An independent group that examined the state Department of Children and Families says the agency should not be held responsible for the death of a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy.
The department of children and families already admitted that the social workers assigned to Jeremiah Oliver’s case skipped home visits and didn’t realize the boy had gone missing.
But the Child Welfare League of America, in its final report released Wednesday, said the case raised a number of significant issues and that the agency, along with other adults, failed to protect Jeremiah Oliver.
Linda Spears, of the Welfare League:
“While there is significant evidence that DCF staff did not do it’s job, there is not evidence that DCF’s actions and failures caused Jeremiah’s death.”
Gov. Deval Patrick asked the organization to conduct a review of the agency after Jeremiah disappeared last year. His family was under agency supervision. The boy's remains were discovered last month.
The report also looked at broader problems in the department and concluded that policies are grossly out of date. It found that DCF is serving more children now than anytime in the last 20 years and current caseloads far outstrip the department’s workforce.
The league issued a number of preliminary recommendations in March. State officials say many have already been implemented.
The governor recommended a $9 million increase for DCF in the budget for next year and the house and senate have proposed over $14 million, but the report found that DCF will need more than that to get caseloads down to a manageable level.
