NYC Child Welfare Crisis: A City Failing its Children?

New York City is facing a devastating child welfare crisis, with children dying in homes where the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) was aware of alleged abuse or neglect. In 2022, 39 children died under these circumstances, nine ruled homicides. This alarming trend continues in 2024, despite a lack of significant change within the agency.

The Failure of ACS and the CARES Program

The agency's commissioner, Jess Dannhauser, has prioritized expanding the Collaborative Assessment, Response, Engagement & Support (CARES) program – a non-investigatory approach that diverts cases away from traditional investigations. Critics argue this prioritizes ideological projects over effective child protection.

Whistleblowers from ACS have come forward, highlighting the program's acceptance of cases involving known drug-abusing caretakers, raising serious concerns about the agency's investigative procedures and risk assessment. The lack of investigation under CARES leaves children vulnerable.

Several tragic cases have highlighted this failure. These include the starvation death of four-year-old Jahmeik Modlin and the deaths of other children from drug overdoses, all in situations where ACS was aware of potential risks. Six children died of malnutrition in the past four months, according to reports.

<p><b>Key Cases</b></p> <ul><li>Jahmeik Modlin (4): Starvation death in Harlem</li><li>De’Neil Timberlake (5): Fatal methadone ingestion</li><li>Ariel Gonzalez (4 months): Fatal cocaine ingestion</li><li>Mike Nieto Parra (2 months): Fatal ketamine overdose</li></ul>

The opaque nature of ACS and the lack of transparency surrounding the CARES program hinder a full understanding of the extent of the problem.

Demand for Reform

The city needs a serious overhaul of its child welfare system. This requires strong leadership and a comprehensive, independent review of ACS’s practices and policies, independent from advocacy groups, to protect vulnerable children and prevent further tragedies. The current leadership’s inaction is unacceptable, leaving countless children in danger.