By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Shady Jedlicka graduates from high school Thursday, and like many of his classmates, the Fort Smith Southside senior will have plenty of stories to tell about his high school days.
However, Jedlicka’s stories will be a little different because he is a product of Arkansas’ foster care system, having lived in four shelters and three foster homes since age 10.
“Thankfully, I found my forever family in Penny and Jack Jedlicka. I can’t begin to tell you what a difference they have made in my life,” he said during a news conference Wednesday in observance of National Foster Care Month.
He urged people to consider being foster parents.
On any given night in Arkansas, an average of 3,729 children live in 968 foster homes across the state, said Janie Huddleston, deputy director of the state Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services.
“I believe that the children who have lived in the foster care system would tell you that the most important thing we can do as individuals is step up and care about what happen to them,” Huddleston said. “We have the power to care for these children and enable them to grow and be successful and happy.”
Shady Jedlicka is a member of the high school’s DECA program, an association of marketing students. He also serves on the state foster care Youth Advisory Board.
Earlier this month, he and Mike Haigh of North Little Rock traveled to Washington, D.C., where they participated in an advocacy training workshop, a congressional briefing and reception and meeting with Arkansas’ congressional delegation.
Casey Family Programs and National Foster Care Coalition sponsored the trip.
He also recently learned that he is one of 20 finalists for the national Foster Club Youth Leadership Award, the first Arkansans ever nominated for the honor.
Huddleston said after the news conference that the state’s foster care system has improved greatly in the past year. She said much more work needs to be done and several pieces of legislation approved this year should help.
Last year state’s foster care system drew criticism following the deaths of four children in state custody and the conviction of a Northwest Arkansas man on charges he sexually abused foster children in his care.
Gov. Mike Beebe ordered a top-to-bottom review of system.
Huddleston said Wednesday the review is ongoing and improvements are being made.
“We have started our unannounced visits in the foster homes,” Huddleston said, “and we’re providing technical assistance in those homes to make sure they meet standards of the licensure.”
Case reviews also are under way and meetings with staff to discuss their decision-making processes are occurring, she said. “We’re doing a lot of training,” Huddleston said.
During its recently concluded regular session, the Legislature adopted bills requiring the state to place a notice on its Web site whenever a report of the death or near death of a child is received by the state’s child abuse hot line. The notice must be posted within three days of receipt of the report.
A companion law makes certain information about the death or near death of a child in state custody public information, including the child’s age, race and gender, the date of the incident, the allegations, the cause of death and the county where the incident occurred.
Also during the session, lawmakers increased Division of Children and Family Services’ budget by $15.1 million to allow the division to hire 113 new caseworkers and other staff to handle foster care cases. The funding starts July 1.
