Foster Child Beat Woman, Son With Hammer: Police
Family member found the bloody victims unconscious inside their home
By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 5:16 PM EDT, Fri, Jul 23, 2010
NBC Philadelphia
The former foster son of an elderly Delaware woman is accused of brutally beating her and her grown son.
Lily Walker, 78, and her 58-year-old son Arnold were found bludgeoned and unconscious inside their home along W. 39th Street in Wilmington just after 8 a.m. Friday, police say.
A family member who stopped by to cook the woman and son breakfast made the gruesome discovery and called for help, police say. Both victims were rushed to Christiana Hospital in critical condition.
Shortly after the Walkers were taken to the hospital, police say they identified a person-of-interest in the case – the family's former foster child Isaiah.
Isaiah Walker, 20, is accused of beating his...
Isaiah, 20, was later stopped by police and arrested after being spotted driving the victim's car. He was eventually charged with two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon and Burglary in the First Degree among others.
Investigators believe Isaiah used a hammer to beat Lily and Arnold Walker before stealing their car.
Dorothy Baker, Lily's sister, says the foster child was barred from visiting the family after they had a number of problems with him.
"He was forbidden to come here…because he stole the car before and did several other things before and wasn't allowed to come here," Baker told NBC Philadelphia.
A protection order was later filed against him in May 2009, according to authorities.
Baker says Arnold moved into his mother's home two years ago after she suffered a stroke and was bound to a wheelchair. He later suffered a stroke himself, but was able to move around.
Isaiah Walker is being held without bail at this time, police say.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Foster-Child-Beat-Woman-Son-With-Hammer-Police-99135659.html
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
Friday, July 23, 2010
Pennsylvania in-home services cuts foster care cases
Pennsylvania in-home services cuts foster care cases
About the writer
Bobby Kerlik is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-391-0927 or via via e-mail.
By Bobby Kerlik
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 23, 2010
The number of children in foster care in Allegheny County dropped by more than 1,000 in the past four years, state officials said Thursday as they detailed a new judges' guide for handling cases of abused children.
The state Supreme Court is providing the "Pennsylvania Dependency Benchbook," which will act as a guide to judges and lawyers deciding whether children should be taken from their homes or not.
The book is part of an ongoing effort by the state's high court aimed at reducing delays in placing at-risk children in permanent homes.
Since September 2006 until March 2010 the number of foster children in Allegheny County has dropped from 2,918 to 1,913, state court officials said. Marc Cherna, director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, said the number has since fallen to about 1,600.
Cherna credited in-home treatment for families -- such as counseling and help with everyday needs -- as the reason for the decline. Additionally, when children must be removed, permanent homes are being found quicker, he said.
"National studies say children do better at home. Children who are placed end up with post-traumatic stress," Cherna said. "You don't think what that means to the child."
State court officials hope the benchbook, which will be distributed to all who work in child dependency areas, will help judges make the calls in tough situations.
"New judges tend to go to those courtrooms and those cases are some of the most complex -- involving abused and neglected children," said Sandy Moore, administrator of the Office of Children and Families in the Courts. "Foster care numbers are coming down. The benchbook is one piece of that strategy."
Statewide, foster numbers have fallen from 21,395 four years ago to 15,920 in March, state officials said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_691655.html
About the writer
Bobby Kerlik is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-391-0927 or via via e-mail.
By Bobby Kerlik
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 23, 2010
The number of children in foster care in Allegheny County dropped by more than 1,000 in the past four years, state officials said Thursday as they detailed a new judges' guide for handling cases of abused children.
The state Supreme Court is providing the "Pennsylvania Dependency Benchbook," which will act as a guide to judges and lawyers deciding whether children should be taken from their homes or not.
The book is part of an ongoing effort by the state's high court aimed at reducing delays in placing at-risk children in permanent homes.
Since September 2006 until March 2010 the number of foster children in Allegheny County has dropped from 2,918 to 1,913, state court officials said. Marc Cherna, director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, said the number has since fallen to about 1,600.
Cherna credited in-home treatment for families -- such as counseling and help with everyday needs -- as the reason for the decline. Additionally, when children must be removed, permanent homes are being found quicker, he said.
"National studies say children do better at home. Children who are placed end up with post-traumatic stress," Cherna said. "You don't think what that means to the child."
State court officials hope the benchbook, which will be distributed to all who work in child dependency areas, will help judges make the calls in tough situations.
"New judges tend to go to those courtrooms and those cases are some of the most complex -- involving abused and neglected children," said Sandy Moore, administrator of the Office of Children and Families in the Courts. "Foster care numbers are coming down. The benchbook is one piece of that strategy."
Statewide, foster numbers have fallen from 21,395 four years ago to 15,920 in March, state officials said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_691655.html
CPS Must be Stopped
Everyone, please view the blog (the first link in the following message) to view the cps
horror stories of Wilkes County in North Carolina;
the fact that cps workers DO NOT CARE THAT CHILDREN ARE ABUSED AND/OR
NEGLECTED BY FOSTER PARENTS, IS A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THESE
CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED BY THEIR ABUSERS.
CPS MUST STOP PLACING CHILDREN WITH ABUSIVE FOSTER PARENTS
CPS MUST STOP TAKING CHILDREN FROM GOOD HOMES AND GOOD PARENTS,
ONLY TO PLACE THESE CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES TO ENABLE THE STATES
TO GET GOVERNMENT MONEY (TITLE IV D, E) THAT THE STATES WOULD NOT
OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED TO!!
CPS MUST BE STOPPED!!
Lisa NJG
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
Eleanor Roosevelt
njgrandma4justice@yahoo.com
myspace.com/njgrandma4justice
--- On Wed, 7/21/10, Jane Boyer wrote:
From: Jane Boyer
Subject: ONE MORE FOSTERED CHILD DEAD,THKS CPS
To:
Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 6:11 PM
top Corrupt DSS
Corruption in the Department of Social Services System
The Purpose of This Blog
NORTH CAROLINA INFORMATION
NORTH CAROLINA CASES
« FUNERAL FOR SHELBY TODDLER THURSDAY
FAMILY SEEKS ANSWERS IN CHILD’ DEATH »
JEREMIAH SWAFFORD
February 18, 2009 – 6:40 pm
Posted in Child Protective Services, DSS failure to protect, Dead Child, Disclosure Laws in Child Abuse Cases, Failure to Investigate, Incompetence in Government offices, Law, North Carolina, North Carolina CPS, North Carolina Department of Social Services, Poor Investigation by CPS, accountability, child abuse, failure to protect
Tagged accountability, child abuse, Child Death Investigation, Child Protective Services, Dead Child, heartbroken, Jeremiah Ray Swafford, New Secretary of North Carolina Health and Human Services, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Jeremiah Swafford 2006 – 2009
SHELBY – Jeremiah Ray Swafford, 2, of 867-30 E. Zion Church Road, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Carolina Medical Center.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Nancy and Ray Swafford.
Survivors include his parents, Kathy Lynn Swafford of Shelby and James Danny Thomas of South Carolina; grandmother, Kathy Jean Swafford and fiancé¬ Jeano D. Quebedeaux Sr., of Grover; great-grandmother, Betty Jean Thomas and husband, James Oscar Mayes, of Grover; grandfather, Marion Lee Swafford of Mooresboro; uncles, Jeano Dwight Quebedeaux Jr. and Toby Keith Quebedeaux of Grover; and many loving great aunts, uncles and extended family.
Visitation: The family will receive friends Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
Funeral: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m., New Buffalo Baptist Church, Grover
Burial: New Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery
Officiated by: The Rev. Adam Greene
Funeral home: Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory
Online guest registry: www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com
horror stories of Wilkes County in North Carolina;
the fact that cps workers DO NOT CARE THAT CHILDREN ARE ABUSED AND/OR
NEGLECTED BY FOSTER PARENTS, IS A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THESE
CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED BY THEIR ABUSERS.
CPS MUST STOP PLACING CHILDREN WITH ABUSIVE FOSTER PARENTS
CPS MUST STOP TAKING CHILDREN FROM GOOD HOMES AND GOOD PARENTS,
ONLY TO PLACE THESE CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES TO ENABLE THE STATES
TO GET GOVERNMENT MONEY (TITLE IV D, E) THAT THE STATES WOULD NOT
OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED TO!!
CPS MUST BE STOPPED!!
Lisa NJG
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
Eleanor Roosevelt
njgrandma4justice@yahoo.com
myspace.com/njgrandma4justice
--- On Wed, 7/21/10, Jane Boyer
From: Jane Boyer
Subject: ONE MORE FOSTERED CHILD DEAD,THKS CPS
To:
Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 6:11 PM
top Corrupt DSS
Corruption in the Department of Social Services System
The Purpose of This Blog
NORTH CAROLINA INFORMATION
NORTH CAROLINA CASES
« FUNERAL FOR SHELBY TODDLER THURSDAY
FAMILY SEEKS ANSWERS IN CHILD’ DEATH »
JEREMIAH SWAFFORD
February 18, 2009 – 6:40 pm
Posted in Child Protective Services, DSS failure to protect, Dead Child, Disclosure Laws in Child Abuse Cases, Failure to Investigate, Incompetence in Government offices, Law, North Carolina, North Carolina CPS, North Carolina Department of Social Services, Poor Investigation by CPS, accountability, child abuse, failure to protect
Tagged accountability, child abuse, Child Death Investigation, Child Protective Services, Dead Child, heartbroken, Jeremiah Ray Swafford, New Secretary of North Carolina Health and Human Services, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Jeremiah Swafford 2006 – 2009
SHELBY – Jeremiah Ray Swafford, 2, of 867-30 E. Zion Church Road, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Carolina Medical Center.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Nancy and Ray Swafford.
Survivors include his parents, Kathy Lynn Swafford of Shelby and James Danny Thomas of South Carolina; grandmother, Kathy Jean Swafford and fiancé¬ Jeano D. Quebedeaux Sr., of Grover; great-grandmother, Betty Jean Thomas and husband, James Oscar Mayes, of Grover; grandfather, Marion Lee Swafford of Mooresboro; uncles, Jeano Dwight Quebedeaux Jr. and Toby Keith Quebedeaux of Grover; and many loving great aunts, uncles and extended family.
Visitation: The family will receive friends Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
Funeral: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m., New Buffalo Baptist Church, Grover
Burial: New Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery
Officiated by: The Rev. Adam Greene
Funeral home: Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory
Online guest registry: www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com
I-Team: Data Reveal Cracks in Child Welfare System
I-Team: Data Reveal Cracks in Child Welfare System
POSTED: JUL 23, 2010 1:45 AM EDT
UPDATED: JUL 23, 2010 2:15 AM EDT
Video Gallery
I-Team: Data Reveal Cracks in Child Welfare System
4:00
LAS VEGAS - Metro Police Captain Vincent Cannito went before state lawmakers late last month. His mission: to confront the status quo.
"I just want to stress how failed the system is," Captain Cannito told lawmakers.
Cannito came armed with a list of some 50 cases that was compiled by his team at the Bureau of Crimes Against Youth and Family. Cannito urged lawmakers to examine the failings of the Clark County Department of Family Services.
"I took this opportunity out of some of that frustration, but more importantly, out of sincere desire to fix this system and help the victims. Because, you're talking about children," Captain Cannito said. Cannito says the cases reveal a pattern of reluctance on the part of Child Protective Services to respond to reports of abuse and to remove at-risk children.
For example, in 2009, CPS refused to respond to a report of sexual abuse made by an employee at a dental clinic. Instead, according to Metro, the hotline operator directed the employee to question the victim. When the employee objected, the operator logged the call as ‘information-only' and told the employee to send the mother and child to a doctor. The doctor later contacted Metro.
"You can't expect a nurse who's not trained in forensic interview, who's not comfortable asking these personal private questions of a child… It is improper to ask somebody not in that profession in that role to assume that position. It is improper," Cannito said. "Not only is it improper for the person you're asking this of, but you've just jeopardized a case, and we have several examples of that as well." Cannito says additional cases detail poor investigative technique such as a failure to conduct private forensic interviews.
One Metro example notes CPS investigators questioned an alleged victim in the home of her suspected abuser. When the child did not disclose, CPS closed the case.
A subsequent Metro investigation revealed surveillance video of the sexual abuse which resulted in the suspect's arrest. "Had that not taken place, this child, who had been abused several times, would've been back in that home," Cannito said. "The offending parent would've returned home, and that child would've lived that cycle. That's the problem."
Case after case of neglect and abuse, both physical and sexual, are detailed in black and white. Cannito says they are missed opportunities to protect the valley's most vulnerable, and they can no longer be ignored.
"We owe it to the children of this community to take better care of them. We're the adults. It's our organization. People have entrusted us with these positions. That's what needs to happen," he said.
Cannito tells the I-Team that Metro has offered, free of charge, to provide training to Family Services investigators. He's hopeful the agency will accept the offer. Cannito and Family Services Director Tom Morton are scheduled to meet Friday. It's their second sit-down in two weeks. Cannito says he's hopeful the two will work together to find solutions.
Clark County management confirms it has started its own review of a separate list compiled by the District Attorney's office.
http://www.8newsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12857918
POSTED: JUL 23, 2010 1:45 AM EDT
UPDATED: JUL 23, 2010 2:15 AM EDT
Video Gallery
I-Team: Data Reveal Cracks in Child Welfare System
4:00
LAS VEGAS - Metro Police Captain Vincent Cannito went before state lawmakers late last month. His mission: to confront the status quo.
"I just want to stress how failed the system is," Captain Cannito told lawmakers.
Cannito came armed with a list of some 50 cases that was compiled by his team at the Bureau of Crimes Against Youth and Family. Cannito urged lawmakers to examine the failings of the Clark County Department of Family Services.
"I took this opportunity out of some of that frustration, but more importantly, out of sincere desire to fix this system and help the victims. Because, you're talking about children," Captain Cannito said. Cannito says the cases reveal a pattern of reluctance on the part of Child Protective Services to respond to reports of abuse and to remove at-risk children.
For example, in 2009, CPS refused to respond to a report of sexual abuse made by an employee at a dental clinic. Instead, according to Metro, the hotline operator directed the employee to question the victim. When the employee objected, the operator logged the call as ‘information-only' and told the employee to send the mother and child to a doctor. The doctor later contacted Metro.
"You can't expect a nurse who's not trained in forensic interview, who's not comfortable asking these personal private questions of a child… It is improper to ask somebody not in that profession in that role to assume that position. It is improper," Cannito said. "Not only is it improper for the person you're asking this of, but you've just jeopardized a case, and we have several examples of that as well." Cannito says additional cases detail poor investigative technique such as a failure to conduct private forensic interviews.
One Metro example notes CPS investigators questioned an alleged victim in the home of her suspected abuser. When the child did not disclose, CPS closed the case.
A subsequent Metro investigation revealed surveillance video of the sexual abuse which resulted in the suspect's arrest. "Had that not taken place, this child, who had been abused several times, would've been back in that home," Cannito said. "The offending parent would've returned home, and that child would've lived that cycle. That's the problem."
Case after case of neglect and abuse, both physical and sexual, are detailed in black and white. Cannito says they are missed opportunities to protect the valley's most vulnerable, and they can no longer be ignored.
"We owe it to the children of this community to take better care of them. We're the adults. It's our organization. People have entrusted us with these positions. That's what needs to happen," he said.
Cannito tells the I-Team that Metro has offered, free of charge, to provide training to Family Services investigators. He's hopeful the agency will accept the offer. Cannito and Family Services Director Tom Morton are scheduled to meet Friday. It's their second sit-down in two weeks. Cannito says he's hopeful the two will work together to find solutions.
Clark County management confirms it has started its own review of a separate list compiled by the District Attorney's office.
http://www.8newsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12857918
A Message From Democrat Dave On Important Matters
FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010
A Message From Democrat Dave On Important Matters
The letter below came to me yesterday. There is no "standing" in court for any family except the troubled parent who is about to have their child taken. The law says biological family is first in line for placement. That state lies in the court room about relatives, takes the child, and adopts the child to an "oh, I want a blue-eyed one" foster adopt woman. Susannah Frame of KING 5 has exposed the lying in court. How about the rest of the press?
Take a look at a new website www.metrodems.org This is the Metropolitan
Democratic Club of Seattle, which will feature a discussion at noon on
Wednesday, August 11 between me and Rep. Ruth Kagi. I intend to use the
opportunity to plug for jury trials. No time for a bunch of horror stories,
though I want one clear example of lives not ruined if there had been a jury to
require provable facts and consider the entire story, not a one-sided
presentation by social workers and AAGs in front of a kangaroo "family" court.
The Wolcott and Tillett stories are classic examples. Would Timothy be willing
to tell a little of his life as a forced ward of the state? I will touch
briefly on the Tillett story, telling enough disgusting details to show why
Prosecuting Attorney Russ Hauge would not even attempt to persuade a criminal
jury to convict your brother and sister-in-law. Your family got no justice
either way. You lost your nephew forever, and there was no
"not guilty" finding to clear the family name. The MDC, founded originally by
a whole bunch of Democratic lawyers, should find this unbelievable and
intolerable. {Dave}
My thought on this? Be at the meeting!
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/07/message-from-democrat-dave-on-important.html
A Message From Democrat Dave On Important Matters
The letter below came to me yesterday. There is no "standing" in court for any family except the troubled parent who is about to have their child taken. The law says biological family is first in line for placement. That state lies in the court room about relatives, takes the child, and adopts the child to an "oh, I want a blue-eyed one" foster adopt woman. Susannah Frame of KING 5 has exposed the lying in court. How about the rest of the press?
Take a look at a new website www.metrodems.org This is the Metropolitan
Democratic Club of Seattle, which will feature a discussion at noon on
Wednesday, August 11 between me and Rep. Ruth Kagi. I intend to use the
opportunity to plug for jury trials. No time for a bunch of horror stories,
though I want one clear example of lives not ruined if there had been a jury to
require provable facts and consider the entire story, not a one-sided
presentation by social workers and AAGs in front of a kangaroo "family" court.
The Wolcott and Tillett stories are classic examples. Would Timothy be willing
to tell a little of his life as a forced ward of the state? I will touch
briefly on the Tillett story, telling enough disgusting details to show why
Prosecuting Attorney Russ Hauge would not even attempt to persuade a criminal
jury to convict your brother and sister-in-law. Your family got no justice
either way. You lost your nephew forever, and there was no
"not guilty" finding to clear the family name. The MDC, founded originally by
a whole bunch of Democratic lawyers, should find this unbelievable and
intolerable. {Dave}
My thought on this? Be at the meeting!
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/07/message-from-democrat-dave-on-important.html
Stories detail DHS shortcomings
Stories detail DHS shortcomings
Attendees call for additional oversight
BY NATE TAYLOR • NATETAYLOR @COLORADOAN.COM • JULY 23, 2010
Three state lawmakers from Larimer County heard story after story Thursday afternoon from parents and those who have been "entangled" with the county's Department of Human Services calling for additional oversight of the agency.
About 50 Larimer County residents attended an open forum hosted by Reps. BJ Nikkel, R-Loveland, and John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. About half of those people spoke; a majority of them were parents.
DHS services in Colorado are administered by counties and supervised by the state of Colorado.
The forum was held to encourage residents to share their experiences and thoughts on how to improve child welfare.
A majority of the speakers were parents sharing stories about their negative experiences with Larimer County DHS. Many of those parents said they've denied allegations raised by DHS caseworkers and accused department employees of lying, fabricating and abusing power.
"When did parents lose their rights to be parents? I can tell you: It's the moment DHS intersects with your family," said Sharon Goodnight, a parent whose child was removed from her home. "You're not criminals, but you're given allegations, allegations that you can never face, ever. From that point forward, DHS owns your children."
Added Ron Markwood, who said he's tried to help a family contacted by DHS: "There's no visibility and no transparency with any of these people. There's no accountability."
The three lawmakers, who all served on a bipartisan legislative panel in April hoping to reform child welfare in Colorado, tried during Thursday's forum to balance the complaints they heard without hearing both sides of the stories.
Linda Weinerman, executive director of the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative, explained that DHS struggles to work in a positive direction with parents who deny wrongdoing.
"If a parent denies the allegation, there's a higher level of scrutiny because it's hard to make a safety plan if you deny there is a safety issue," Weinerman said.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100723/NEWS01/7230333
Attendees call for additional oversight
BY NATE TAYLOR • NATETAYLOR @COLORADOAN.COM • JULY 23, 2010
Three state lawmakers from Larimer County heard story after story Thursday afternoon from parents and those who have been "entangled" with the county's Department of Human Services calling for additional oversight of the agency.
About 50 Larimer County residents attended an open forum hosted by Reps. BJ Nikkel, R-Loveland, and John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. About half of those people spoke; a majority of them were parents.
DHS services in Colorado are administered by counties and supervised by the state of Colorado.
The forum was held to encourage residents to share their experiences and thoughts on how to improve child welfare.
A majority of the speakers were parents sharing stories about their negative experiences with Larimer County DHS. Many of those parents said they've denied allegations raised by DHS caseworkers and accused department employees of lying, fabricating and abusing power.
"When did parents lose their rights to be parents? I can tell you: It's the moment DHS intersects with your family," said Sharon Goodnight, a parent whose child was removed from her home. "You're not criminals, but you're given allegations, allegations that you can never face, ever. From that point forward, DHS owns your children."
Added Ron Markwood, who said he's tried to help a family contacted by DHS: "There's no visibility and no transparency with any of these people. There's no accountability."
The three lawmakers, who all served on a bipartisan legislative panel in April hoping to reform child welfare in Colorado, tried during Thursday's forum to balance the complaints they heard without hearing both sides of the stories.
Linda Weinerman, executive director of the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative, explained that DHS struggles to work in a positive direction with parents who deny wrongdoing.
"If a parent denies the allegation, there's a higher level of scrutiny because it's hard to make a safety plan if you deny there is a safety issue," Weinerman said.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100723/NEWS01/7230333
Legislators open discussion on child welfare
Legislators open discussion on child welfare
Lawmakers need to clarify what their role will be in change
JULY 22, 2010
Local lawmakers are praised for planning a public forum today to allow residents to voice concerns about child welfare issues.
Such a listening session is commendable, but lawmakers are placing themselves in somewhat of a balancing act here. Residents who voice their concerns today likely will expect the lawmakers to do something about them. It will be up to Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, to explain after this meeting what their roles will be in making changes at the Department of Human Services.
While lawmakers are not in the position to change how specific cases are handled, a point that must be emphasized at the forum, they are empowered to work on changing how the DHS operates, particularly on the issues of transparency and accountability to the public.
There are two irrefutable facts regarding the DHS:
> Thirty-five Colorado children died between 2007 and 2009 after being in some level of DHS supervision within the last five years.
> State Department of Human Services employees failed to complete 10 of 11 child fatality reviews from 2008. Among the "dropped" reviews was that of 20-day-old Fort Collins infant Chad Munoz. Those reviews are the only documents about child fatalities connected to the DHS system released to the public.
This spring, a joint select committee in the Legislature met to attempt to reform the child welfare system.
We agree with Lundberg, who said, "I wasn't very satisfied with the progress we made at the Capitol last spring. We dug in a little bit, but it appeared to be a show for (Colorado DHS) more than anything else. This public hearing is a chance for the public to come and talk."
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100722/OPINION01/7220341/Legislators-open-discussion-on-child-welfare
Lawmakers need to clarify what their role will be in change
JULY 22, 2010
Local lawmakers are praised for planning a public forum today to allow residents to voice concerns about child welfare issues.
Such a listening session is commendable, but lawmakers are placing themselves in somewhat of a balancing act here. Residents who voice their concerns today likely will expect the lawmakers to do something about them. It will be up to Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, to explain after this meeting what their roles will be in making changes at the Department of Human Services.
While lawmakers are not in the position to change how specific cases are handled, a point that must be emphasized at the forum, they are empowered to work on changing how the DHS operates, particularly on the issues of transparency and accountability to the public.
There are two irrefutable facts regarding the DHS:
> Thirty-five Colorado children died between 2007 and 2009 after being in some level of DHS supervision within the last five years.
> State Department of Human Services employees failed to complete 10 of 11 child fatality reviews from 2008. Among the "dropped" reviews was that of 20-day-old Fort Collins infant Chad Munoz. Those reviews are the only documents about child fatalities connected to the DHS system released to the public.
This spring, a joint select committee in the Legislature met to attempt to reform the child welfare system.
We agree with Lundberg, who said, "I wasn't very satisfied with the progress we made at the Capitol last spring. We dug in a little bit, but it appeared to be a show for (Colorado DHS) more than anything else. This public hearing is a chance for the public to come and talk."
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100722/OPINION01/7220341/Legislators-open-discussion-on-child-welfare
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