Posted on 06/28/2003 5:09:23 AM PDT by GailA
Top advocate fired as child deaths investigated
By Aimee Edmondson edmondson@gomemphis.com June 28, 2003
Shelby County's top child protection official has been fired amid a state probe into the deaths of several children in homes where child abuse was being investigated.
Juanita White, regional administrator for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, was fired effective Friday.
She's also been at the center of an unrelated investigation into her office's spending.
The state comptroller's office released a scathing audit earlier this year that showed a wide range of questionable spending, including a $5,750 party rental at a yacht club, paid for by taxpayers.
A fired DCS worker and other former employees also alleged White tried to cover up the deaths of at least six children in homes where the agency investigated child abuse charges.
White, who's held the top post since 2000, has denied wrongdoing, and says the allegations are nothing more than sour grapes from a fired employee. She said Friday that her attorney advised her not to comment further.
Diana Lowry, fired by White, and other former agency workers told state officials that DCS didn't adequately investigate abuse charges, closed cases prematurely and then tried to cover up children's deaths.
DCS Commissioner Michael Miller, in town Friday, said he has replaced White with two interim administrators, Trudy Weath er ford and Bill Hackett.
Lowry, a longtime DCS social worker, said she was fired for blowing the whistle on her boss. She said she is appealing to get her job back.
"The whole emphasis appeared not to be to protect the children, but to keep the number of children in custody low," Lowry said. "The commissioner is going to straighten things out. I'm not asking for any favors, I just want my job back."
Miller also awaits a report from investigators looking into the children's deaths, and last week added the June 17 death of 8-month-old Dewayne Butler to the investigation.
The child died of head trauma and his mother has been charged with first-degree murder.
DCS workers investigated reports of child abuse involving Dewayne in April but said the allegations were unfounded.
Miller said the investigation should be finished within two weeks and could result in more firings and even police involvement.
He said he'd name a recruitment committee and hopes to name a permanent replacement later this summer.
The audit released this year listed a wide range of questionable spending over the past two years.
The money went to appreciation banquets and dinners for adoptive and foster care parents. It went to tickets for Redbirds' games. It went to unauthorized advertising, training and equipment related to finding foster and adoptive parents.
Auditors also said White's office repeatedly violated bidding laws for various goods and services.
DCS works with children who've been abused, neglected or exploited, and looks for foster care and adoptive parents. The division doesn't monitor day cares or day care transportation. That's regulated by the Department of Human Services.
- Aimee Edmondson: 529-2773
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