Abuse Update: State Guidelines Ignored

New Jersey state officials say child-welfare workers overseeing four adopted children in Collingswood failed to follow a checklist or falsified reports.

The checklist was given to Division of Youth and Family Services caseworkers during a recent safety assessment of every child under the agency's supervision.

On the checklist, item 10 said, "Caregiver is unwilling or unable to meet the child's immediate needs for ... food."

Other instructions for visits to homes with foster and adopted children set out exact procedures. One read, "The caseworker will observe the home ... to ensure the child's physical needs are being met."

The assessment was part of the state's settlement of a lawsuit with a children's advocacy group that sued to force DYFS reform.

No problems were reported when the assessment was conducted at the home of Raymond and Vanessa Jackson June 6.

The children's adoptive parents are accused of starving the four, who each weighed less than 50 pounds.

Before the Jacksons were charged, state officials claimed only 31 children statewide were found to be in unsafe conditions out of more than 14,000 checked.

Now an independent panel is being formed to review more than 5,000 of those safety assessments, which were seen as an emergency step to protect children.

Another instruction given to caseworkers ordered them to observe the adults and children in the homes and assess whether "any child may be in an unsafe situation."

An interview with the caregiver was also to be conducted to assess whether the child's health and well-being needs were being met.

In addition to two managers, a supervisor and three caseworkers being fired, a foster-home evaluator and a licensing examiner also lost their jobs.

There's a checklist of standards for those who inspect and license homes where foster and adoptive children are placed. Three of them require state workers to ensure foster and adoptive parents can handle basic health needs for children.

The statement on the checklist that reads, "The foster parent has knowledge of a child's basic nutritional, developmental and health needs" required a yes or no check mark.

Copyright 2003 by NBC 10. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Author: NBC10