Child services workers in Hamilton County Ohio should be busy over the next few days- not due to an overload of child abuse investigations... but due to a much needed order by commissioners and the county administrator:
The fact that the order to "keep an eye" on this case was clearly ignored by the caseworker isn't enough to shock any of us- as we've all seen it happen time and time again. That is NOT to say that all caseworkers fail to do their jobs. There are certainly many out there that do keep control of their caseload, and do preform a wonderful service. It will be interesting to see just how many cases have been neglected, and how many have been actively followed.
The order comes after a recent case involving a father and mother who neglected to take their 18-month-old son to a hospital after he suffered a burn on his head and a lacerated liver.
Hamilton County Judge Melba Marsh had ordered the DJFS to keep close watch over the young boy, but in a letter to the commissioners, Marsh noted that no home visits were ever made.
In fact, she said that there was no contact with the child and no anger management counseling set up for the parents.
"The employees who failed to follow appropriate procedures in this matter, subjecting these children to potential harm, have been suspended and will be disciplined accordingly," said county Administrator Pat Thompson.
Hamilton County case workers are responsible for protecting 3,500 children. By Friday, every case is to be reviewed to ensure that home visits have taken place within the past 30 days.
The fact that the order to "keep an eye" on this case was clearly ignored by the caseworker isn't enough to shock any of us- as we've all seen it happen time and time again. That is NOT to say that all caseworkers fail to do their jobs. There are certainly many out there that do keep control of their caseload, and do preform a wonderful service. It will be interesting to see just how many cases have been neglected, and how many have been actively followed.