“Today’s press conference by DCF Commissioner Olga Roche exposed more troubling details about the failure of the department to protect 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver. While the commissioner is right to discharge those at fault from state employment, and to order better scrutiny of certain cases, the situation deserves more.
First, a system that tolerated
falsified reports and lies needs to be reviewed independently to ensure that
there are no other children who are vulnerable due to lack of home visits or
other forms of oversight. In addition,
we must all collectively determine what reforms are needed to ensure that no
other child goes for months without needed home visits. And we must also continue to hope and pray
for the safe return of this young boy.”
