The leader of a private foundation devoted to improving foster care said he uses Troup County’s social service agencies and programs as examples to other counties and states.

“Troup County is a shining example of how it’s done,” Page Walley of Seattle-based Casey Family Programs told those in charge of the local programs Thursday.

Using a baseball analogy, Walley said the goal of groups such as Twin Cedars Youth Services, the Department of Family and Children Services, juvenile court and others is to return children safe to their home base.

“it’s fun to play on a team that wants and knows how to win,” Walley said in his praise of the local groups.

Although the mood was light under the trees at the Coleman Community Center, the 385 pinwheels on the lawn reminded those gathered that more work is needed. Each wheel represents a child involved in a DFCS investigation in the last year. Even more than that were part of a diversion or family support program which didn’t require a full investigation.

“The job is more doable with folks like you,” said Walley, who led the Departments of Human Service in Alabama and Tennessee before joining the foundation. He also was a legislator in Tennessee.

Troup County Juvenile Court Judge Michael Key, who has been recognized nationally as a leader in family court issues, agreed that the area is “really blessed” with resources other counties don’t have. He praised everyone from Twin Cedars to DFCS to the counselors and court personnel.

“In Troup County our objective is to ensure every child is in the the care that he should be,” and not one more than absolutely necessary be in protective custody of the state, he said.

“If they are in our care, we want them to have a safe, nurturing environment,” Key said. While in state care, social services need to work to make sure the family gets help so the child can be returned.

“We’re in the business of second chances,” Key said.

District Attorney Pete Skandalakis said he initially was shocked when he first got to Troup County and heard about child abuse cases.

“I was naive,” he said, after growing up in a Greek community where everyone protected all the neighborhood children.

Skandalakis said he’s not still naive enough to think all child abuse can be ended but, “by our efforts here, we can stop as much as we can,” he said.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.