Family Forum / Parenting / Spanking / October 2007

DCF: Safety Compromised In Abuse Investigations

http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_292094208.html

(CBS4) MIAMI Caseworkers in this city routinely rushed child abuse
investigations to closure to improve performance numbers, and the shoddy
work may be linked to the deaths of at least two children, state
officials said.

"It appears that safety was compromised for the sake of generating
performance numbers," said Jack Moss, the Department of Children &
Families' South Florida chief. "I have no tolerance for compromising the
safety of children."

Abuse investigation experts have been recruited to recommend reforms in
training, supervision and casework practices, Moss said Thursday.

A former DCF administrator, David Welch, said caseworkers' standings on
an office "leader board" took precedence over investigations.

"Everything was focused on the leader board," said Welch, who was
recently fired. "We were closing cases in order to rise to the level of
No. 1 on the leader board, and placing children at risk."

Moss said he had not received any evidence showing that Welch, one of
the first to complain about questionable caseworker practices in Miami,
had done anything improper.

Moss, recently promoted from his position of DCF chief for Broward
County, said he first learned of the allegations about three months ago,
when he received an anonymous letter accusing investigators of routinely
closing cases for "lack of jurisdiction" without doing any real
investigating. Moss said he immediately called the agency's inspector
general.

"I was told they were already conducting an investigation from a whistle
blower," he said. "I said to them there may be very serious safety
issues involved, and we need to know now, rather than waiting for the
investigation to be completed."

Administrators say the deaths of two children may be linked to the
shoddy casework.

The state's child abuse hot line received a report in July that a child
in the care of Tyra Williams and her then-boyfriend was at risk because
the man had abused Williams. A DCF investigator closed the case about 10
days later without ever setting foot inside Williams' home, instead
relying on a phone call from Williams who insisted no children lived
with her, Moss said.

Williams now faces charges of first-degree murder, sexual battery and
cocaine possession in the death of 2-year-old Jada Woodson, who was
killed Sunday October 14th in Sunrise. An autopsy showed Jada suffered
multiple skull fractures and also suffered sexual abuse.

DCF records also show that a caseworker closed an investigation into the
safety of a runaway teen in less than a week, without anyone searching
for the 15-year-old girl. The girl was found in May, fatally beaten with
a porcelain toilet lid allegedly by the 36-year-old man with whom she
was sharing a motel room, authorities said.

CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...