HAMILTON — Butler County Children Services has a new grievance procedure for people who disagree with the agency's decisions.

        The two biggest changes are:

        • Individuals permitted to have a formal hearing before the agency are no longer restricted to mothers, fathers and legal guardians. People with an interest in the case, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, can now register complaints and receive hearings.

        • The hearing officers for grievances will no longer be senior employees of the agency who have no connection to the cases before them. They will be handled by appointed hearing officers who have no connection with the agency.

        County and agency officials said Thursday that this new grievance procedure is a big step in making Children Services more open and accountable to the families it deals with, and to the public.

        “This is about finding the truth,” Commissioner Mike Fox said. “It's a way of finding out if we're doing what's best for the kids.”

        For more than a year, the commissioners have been trying to reform Children Services into a more open, responsive agency.

        Last year, John McAninch resigned as director after voters rejected two Children Services levy proposals. Earlier this year, the commissioners, at the instigation of Mr. Fox, asked for and received the resignations of all Children Services board members. They appointed new board members.

        Kathy Vallance was named agency director at the time the new board was appointed.

        To strengthen accountability, the board created the position of director of quality assurance and hired Nancy Cooper in May to fill that position.

        Ms. Cooper's job is to answer questions and resolve concerns from the public and families with whom the agency deals.

        From May through November, she handled 47 cases. Most of the cases were brought to the agency's attention by children's parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles. By communicating more with families, the agency can resolve many issues before they go through the long, expensive legal process in the courts, Mr. Fox said.

Hinton, Keating accorded honor
Weather could slow air travel
Tenants agree to yield spot for CAC
Victim's daughter, 7, could be key to slaying
GE-Aiken program on the grow
Apartment residents file suit over lack of landlord
Judge upholds abortion measure
Paper accused of revealing source
W. Chester lures medical campus
Agency opens up grievance process
School honors couple
Accused Hispanics notified of rights
Biological parents appeal to Ky. Supreme Court
Butler airport contracts awarded
Cathedral renovation plans proceed
Decision delayed on condemned house
Doctor's helicopter crash probed
Entire street glows in Edgewood
McConnell warms up for election
More charges heard vs. Dayton mayor
N.Ky. counties take good care of kids
Old friends from Cincinnati to help with inauguration
Panel finds aging schools 'appalling'
Promoters sue NCAA over basketball games
School board OKs teacher contract
Schools target ballot in Nov.
Schools' tax plan likely on fall ballot
State to warn of houseboat exhaust danger
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report