State official retires after foster-care criticism

By Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The head of the state's Division of Children and Family Services is retiring as state officials face scrutiny over the foster care system.

Pat Page, head of the division within the Department of Human Services, announced her retirement in an e-mail to staff and lawmakers Monday morning. Page said in the e-mail her retirement would be effective immediately.

Page's retirement comes as the state faces criticism over the deaths of four children in foster care this year. Lawmakers also recently grilled DHS over its handling of foster care abuse cases. Page didn't directly address the foster care criticism in her announcement, but said the decision was a difficult one.

"We still have a long way to go to have the kind of service delivery system we want for Arkansas' children and families, and I hope you will continue your efforts to help DCFS with their agenda for change," Page wrote.

Lawmakers have said they're taking a close look at the state's foster-care system following the deaths and the case of Brian John Bergthold, who pleaded guilty last month to a sexual assault charge and pleaded guilty last year to producing and distributing child pornography. The state had placed 30 boys in Bergthold's home over a two-year period.

A review of the state's foster-care system was already under way before the deaths of the four children, but has been accelerated because of them, Gov. Mike Beebe's office has said. Page did not say in her e-mail who would replace her as division director, and a DHS spokeswoman did not immediately return a call Monday.