STUDY OF FOSTER KIDS CALLED TOO VAGUE.

Byline: David Bloom Daily News Staff Writer

Some children allegedly mistreated in foster care group homes in Los Angeles County may not get help because a grand jury report critical of the system is too vague, officials said Tuesday.

Because no indictments were issued, state law prevents the grand jury from disclosing transcripts of secret testimony, or discussing details not included in the report, said Peter Digre, head of the county Children and Family Services Department.

``I want to know who those kids are, so we can be responsive to them,'' Digre told supervisors Tuesday.

Digre said his agency has identified the most serious cases - and problem homes have already been closed - because much of the grand jury's information came from audits of foster care homes performed by his own department.

The report, released last week, cited children being overmedicated, beaten, or dressed in threadbare clothes.

But other allegations of mistreatment - such as hair-pulling, or withholding basic sundries, like toothpaste, to children - came from secret testimony by people connected with some of the 500 homes, or from advocates for the county's 44,000 foster children, Digre said.

Without more detail, if such exists, the cases can't be fixed, Digre said.

The conflict between the grand jury's dual role as criminal investigative agency and watchdog of government operations has happened before. The board is backing a state bill that would allow grand jurors to discuss findings with the board, chief administrative officers and department heads.

The board has set June 3 for a public hearing on the county's group home system.