Who’s really watching our children

By Melissa Howard

Recently I was watching the six o’clock news. They were doing a story on a man, a Department of Children, Youth, and Family probation officer, who was arrested for selling heroin while on the job.

For many, this was shocking, but for me not so much. I have been telling people for years that the department needs a major overhaul, in all their departments.

I was raised in the state’s care for eighteen years. Now its sixteen years later and the same worries and concerns remain. With unsafe foster homes and group homes, social workers with too many case loads to keep an eye on all their clients, and now probation officers getting arrested for heroin.

Isn’t it time for things to change? Some are not doing their jobs and it’s time for their clients to live in safe places and be around safe people.

There are cases of negligence, on DCYF’s part. With children getting hurt, beat, and dying in the state’s care. Children are taken out of their homes because of these same issues. They are taken out of their schools and away from their family and friends through no fault of their own.

Why is it that DCYF can do these things to our children and then say that it was a bad mistake? They’re not being held accountable for what they do. I hope that people see the problems within DCYF and fix them to work for the benefit of our children. It’s time for change.