Santa Clara Board Champions Child Welfare: In the wake of the tragic death of three-month-old Phoenix Castro due to an opioid overdose, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors has taken a proactive stance, advocating for significant reforms in the realm of child welfare. The incident, which not only underscored the severity of the drug crisis but also shed light on shortcomings within the children’s services framework, prompted a dedicated special meeting.
Various stakeholders, including officials from the County Department of Family and Children Services, parents, legal advocates for children, and social workers, converged to discuss the pressing need for improvements. Daniel Little, the Director of County Social Services, emphasized the urgency of evolving the existing system to enhance child protection, stating, “Phoenix Castro should be alive today. And making sure we evolve our system to better protect children like her is why our discussion today is so important.”
During the meeting, Damian Wright, the Director of the Department of Family and Children Services, presented an overview of their processes and data, with a specific focus on the 24/7 hotline and response time frame. The hotline, known as 833-SCC-KIDS, serves as a direct line to the county’s child abuse hotline. Wright revealed that this year alone, the hotline received 28,600 calls for various reasons, with approximately 10,000 reports of abuse and neglect. Of these, 6,000 calls were responded to in person.
The presentations from DFCS were preceded by a list of speakers, including Nick Birchard, Chief Probation Officer, who commended DFCS for consistently prioritizing the child’s welfare, even in challenging cases. Birchard also highlighted the need for expanded continuum care placement options, especially for youth with high mental health needs.
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Lorena Briones, a Social Worker and representative of SEIU S21, addressed the gravity of the situation, deeming it a public health crisis. She called for collaboration with public health nurses when investigating referrals involving severe substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamines.
Supervisors Sylvia Arenas and Cindy Chavez took a proactive role, authoring a board referral that advocated for child welfare reforms. Arenas stressed the importance of balancing the emphasis on keeping families together with the crucial need to ensure children’s safety.
During the meeting, Arenas questioned the Director of the County of Social Services about the board’s lack of awareness regarding a state investigation from 2022. She expressed concern that the Department of Family and Children Services had kept the report confidential, despite it being ready for the county back in February.
In response, Daniel Little acknowledged the oversight, expressing regret and stating that they should have shared the report with the board when it was initially received.
The meeting concluded after four hours of presentations, questions, and public comments, with the board unanimously passing a motion to reform DFCS. Supervisor Arenas outlined plans for a work plan to be developed in February and suggested considering the removal of the Department of Family and Children Services from the larger Social Services department for more direct communication.
The emotional public comment portion included a poignant message from baby Phoenix’s great-uncle, Ed Morillo, who expressed his broken heart and extended sympathy to families grappling with such tragedies. Morillo shared that baby Phoenix and her mother, Emily Delacerda, who also tragically died of a fentanyl overdose in September, live on in the hearts of those who loved them.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the mission of the Santa Clara County DFCS?
At the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services, our goal is to ensure the safety of children and promote strong families. We achieve this by working closely with local communities and building partnerships that empower families to thrive. Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, while also supporting parents and caregivers in their efforts to raise happy, healthy families. By working together, we can create a brighter future for all children in Santa Clara County.
What is differential response in Santa Clara County?
Differential Response (DR) is a comprehensive program that offers a range of services to families in need. These services include case management, access to resources, assistance in finding parent education classes and support, personalized parent coaching, advocacy, counseling, and coordination of care. Our team of experts works diligently to identify the safest, least restrictive, and least intrusive services for each family, ensuring that they receive the support they need to thrive.
How does child welfare work in California?
In California, child welfare services are managed by the 58 counties. This allows for a tailored approach to child protection that meets the unique needs of each community, while still adhering to state and federal guidelines. Each county is responsible for organizing and running their own program, ensuring that children are kept safe and secure.