The welfare of children under state supervision in Vermont has been under particular scrutiny over the last year. The homicide of two-year-old Dezirae Sheldon in February sparked outrage partly because Sheldon's family had previously been investigated for abuse. That anger was compounded last spring when another young child, Peighton Geraw, was killed; his family had also been in the Department for Children and Families system.
These deaths sparked several investigations and reviews, including one by the state's Citizen Advisory Board. The board was asked to look into whether child protection workers followed procedures in these two cases, whether established procedures were adequate, and to offer any observations that could help the state improve.
The board issued its report on Friday. It is a damning review that says the state's systems failed these two young children at every level. The co-chair of the Citizens Advisory Board, Burlington pediatrician Joseph Hagan, spoke to Vermont Edition about the report's findings.
