STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR JON S. CORZINE
ON FEDERAL MONITOR'S REPORT

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine issued the following statement on the Progress Report of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families submitted today by the Center for the Study for Social Policy, the monitor for the state's child welfare system. The report is the result of the settlement of Charlie and Nadine H. et. al. v. Corzine and covers the period January 1 - June 30, 2007.

"The challenge of protecting our children is one of the most complicated and, without a doubt, most urgent. Today's progress report by the Center for the Study for Social Policy shows that significant strides to improve New Jersey's child welfare system continue, enabling us to build the positive and lasting reforms that will give these children an opportunity to live full and productive lives.

"The Department of Children and Families, under the leadership of Commissioner Kevin Ryan, has made considerable inroads in areas such as improved caseloads and supervisor to worker ratios, implementation of a comprehensive automated child welfare information system, timely completion of investigations and increased placements for children.

"While we have turned a critical corner in meeting the requirements of the settlement agreement, we recognize that there is more to do. My Administration remains committed to its responsibility to ensure the protection of these young people, and I know that Commissioner Ryan and his team will continue to work effectively with the Monitor to guarantee all goals are met."

Under a 2006 federal court settlement between the State of New Jersey and Children's Rights Inc., a court ordered monitor was appointed to oversee the reforms put into place by the Department of Children and Families. The Monitor issued its first report on New Jersey's child welfare system in February 2007.

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Photos and audio and video clips from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/