Releases & Statements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2007
Contact: John Collins
(212) 669-4193; (917) 496-4587
Release #: 029-2007

Public Advocate Finds Spike in ACS Mistakes Before Tragic Death of Nixzmary Brown

- Gotbaum calls for an independent Office of Child Advocate to strengthen system and protect kids -

MANHATTAN – The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) was struggling to perform basic child protective functions, such as conducting timely and thorough investigations, during the year leading up to the tragic death of Nixzmary Brown, according to a new analysis by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. The analysis found that while the number of child fatalities investigated by ACS in 2005 remained similar to the previous year, the number of ACS mistakes spiked by more than 44 percent. On average, ACS committed more than two mistakes per child fatality case in 2005 – the sign of an overburdened system unable to effectively fulfill its role of protecting kids.

When ACS investigates a child fatality, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) reviews the ACS investigation and produces a report for each death. As part of this review process, OCFS identifies mistakes made by ACS, if applicable, in both the investigation into the child fatality and any contact ACS may have had with the family previous to the death. OCFS then identifies corrective actions that ACS must take, such as staff trainings, to avoid similar problems in the future. Due to confidentiality reasons, the OCFS child fatality reports are one of the few glimpses into ACS’ casework and procedures.

Public Advocate Gotbaum conducted an analysis of all the OCFS child fatality reports for 2005 and found: