Agency suspends Lifeway placements

Sept. 11, 2006 -- Hamilton County Children's Services has taken several actions in the wake of the tragic death of Marcus Fiesel, a foster child in the care of Butler County Children Services. He had been placed with a foster family with Lifeway for Youth, a private agency. Hamilton County has about 150 children in Lifeway foster homes.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has asked each county doing business with Lifeway to conduct investigations into those placements while the state undertakes its own investigation.

Here are the actions that have been taken:

r We suspended new placements with Lifeway on Aug. 22 and asked caseworkers to visit each child in a Lifeway home within 72 hours.

r We'll continue our investigation by reviewing all files Lifeway keeps on its foster parents and many of those it keeps on our children.

r We will not place new children in Lifeway homes until our investigation is complete, the state investigation is complete, and a review of both investigations yields satisfactory.

Lifeway leaders have been very cooperative throughout this process. We appreciate their efforts to be helpful.