Los Angeles County child welfare workers who misused thousands of dollars meant for foster children should be fired and forced to return the money, county supervisors said Wednesday according to the Los Angeles Times.

 

Supervisor Gloria Molina described the practices highlighted in a county audit released a day earlier as a “new version of taking candy from children.” The audit showed some employees bought themselves lunches and attended musical events with money intended for foster children.

 

“I’m asking that these people be terminated immediately,” she said. “These are limited resources for children, and people like this shouldn’t be taking advantage of this, and obviously they are.”

 

Supervisor Mike Antonovich called for criminal charges to be filed against any employees who misused the gift cards and entertainment tickets cited in the audit. “Fraud was committed,” he said. “Gift cards were to be used for foster children, not to be used for the case workers.”

 

The Department of Children and Family Services said it had begun disciplinary proceedings against four managers and that more could face punishment once the county’s investigation is complete.

 

Department Director Patricia S. Ploehn said she was consulting with lawyers to determine whether the county can demand reimbursement. She declined to detail the possible punishment, citing confidentiality rules concerning personnel records.

 

Meanwhile, county Auditor-Controller J. Tyler McCauley said his office would discuss the results of the audit with the district attorney’s office for possible prosecution.

 

The audit, which focused on employees in a mentoring program for foster children, is the latest black eye for the county’s child welfare agency.

 

Read it here: Firings are urged over misuse of Foster Kids’ Money