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Report: social workers broke policies before three children died
Report: social workers broke policies before three children died
The Associated Press February 26, 2005 Department of Social Services disciplinary records show agency workers failed to follow procedures before three children were killed last August and their bodies were found in the burned rubble of the family's home near Rock Hill. DSS workers did not meet monthly with the Meza family as required, did not interview all relatives about allegations of child sexual abuse and did not properly handle a translation of a safety plan for the parents, natives of Nicaragua, according to records obtained by The Herald of Rock Hill. The records show the conduct resulted in five-day suspensions for two DSS supervisors and written warning to an assessment worker. DSS began an investigation in May after Jose "Denis" Meza had been accused in May of sexually assaulting his 14-year-old daughter. A safety plan workers created barred Meza from having contact with the family. He ignored that and was arrested in July on two counts of molesting his daughter. On Aug. 10, a few days before a court appearance, investigators say, Meza's three children were drugged and their throats were slit. Their bodies along with those of Meza and his wife, Marbely, were found in their burned home. The 14-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted shortly before she died. The police investigation into the deaths showed Denis Meza had repeated contact with the family and was at the house during most of the day before the fire, police said. The DSS records show: - A supervisor didn't conduct required meetings; ensure documentation; monitor the safety plan or make sure the assessment worker followed up with the Mezas. That supervisor also did not ensure family members were interviewed about the sexual abuse allegations or that the translation of the safety plan matched the English version. - A second supervisor did not review the case with a treatment worker at a June staff meeting; ensure the worker followed up on recommendations from that meeting; check to see if an interpreter had been secured or that the worker made mandatory monthly family visits. - The assessment worker didn't interview all family members or other people who had contact with the children about the sex abuse allegations; make sure the safety plan's translation was consistent with the English version and failed to monitor the safety plan or conduct minimum monthly face-to-face meetings with the family. The shortcomings imply that DSS staff did not follow up with the Meza family, said Susan Lyman, an associate professor of social work at Winthrop University. "It sounds like the family fell through the cracks," Lyman said. "It sounds like somebody dropped the ball." DSS lawyer Virginia Williamson said the investigation is closed and would not comment. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/p...plate=dateline Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.Dilbert |
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