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Questions about the child welfare system? Call her

Jeanine Evoli wants the community to know thather office can help families navigate the child welfare system.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published June 26, 2006

The county's Juvenile Welfare Board has given one woman the job of being the neutral eye on the child welfare system.

Jeanine Evoli is the manager of the newly created Child Welfare Advocacy Office. Her job is to take calls from citizens or groups who have concerns about dealing with the child welfare system and put them in touch with an agency that can help.

Evoli also is responsible for following up, to see whether their concerns were addressed and resolved.

The office has just two employees, Evoli and her secretary. Staffing hasn't been an issue because since Evoli started in May, she hasn't received any calls.

Part of her challenge, she said, is getting word to the community that she is there and is a resource for them.

"People aren't aware that we're here and what that role is," Evoli said.

Once calls start coming in, Evoli will use the information to collect data on the child welfare system and pinpoint trends and issues that need to be addressed.

She'll look at the system as a whole, she said, to see whether it is operating in the best interest of children. She'll see what seems to be working and what gaps need to be filled, and make suggestions on how to strengthen the system.

The information will be provided to the child welfare system agencies and to the community. If appropriate, Evoli said, the findings also will be reported to government officials.

"It seems like there have been a large number of children entering the system, and the system seems to be pretty overwhelmed," Evoli said.

April Putzulu, spokeswoman for the Safe Children Coalition, said her agency will work closely with the new office.

"It is community-based care, and we certainly welcome any information or any feedback that she can give us that will improve the system of care," she said.

The hope is for a better system that improves the safety, permanence and well-being of children, Evoli said.

"The goal is really to have that third party or that objective person look at the child welfare system and ensure that it is meeting the needs of children and families," she said.

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 07:47:08]