Found Deceased IL - Semaj Crosby, 16 mos, Joliet Township, 25 April 2017

[rosie_lee]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ne...ath-abuse-alleged-against-others-in-home/amp/

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services released a 22-page report Friday afternoon detailing its investigation into the death of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby in Joliet Township last month.

* * * *

The 22 page report from DCF is contained in this article.

 

[Cubby]

By completed probes within 14 days, I wonder if they mean the initial visit/inspection of the home and interviews with pertinent involved parties. Because here in Illinois DCFS usually has to open an investigation within 60 days of receiving a report. It would make sense to offer an incentive to get there within 14 days as opposed to the end of that 60 day period.

It didn't say to close the case within 14 days, so I think the info was misinterpreted.

 

[Cubby]

Link to DCFS report

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3755632-Crosby.html#document/p1

 

[katydid23]

Link to DCFS report

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3755632-Crosby.html#document/p1

wow....:sigh:

....where to even begin...so many dangerous 'roommates' surrounding that poor baby. So many dangerous situations and circumstances. So very toxic, at every turn. I am amazed she made it to 17 months...:rose:

 

[mrsobrien]

Link to DCFS report

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3755632-Crosby.html#document/p1

Omg, that was a depressing read.

 

[kaen]

Omg, that was a depressing read.

I agree. It is interesting to me that there were multiple reports about grandma and aunt regarding hitting the children. I don't think Semaj would be dead if the squatters and extended family were not in the home.

I definitely don't feel that the mother is the culprit in Semaj's death. I am so sad about Semaj but also the chaotic interior life of her brother. The fact that there were no systems of accountability in terms of his mental health care make me worry about his ability to recover.

 

[katydid23]

And the injuries to the 5 yr old and 7 yr old included bruises and bite marks....who was biting these babies? sometimes older children resort to biting. That worries me as well. Maybe an older child did this? There were neighborhood kids who hung out in that house and kids of the squatter as well.

 

[Cubby]

Ignore my above comment about the 14 days......... I should read the entire article before commenting.

After reading the 'lessons and recommendations' portion of the DCFS report I want to throw my hands up in the air and scream. Seriously, it's 2017 and these lessons and recommendations are just being noticed now? After this report, IL DCFS has given the word inept a whole new meaning.

Medicaid provides transportation to and from doctors appointments as well as to and from the pharmacy. Co payments for someone on SSI would currently be zero as SSI disability recipients receive both Medicare and Medicaid.

 

[kaen]

Medicaid provides transportation to and from doctors appointments as well as to and from the pharmacy. Co payments for someone on SSI would currently be zero as SSI disability recipients receive both Medicare and Medicaid.

True. But, the rides in my area are not reliable and you can wait for hours at an appointment for a ride home. But, it is true that there is often transportation available.

 

[mrsobrien]

True. But, the rides in my area are not reliable and you can wait for hours at an appointment for a ride home. But, it is true that there is often transportation available.

What I took away was that some resources were made available, but Sherri's cognitive limitations prevented her from being able to coordinate the appointments and transportation, etc for all her kids.

I still guardedly feel sorry for her. I think she's rather impaired and has been taken advantage of for a long time.

 

[ts51]

I'm afraid to read it..I read the article in the Chicago Tribune and was literally sick..but I'll read because if I don't, I'm burying my head in the sand..and I now know that I can no longer do that and hope things just get better...

Link to DCFS report

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3755632-Crosby.html#document/p1

 

[ts51]

Yep.. I read the entire article...sick...going to bury my head in the sand because I'm beyond despair and I don't have a clue what to do to begin to help fix any of this..

I'm afraid to read it..I read the article in the Chicago Tribune and was literally sick..but I'll read because if I don't, I'm burying my head in the sand..and I now know that I can no longer do that and hope things just get better...

 

[katydid23]

Yep.. I read the entire article...sick...going to bury my head in the sand because I'm beyond despair and I don't have a clue what to do to begin to help fix any of this..

When I read reports like that, I have compassion for the individual underpaid, understaffed social workers. What the heck is one worker supposed to do when coming upon a complicated, morass of total dysfunction, on all sides. Take all of the kids away from a loving, but probably, special needs mother? ...where do the kids end up? Separated and maybe in a worse place?

It is hard for me to blame them because the problems are sometimes so momentous...

 

[MSCJgrad]

I'm going to go ahead and just say it now... we can stop giving the 'mother' the benefit of the doubt. Yes, she is mentally disabled. She also beat her children with a shoe, according to the report. At a minimum, she was physically abusing her children. She may not have murdered Semaj with her own bare hands, but she is far from innocent in this. Nobody is. Not child services, not the school, not the 30+ people living in and out of the home, not the men who impregnated her and abused their children as well-nobody. The only people innocent in this scenario are the kids, and God help them. Hopefully Semaj's death can in turn save their lives and get them as far away from their horribly neglectful and abusive 'family'.

I agree. It is interesting to me that there were multiple reports about grandma and aunt regarding hitting the children. I don't think Semaj would be dead if the squatters and extended family were not in the home.

I definitely don't feel that the mother is the culprit in Semaj's death. I am so sad about Semaj but also the chaotic interior life of her brother. The fact that there were no systems of accountability in terms of his mental health care make me worry about his ability to recover.

 

[MSCJgrad]

This report is unbelievable. Every adult in and out of these children's lives in on parole, incarcerated, a child molester, or has pending child abuse and/or domestic violence charges. Every child involved has been reported to have experienced physical or sexual or emotional abuse. What gives?? This is like reading a horror novel, but this is real life. I hope that every single state or contract employee involved in this is punished to the maximum extent possible. Not just for Semaj,but for every child involved. Just unbelievable. I, for the first time ever, have no more words.

 

[Cubby]

Yes, I know some areas provide better transportation than others.

Did anyone notice in the DCFS report it's mentioned that it is a federal law/mandate that the maximum caseload a worker can have is 12? Does that then mean Illinois would rather break the law than hire additional workers so they can work within the parameters of the law?

I'm also curious as to how a home in that condition was approved by Hud or whichever agency inspects homes for section 8 housing. Clearly those kids were at risk of becoming homeless due to both the condition of the home and the violation of the section 8 housing agreement. Why didn't someone report them to section 8 or the county for overcrowding?

There had to be at least a half dozen agencies involved with this address, yet it seems everyone just turned a blind eye for the most part.

When it was evident SG was unable to coordinate her children's medical needs isn't there a social worker at the hospital or medical facility to assist families with those appointments?


SG was competent enough to get and keep section 8 housing and link/ebt. How did she manage competency to do that, but not the other things for necessary medical treatment? It almost sounds like selective competency......and that it's possible she simply didn't want to be alone with 4 kids so the squatters were better than nothing.

 

[Cubby]

Not having bus fare was no excuse. Persons with disabilites qualify for ride free transit benefit.

https://www.illinois.gov/aging/BenefitsAccess/Pages/Ride-Free-Transit-Benefit.aspx

 

[perfectingpink]

DCFS report shows litany of failures in death of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby

Also Friday, Will County sheriff’s investigators said they have identified four “persons of interest,” in Semaj’s death, including her mother, Sheri Gordon; Semaj’s aunt, Lakerisha Crosby; and her grandmother, Darlene Crosby, Lt. Dan Jungles said.

A fourth person, a minor child who was at the home, also has been identified as a person of interest, Jungles said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...rt-semaj-crosby-death-20170526-story,amp.html

 

[ts51]

this report is unbelievable. Every adult in and out of these children's lives in on parole, incarcerated, a child molester, or has pending child abuse and/or domestic violence charges. Every child involved has been reported to have experienced physical or sexual or emotional abuse. What gives?? This is like reading a horror novel, but this is real life. I hope that every single state or contract employee involved in this is punished to the maximum extent possible. Not just for semaj,but for every child involved. Just unbelievable. I, for the first time ever, have no more words.

this!!!

 

[mrsobrien]

DCFS report shows litany of failures in death of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...rt-semaj-crosby-death-20170526-story,amp.html

A minor? Omg... :-(