The following is an edited version of a letter I sent to New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio.
January 12, 2014
The Honorable Bill de Blasio
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor de Blasio:
The horrific torture and death of 4-year-old Myls Dobson evokes not only a mix of extreme
sadness, bewilderment, and outrage but also the strong wish that this never happen again. For the mayor of New York City this wish is clearly magnified by the cognizance that it is within his
power to take steps that can reduce the likelihood of future similar tragedies. Coming at the beginning of your new administration, this tragedy and your determination “to do everything in our power to save every child” can potentially lead to one of two directions.
An apprehensive and fear driven child welfare system, where caseworkers and
supervisors, worried about hypothetical what-ifs, favor foster care placement
rather than intense and compassionate in-home assistance, can harm many children
and their parents. While child deaths, such as Myls Dobson’s, tend to heighten one’s attention to this kind of possibility, they can not be allowed to drive child welfare policy, as they so
often have in the past. As you are aware, the torture and death of a child is an aberrant occurrence and is not representative of the nature of the majority of child welfare situations.
Families who become involved with the child welfare system present an array of complexities
and life problems, which are often misunderstood by caseworkers and counselors. Doing “everything in our power to save every child” should focus on the need for highly trained and knowledgeable caseworkers and supervisors who are dedicated to helping families forge better and satisfying lives. Not only must caseworkers be able to flexibly use their acquired knowledge to understand what is in front of them but they also must maintain an ethical mind-set that assures that their recommendations are always based solely on what is best for
the children and parents. Not on what will happen to their jobs if something later goes wrong.
To say that real and substantial child welfare reform is long overdue goes way beyond being
merely an understatement. What has until now passed for change and reform in child welfare has usually been nothing more than a kind of cosmetic musical chairs. The elevation of child welfare work into a profession that attracts highly trained people, schooled at university
psychology departments, seems to be the key to real change.
Your dedication and commitment to progressive change holds the hope that at last all
New York City families can expect that if and when a child welfare caseworker comes knocking at the door, that knock will signal real help, compassion and respect.
I want to wish you great success in carrying out your promise of bringing progressive change to New York City and sincerely hope that this will include genuine and substantial change in the City’s child welfare system.
Sincerely,
Sidney Goldberg
January 12, 2014
The Honorable Bill de Blasio
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mayor de Blasio:
The horrific torture and death of 4-year-old Myls Dobson evokes not only a mix of extreme
sadness, bewilderment, and outrage but also the strong wish that this never happen again. For the mayor of New York City this wish is clearly magnified by the cognizance that it is within his
power to take steps that can reduce the likelihood of future similar tragedies. Coming at the beginning of your new administration, this tragedy and your determination “to do everything in our power to save every child” can potentially lead to one of two directions.
An apprehensive and fear driven child welfare system, where caseworkers and
supervisors, worried about hypothetical what-ifs, favor foster care placement
rather than intense and compassionate in-home assistance, can harm many children
and their parents. While child deaths, such as Myls Dobson’s, tend to heighten one’s attention to this kind of possibility, they can not be allowed to drive child welfare policy, as they so
often have in the past. As you are aware, the torture and death of a child is an aberrant occurrence and is not representative of the nature of the majority of child welfare situations.
Families who become involved with the child welfare system present an array of complexities
and life problems, which are often misunderstood by caseworkers and counselors. Doing “everything in our power to save every child” should focus on the need for highly trained and knowledgeable caseworkers and supervisors who are dedicated to helping families forge better and satisfying lives. Not only must caseworkers be able to flexibly use their acquired knowledge to understand what is in front of them but they also must maintain an ethical mind-set that assures that their recommendations are always based solely on what is best for
the children and parents. Not on what will happen to their jobs if something later goes wrong.
To say that real and substantial child welfare reform is long overdue goes way beyond being
merely an understatement. What has until now passed for change and reform in child welfare has usually been nothing more than a kind of cosmetic musical chairs. The elevation of child welfare work into a profession that attracts highly trained people, schooled at university
psychology departments, seems to be the key to real change.
Your dedication and commitment to progressive change holds the hope that at last all
New York City families can expect that if and when a child welfare caseworker comes knocking at the door, that knock will signal real help, compassion and respect.
I want to wish you great success in carrying out your promise of bringing progressive change to New York City and sincerely hope that this will include genuine and substantial change in the City’s child welfare system.
Sincerely,
Sidney Goldberg
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