Another welfare official said CPS does not automatically remove a child if there is a parental suicide attempt, but welfare workers rely on mental health professionals to decide what to do. A suicidal parent is offered services such as counseling, said Sharon Gilbert, deputy director for field operations in the state Children's Administration, a division of the state Department of Social and Health Services.
Yes, I'm sure that is the best approach. Lets rely on someone who meets with the parent once or twice to "evaluate" them and not on the friends and family members who are living it on a daily basis.
Lambert-Eckel declined to give details about CPS' involvement with Hilliard and her son, citing the ongoing police investigation. She did confirm that CPS had involvement with the family in two places in the state, including the Wenatchee area.
Anyone else notice a pattern? So he is removed from her home in a different county, she moves, attempts suicide, their office is flooded with reports, and still nothing?
Gilbert said welfare authorities were not required to investigate because they had not provided services to the family within the previous year, but a formal investigation was expected to take place anyway to review how welfare authorities handled complaints and delivered services to the family.
Interesting. A child dies on our watch (or lack of watch) and since we haven't bothered to lift a finger in the past and things have been quite, we don't need to investigate....... but we will anyway. Interesting they say how they "delivered services to the family." I am aware of no services being delivered. What about how they handled complaints? We never even got a call back on one single complaint that we made.
These statements are extremely frustrating. I have left a message with Sharon Gilbert and will continue to do so everyday until she returns my call.
As far as my last quote about not blaming CPS, I change my mind.
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