OLYMPIA -- A Kitsap County jury today agreed that activities in a foster home more than 25 years ago were not sex abuse.

Plaintiff John W. Blackwood alleged that he was sexually abused by his foster father between 1980 and 1984.

"The health and safety of children is our number one priority," said Cheryl Stephani, DSHS assistant secretary for the Children's Administration, which oversees foster care in the state. "We must do everything we can to keep children safe in their homes and to support the thousands of wonderful foster parents in our state who provide a loving home for those children."

The Children's Administration has worked to make changes to keep children safe. Under the direction of Governor Chris Gregoire, the Children's Administration has:

• Ensured that allegations of abuse or neglect are responded to within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the severity of the situation. The quicker response times were mandated by Governor Gregoire and have resulted in a 25 percent reduction in the number of repeat child abuse cases.
• Required monthly visits to children in their homes who receive services from the Children's Administration.
• Required monthly visits to children under six living with relatives.
• Implemented Family Team Decision Meetings that engage parents, foster parents, friends, relatives, and, when appropriate, the children in making plans to keep children safe.
• Redesigned the investigative and case management roles of social workers to quickly get services to families.
• Developed ways to more efficiently find relative caregivers and work with them more effectively.
• Developed polices to better engage fathers and absent parents in their children's lives.
• Improved tracking of kids' health care and education achievements.
• Established chemical dependency counselors in local children's services offices.

Introduced practices that engage the entire family in changing behaviors and solving problems.