Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich

UPDATE June 25, 2013: Board Green-lights New Commission

[Supv. Antonovich] – The Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Michael D. Antonovich establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection to develop a corrective action plan which includes cooperation among law enforcement agencies, the schools, and County departments, along with examining the policies and procedures related to staff discipline, promotion, and the memoranda of understanding.

“This action affirms the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to the safety and well-being of the children in the County’s care,” said Antonovich.

[Supv. Don Knabe] – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection at its meeting today. Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement regarding the proposed commission: “Over the last several years, we have had countless commissions, groups, panels and advisory boards provide us with recommendations for improving child protection services in Los Angeles County. By my approximate count, at least 859 suggestions have been provided, most of which say the same thing: we must ensure that our social workers have manageable and realistic caseloads, we must give our employees the training and resources they need to be effective, and we must end our relationships with service providers who abuse our funds. We are drowning in recommendations. Adding yet another commission to the galaxy of commissions we have to tell us what we already know will be a waste of time and money and will only distract us further from what needs to be fixed. We have a department where 99% of the employees are outstanding public servants working in some really tough situations. However, innocent children have paid the ultimate price when we didn’t get it right, and I am sick about it. There should be a zero-tolerance policy for any staff or any service providers who do not do their jobs and expose children to harm. I am not suggesting that we do nothing. But we should not rashly dismiss our current efforts. Late last year, this Board was presented with a strategic plan developed by DCFS to put in place a set of action items that address a number of the systemic problems that compromise child safety and hamper our workers’ ability to get the job done. This Board approved that plan, and it is moving forward. We have no more important job than protecting the most vulnerable children in this county. Another Commission will not address the problems we face or set us on a path to the future. In fact, it will be a distraction to the very important work at hand. We know what must be done and we must remain committed to the course we set.”

Original story:

Fifth District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and board Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas are calling on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to create a blue-ribbon commission to oversee the Department of Children and Family Services in the context of its responsibility to ensure the safety of foster children.

The motion they will present to the board at its Tuesday meeting reads as follows:

MOTION BY SUPERVISORS MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS AND MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

ESTABLISHING A BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON CHILD PROTECTION

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is charged with the safety and protection of neglected and abused children within Los Angeles County (County). In that role, it provides services to families and children in crisis through other County departments and community professionals. DCFS is responsible for ensuring that services are integrated and coordinated amongst all these entities for the ultimate safety of the children in its care.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

Once again, DCFS is under scrutiny for alleged mismanagement of Foster Family Agency contracts, and for the recent death of Gabriel F., (age 8), who was allegedly tortured and abused by his mother and her boyfriend. In Gabriel F.’s case, there appear to have been repeated reports of abuse and neglect preceding his death. Just four years ago, Dae’von B., (age 6), was found dead in his home despite repeated reports of reports of abuse in the preceding months. Two years ago, Erica J., (age 2), died of massive trauma inflicted by her mother’s boyfriend. DCFS had determined that leaving the child in the mother’s care was a “high” risk, but failed to remove her because allegations of abuse were unfounded.

These tragic incidents are not new to the Board of Supervisors (Board). As far back as 1993, in an effort to maximize child protection accountability, the Board established the Commission for Children and Families. In 1996, the Board established the Children’s Services Inspector General, the predecessor entity to the Children’s Special Investigation Unit (CSIU), which was established in 2008. In 2010, the Board also called for improved collection of data on child fatalities, and ordered improvements to enable social workers to access vital data on children in danger. In 2011, the Board voted to directly oversee DCFS.

In 2012, CSIU issued a lengthy report identifying systemic flaws in the County’s child protection safety network. The CSIU report on 13 child fatality incidents cited poor investigations, followed by poor decision making, failed communications, and finally, lax supervision and management within DCFS as “Recurring Systemic Issues”, which caused deadly failures in the County’s child protection duties. The recurring problems identified by CSIU appear to have been factors in the alleged mishandling of Gabriel F.’s case.

There is widespread agreement among the Board, DCFS leadership, social workers and citizen activists that the child welfare system and the manner of investigating critical cases of child abuse is dysfunctional. The current system does not serve the best interests of the child, the family or the community at large.

Further, there is widespread agreement that child safety investigations can be improved by better training, management, support for and accountability of social workers, as well as improved communications between schools, police agencies, probation staff, DCFS and other key stakeholders in the County’s child safety network.

Notwithstanding the absence of controversy over the need for such reforms, the results of the County’s attempts to implement are unclear or arguably inadequate.

Since 2008, the Board has passed approximately 35-40 child safety motions. The CSIU through its work and previous studies by outside experts have prescribed numerous policies for improving the County’s performance in handling critical child abuse incidents, as well as how to consistently serve the children under the County’s responsibility. DCFS continues to work toward the implementation of its strategic plan but these efforts have and continue to fall short of expectations.

It is now time for the Board to seek an independent review of the obstacles to effectively execute much needed child protection reforms through the appointment of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection (Commission).

WE THEREFORE MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

1. Create a Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection. Two members shall be appointed by each Supervisor by July 1, 2013. The Commission’s mandate shall include the following:

a. Review previously delayed or failed efforts to implement reforms and provide recommendations for a feasible plan of action to expeditiously implement needed reforms;

b. Review the systemic, structural and organizational barriers to effective performance. These may include such factors as the current structure, scope of DCFS and relevant County departments, including the departments of Health Services, Mental Health, Public Health, and Sheriff, the District Attorney, the Dependency Court and commissions, various memoranda of understanding, and the relationship of DCFS to the Board; and

c. Review, at its discretion, the child protection failures, including  DCFS policies and cases.

2. Authorize DCFS and all relevant County agencies, County Counsel and the Chief Executive Officer to provide full cooperation to the Commission, including access to personnel records and other records to the fullest extent allowed by law;

3. Direct the Executive Officer of the Board, County Counsel and the Chief Executive Officer to recommend a staffing and funding plan for the  Commission, including provisions for office space and equipment. The  staff shall combine dedicated paid staff with pro bono professional support  as well as assistance from County administrative staff. The Commission  members shall serve for six months with the request that they submit their recommendations to the Board in writing by the end of this calendar year. After which, the commission will sunset.