How Could You? Hall of Shame-Angel Fernandez case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Providence, Rhode Island, the “state Child Advocate’s office said Friday it will investigate this week’s death of an 18-day-old infant in foster care and add his case to an ongoing list of similar cases already under review by a panel of child welfare experts.

Angel Fernandez died around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, a few hours after his last feeding while in the home of a foster parent, the boy’s mother, Marisol Fernandez, 37, of Pawtucket, told The Journal this week, after being notified by state social workers of her son’s death.

Fernandez said social workers at Women and Infants Hospital refused to release the baby to her after his Oct. 6 birth, saying they were worried about her mental state, including previous postpartum depression. A related document obtained by The Journal said social workers were also concerned because Fernandez had been living in three homeless shelters while pregnant and was also known to social workers in New York, where Fernandez has other children.

Preliminary findings of an autopsy on Angel showed no visible signs of physical trauma, the state Department of Children Youth and Families reported Thursday.

In May, Child Advocate Jennifer Griffith, who works independently to oversee the safety of children in state care, announced she was convening a panel of experts to review the deaths of four children and the near-death of nine others, ranging in age from four months to 17 years old. Some of those cases reached back into last year. Seven of the children’s families had prior contact with the DCYF, while six others did not.”

R.I. Child Advocate’s office to investigate death of 18-day-old in foster care

[Providence Journal 10/26/18 by Tom Mooney]

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