Ontario Mom
stay safe ♥ be kind
- Joined
- May 21, 2013
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Hey yall, first reply to a post on WS.. long time reader. Anyway - I am a DFCS worker. I wanted to read all the posts before contributing to this because I wanted to make sure I had all the facts correctly laid out. Seeing the pictures of the home and reading about the specific conditions of the home makes me believe that the worker definitely committed misconduct in their duties regarding the investigation.
As stated by others there are specific circumstances that are evaluated in every case and for a "child welfare" investigation. DFCS places a lot of importance on:
1. Welfare of the child such as obvious signs of abuse as bruises, malnutrition, sickness ect.
2. Physical condition of home which focuses on bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. Working plumbing is big. Now kitchen is even more specific because the investigation should be focused on preparation of food. For example even if a family's stove does not work - if they have a working microwave and a working fridge that is acceptable if no other form of malnutrition is apparent. Family will usually make the case that they run off canned goods and prepackaged meals. Plus, when a DFCS worker is on the way to a visit or has had cases reported to them previously about the said family - they are aware of their food stamp and medicaid status (or should be)
That being said, as a mandated reported there are a lot of circumstances in which we are required (and trusted) to make judgement calls on the home. Unfortunately, I read in an above post that the family had been visited frequently with no result of removal of children. This could lead to decision making that is not the best for the family because if it is a small agency investigating chances are there is some sort of relationship between DFCS worker and family. As much as we all hate to say it and think in this way - DFCS workers DO NOT want to take children away from families. Especially families who are already living in poverty because in order to get the children back from DFCS custody the family will have to meet certain requirements (that cost money as in repairs for home, drug treatment facility ect.) We try to place children in the custody of family members but if many are incarcerated, have unknown whereabouts or are living in the home that the child is currently residing they may end up in foster care after some time.
I could go on and on but my opinion on this case just by the pictures and reports alone is that worker should have called for emergency removal of child (even temporarily) if there was mold on the ceiling and apparent drug use (which in the case of multiple squatters is almost always the case). If anything the DFCS worker could have removed the child from the home and even kept her at the office (they did visit during office hours 8-5) so they did not have to shell out more money at a hotel to place the child until a LEO could have discussed options with the family. From my experience what I can infer from what has been presented is the DFCS worker probably knew the family and child and knew that their home is always in deplorable conditions so they didn't report the conditions of the home as they should have. There is a possibility also that there were multiple people in the home with all that garbage and debris the DFCS worker did not want to be there and the worker simply scooted through the home like business as usual once they saw the child was in OK physical condition. That child should have been removed.. probably on one of the previous visits.
The thanks button was not enough. THANK YOU, for sharing your expert opinion on this matter. :tyou: