DCF Needs a Complete Overhaul

Governor Charlie Baker has publicly stated that the embattled Department of Children and Families (DCF) still needs to improve but he feels DCF is heading in the right direction.

What direction? North, South, East, West or the usual merry-go-round circling approach.

In fairness, his administration has inherited the problems facing DCF.

That certainly does not mean that an extensive effort to correct the mess should be launched to put an end to these despicable acts of violence that seem to be occurring much too often.

Stating in the Herald (7-26-15) “I wish that Rome could be built in a day,” didn’t address the issue nor did it clearly indicate a real plan of action.

 It was more like a political smokescreen rather than a real commitment to change things to protect children and families from having to endure these violent situations.

DCF has been under fire for more than a year, since 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver’s death showed huge holes in the agency’s operation, sadly including not making required home visits. Other incidents have occurred related to similar cases of violence and neglect.

Bells and whistles should have been going off when a former DCF superior claimed there were flaws in the Oliver investigation.

The agency’s response to this claim resulted in firing the supervisor who is suing DCF in Federal Court.

This is not a job for Superman, it’s a re-organization situation since the cat is now out of the bag.