2 DCF wrkrs FL fired deliberate indifference to Judge's order

For Oldfart.

Interesting, huh? And yet they harassed the FP on this NG when he uncovered
something significant.


Subject: 2 DCF FL wrkrs fired for *deliberate indifference* to order
From: (Fern5827)
Date: 10/5/2003 8:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

Thanks, Kathleen--this answers my previous headlined question.

osted on Thu, Oct. 02, 2003
2 DCF workers fired after Miami-Dade baby suffers fractured skull
By CAROL MARBIN MILLER


Two Miami-Dade child welfare workers were fired Thursday for ignoring
-- for weeks -- two court orders mandating that they remove an infant
from the care of his 14-year-old disabled mother to ensure the child's
safety.

The 4-month-old baby suffered a fractured skull on Wednesday while
still in the teenage mother's care.

''It is completely and totally unacceptable to violate a court order,
regardless of the reason,'' said Department of Children & Families
Secretary Jerry Regier, pledging a ``complete review.''

''This is an egregious and inexcusable violation of law and DCF
policy,'' he said.

The baby was living in a foster home with his mother -- a foster child
herself -- who suffers from mild mental retardation. Since July, DCF
had been ordered twice to take the baby into state custody and place
him in a separate foster home. Court-appointed guardians for the baby
had requested the removal several times.

On Wednesday, the baby was hospitalized with a depressed skull
fracture. An evaluation showed the newborn also had fractured ribs
that were healing.

Wednesday's incident follows on the heels of another, highly
publicized case that has called into question DCF's vigilence. The
Herald reported Wednesday that a jailed mother from Jacksonville who
left her 2-year-old home alone for 19 days had been the subject of
multiple calls to the agency's child abuse and neglect hotline.

DCF investigated each call, concluding that the toddler was at no
risk.

The child, who survived the ordeal n mustard, ketchup and uncooked
macaroni, is recovering.

DCF has been embroiled in scandal since the announcement last year
that a 5-year-old foster child, Rilya Wilson had disappeared; an
agency worker had filed reports showing she regularly visited Rilya,
though the child had not been seen in more than a year. Rilya -- who
turned seven Monday -- if she is still alive, remains unaccounted for.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Israel Reyes held a hearing in the latest
case Thursday afternoon, but refused to allow a Miami Herald reporter
to attend, citing a state law that closes access to hearings involving
children who are to be removed from parents.