Here is the case that set the rusty old cogs in motion and made the state 
start to sweat..

Alma 

I have enclosed a news article from Wa. St.
in the Seattle PI dated 1-7-99.

Here is a news story in todays Seattle PI dated 1-7-99

a judges ruling against the state < DSHS >.


OKANOGAN CITY, Okanogan county: 

The state must stop taking foster children's Social Security benefits to 
reimburse itself for covering the kid's living expenses, a judge has ruled.

The ruling could mean millions of dollars will be repaid to the state's 
foster children, including about 1,500 current foster kids and many more past 
recipients.
Okanogan County Superior Judge Jack Burchard signed the order Tuesday in a 
class action lawsuit filed in September on behalf of a former foster child 
who has spent years battling the state for his benefits.
The Department of Social and Health Services collects about $ 750,000
each month in foster children's Social Security benefits. The money helps the 
state compensate foster parents for food, clothing, shelter and medical care.
Debra Casparian, a lawyer with the state Attorney General's Office, said the state will appeal.

The state may also ask Burchard to maintain the present system until
the appeal is decided, Casparian said.
The class-action lawsuit was brought by Okanogan sttorney Rodney Reinbold 
and Omak attorney Richard Price onbehalf of Danny Keffeler.
Keffeler, now an adult , was an orphaned child in Omak whose grandmother was 
appointed guardian of his estate and designated to rehis Social Security 
payments.
However DSHS successfully applied to the Social Security administration to 
be appointed protective payee.
Keffeler is now attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg on a 
football scholarship.
The state was ordered to provide attorneys Reinbold and Price a list of all 
people whose benifitshave been diverted since 1975.

Bob, I think that the 750,000 is standard < foster care > not included 
are the special needs and Zebely.. Which is being diverted as well, In my 
daughter's cases and the many other cases, this would add up to enormous
amounts of federal funds coming into the state, to help the children, it gets 
thrown into the < DSHS > general fund and accounting for its use is hidden in 
the mire and muck. < The child suffers > 

Alma