 36 individuals from the care facilities, and legal action against eight facilities has begun.

Why didn't Social Services perform cross-checks earlier? What were results of the follow-up investigations in the majority of these cases? The Auditor said, "[C]ounty child welfare service agencies appear to be performing required background checks [...] and remove children quickly if the home is found to be inappropriate." How does that square with this cross-check? What background checks are used to screen caregivers and other in the homes?

Guests:

Elaine Howle, California State Auditor

Henry Perea, California Assemblyman (D-Fresno)