A special review team has been appointed "to assess the performance of all operations of the Sarasota Family YMCA" in the wake of concerns over a former Pinellas County foster child who went missing for nine months, state Department of Children and Families Secretary Bob Butterworth announced today.

The announcement came as Butterworth convened the first meeting of his newly selected Task Force for Child Protection, charged with reviewing all aspects of the state’s child protection system and identifying solutions that would protect Florida’s most vulnerable children.

A DCF spokesman said the review will last about six weeks and the Sarasota YMCA is cooperating.

Butterworth pledged accountability from DCF and from its contracted agencies, adding: “Just because we contract out our child welfare system… doesn’t mean we contract away our responsibility for children.”

Members of the review team include top DCF and child welfare officials and Chief Judge Lee Haworth of the 12th Judicial Circuit in Sarasota.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070803/BREAKING01/