TALLAHASSEE (AP) -
State child welfare
authorities are introducing a new plan aimed at recruiting 1,200 more foster
parents for some of the 20,000 children now in foster care across Florida.
Department of Children and Families
Secretary David Wilkins said Thursday that the agency wants to eliminate many
of its rules and regulations that often hamper efforts to attract foster
parents.
Wilkins said the new DCF program is designed
to "let foster kids be kids" and give them quality foster home that
can provide them with that opportunity while removing them from harm's way.
Four Miami
men were charged last month with operating an underage prostitution ring by
luring vulnerable foster girls into the sex trade with cell phones, clothing
and attention they did not get elsewhere.
