Apr 18 2009
Grand jury blasts Sacramento child services agency
The Associated Press
Posted: 04/16/2009 11:10:51 AM PDT
Updated: 04/16/2009 11:13:00 AM PDT
SACRAMENTO—A grand jury is criticizing Sacramento County’s child welfare agency for persistent, systemic problems that have led to children’s deaths from abuse.
The panel says Child Protective Services has ignored the recommendations of six previous grand jury investigations.
Grand jury foreman Donald Prange Sr. says proposals for improvements have “fallen on deaf ears” since 1996.
County supervisors are promising to finally force improvements and require the agency to provide public reports on its progress.
The report released Wednesday follows an independent consultant’s finding that the agency missed chances to save children’s lives.
Health and Human Services Director Lynn Frank, who oversaw the agency, stepped down from her post on Tuesday.
