Video
•Lawmaker Wants Investigation Into DCS
Lawmaker Orders In-Depth DCS Study
Rep. Sherry Jones Not Confident Department Puts Kids First
Reported By Dennis Ferrier
UPDATED: 7:36 pm CST February 11, 2010
PrintNASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Department of Children's Services insiders and a juvenile court judge have shared their concerns that the department is more concerned with quotas and mandates than the safety of children.
Video: Lawmaker Wants Investigation Into DCS
A state lawmaker and longtime member of the Children and Family Affairs Committee said she found the Channel 4 I-Team's investigation disturbing and consistent with her own investigations.
Rep. Sherry Jones has spent 16 years in the Legislature with an overarching mission: keeping Tennessee kids safe. She said she isn't confident that DCS policies are putting kids first.
Jones was the force behind the law that made DCS legally bound to put children's welfare of above all else. So when she hears DCS caseworkers complain about being ordered to find family members to take kids and avoid state custody at almost any cost, she is not surprised.
"We have heard because of the Brian A settlement, that there has been the word sent down that no children are to come in custody," said Jones.
Brian A is the federal settlement that limits the number of foster kids in the state of Tennessee to 20 kids per case manager.
DCS commissioner Viola Miller said it isn't Brian A driving relative placement; it's that relative placement is the best answer.
The relative, however, isn't always fit and able.
Mitchell Stone is a mentally retarded man now charged with the murder of a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old. His attorney said Stone even asked DCS workers if they thought he could really take care of the girls.
Shortly after DCS gave the kids to Stone, he left the kids home alone. A fire started, the two girls died and their deaths were ruled murders.
Former Juvenile Judge April Meldrum of Anderson County and Juvenile Judge Tim Brock of Coffee County have both questioned why DCS didn't provide court-ordered family services -- services that are supposed to keep families together and safe.
DCS said it is providing the services.
"Well, court-ordered services, if we don't provide them, a judge can hold us in contempt and probably should," said Miller.
Jones has ordered an in-depth study to determine county by county which services are provided by DCS and which are denied. She also questions caseloads and wonders how to convince DCS to allow case workers the appropriate amount of time to close cases.
"The department's coming from a place where they have always tried to hide things from us," she said. "They're trying to open up now and share a little bit more, but we aren't there as much as we need to be."
The I-Team has received more than 50 different complaints about DCS since its series aired, many from current or former employees.
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Isabella Brooke Knightly and Austin Gamez-Knightly
In Memory of my Loving Husband, William F. Knightly Jr. Murdered by ILLEGAL Palliative Care at a Nashua, NH Hospital
DCS are out of control in the state of Tennessee. They are allowed to often violate state laws and the constitution. How can a government agency be allowed to do that? They also won't let people have access to the records that state what they have been accused of. If a person is innocent (and many are) how can you have a fair trial if you don't know what exactly it is you are on trial about. Many therapists/psychologists work under the DCS wing. Is anyone going to get a fair shake with that? Many of the workers are untrained, do not have degrees in that field, or do not have children of their own. If a complaint is filed on a caseworker, the caseworker should receive a temporary leave WITH pay until the complaint is investigated from an OUTSIDE source. In addition, the alleged appeals process is a joke. An employee of DCS makes the evaluation on an appeal. Viola Miller is the person in charge of DCS in Tennessee. This is a joke for the falsely accused because for her to find fault with her department is finding fault with herself. Think that is going to ever happen? The answer is simple, DCS needs some accountablity and checks and balances. You need an outside source governing them. It isn't about protecting kids but MONEY. The reason why the governor and others complain about a previous lawsuit is because it restricted them from placing so many kids in foster homes which cost them money. This department needs to be totally revamped, if not done away with. The person I vote for in the next election will have a policy against DCS or they will not receive my vote. Period.
ReplyDeleteTheir out of control in NH also, especially Nashua.They hire young caseworkers with no kids. They brag their the youngest one working there. Personally, thats nothing to brag about. They refuse to give the accused parents their files, they commit perjury in court, plus much, much more.The Judges refuse parents the court recordings, which goes against the Freedom of information act, but nobody cares. They are no better than DCYF. They do half assed home studies for relatives and then deny placement after the Supervisor adds in her lies and sign's off.
ReplyDeleteThe Administrative appeals unit is run by DHHS, so families are denied a hearing for negative home studies. I don't know of any state without DCYF corruption, do you? Is there any such thing as an honest DCYF who in fact abides by the law? I doubt it!