Los Angeles Refuses to Hand Over Child Welfare Records in Probe

There are many facets of the Los Angeles CPS cesspool story from improperly housing children to identity theft of foster children to stealing money directly from kids to deaths in care . Now Los Angeles is refusing to hand over “child welfare records to California officials despite a subpoena, with its lawyer citing attorney-client privilege.

The Legislature is investigating the deaths since 2008 of more than 70 children while under the supervision of the county Department of Children and Family Services. Many of those deaths, county officials admit, involved serious case management errors.”

“Daniel Barer, the county’s lawyer on the case, told the Los Angeles Times officials had handed over dozens of boxes of records and let auditors interview social workers but would not share papers they consider shielded by attorney-client privilege.

“In addition to the county’s established right to protect its communications with its attorneys, the county seeks to preserve its ability to candidly evaluate its child protective services, and opportunities to improve those services,” he wrote.

Alameda, Fresno and Sacramento counties have obeyed subpoenas, but state auditors found “only stalling tactics and unyielding refusal” in Los Angeles, state records say.”

LA County resisting child death probe
[UPI 8/1/11]

On the same day, the head of Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Jackie Contreras quit, effective September 16, 2011. “Trish Ploehn, the embattled former chief, was forced out in December. Then in May, her replacement, Antonia Jimenez, quit after defying the Board of Supervisors’ plan to reform the Department of Children and Family Services.”

DCFS Spokesman “Bhatt said her departure was “not related” to the ongoing turmoil at the child welfare agency.”

“Contreras faced scrutiny soon after her arrival last year after she was accused of conducting a search without a warrant on a senior official who, DCFS officials believed, was sharing confidential information about child deaths with The Times.”

Head of LA County Child Welfare Agency to Quit
[Los Angeles Times Blog 8/1/11]

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