CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed new legislation into law that supporters say will better protect children across the state who are in foster care.
It's being called a Bill of Rights for Foster Children. It follows a Channel 9 Investigation that uncovered some foster programs in the state weren't meeting federal standards.
Mecklenburg County's new social services director told Eyewitness News her department should have been following these guidelines all along.
Department of Social Services Director Peggy Eagan is taking over a department that was marked with controversy.
She said she wants people in Mecklenburg County to know things are changing.
"They can rest assured that I am looking every nook and cranny in DSS," Eagan said.
After a month on the job, she said she doesn't see any red flags.
"It's only been 30 days, but I'm finding more things are working than the things that I'm concerned about," Eagan said.
Quite a contrast to what we uncovered in a Channel 9 Investigation in February.
Eagan's predecessor exposed problems with foster care. Claims of mismanaged funds children bounced between dozens of temporary homes and given immunizations without parental consent. Eagan said that's all been addressed.
"I did look into how we manage each child's medical situation and we have meetings with each child's family of origin," Eagan said.
Change is coming from the state level as well.
When Channel 9 shared the February investigation with state Rep. Tricia Cotham, she drafted the Foster Care Children's Bill of Rights.
Eagan said her department should be doing what's in that bill anyway, but with budget cuts, it may be a challenge.
"My first question would be will there be some resources? If the bill is going to require us to take additional steps to make sure we will have the resources to help us to do what we're being asked to," she said.
WSOC
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