| Releases & Statements
For Immediate Release:
August 1, 2006
Contact: Frank Sobrino, press secretary
O: (212) 669-4193
Public
Advocate Gotbaum Issues Statement,
Calls For Answers From ACS
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today
issued a statement regarding the death of two-year-old Sharllene
Morillo and put a series of questions to Administration for Children’s
Services Commissioner John Mattingly in a letter about the agency’s
handling of the child’s case.
Immediately below is Gotbaum’s
statement, followed by the text of her letter to Comissioner Mattingly.
“’Those who do not learn
from history are condemned to repeat it’ is a maxim that
rings painfully true with the news of yet another child killed
in an abusive home,” Gotbaum said. “The story of the
short, tragic life of Sharllene Morillo saddens us. The details
of the missed opportunities to save her frustrate us.
“Yet again we find ourselves
asking, why wasn’t a preventable death avoided? Has nothing
been learned from the tragedies of past victims of child abuse?
“Sharllene’s case, like
so many others, raises myriad questions about ACS’s actions.
It also raises questions about mandated reporters’ understanding
of their roles. What the cases of Sharllene and Nixzmary and all-too-many
other children have in common is a lack of intervention by those
who suspected abuse.
“In addition to conducting an
exhaustive examination of its handling of Sharllene’s case,
ACS has an obligation to ensure that all mandated reporters understand
their role and to raise awareness among all members of the community—neighbors,
relatives, friends—that they can help save a life.”
Below is the text of Gotbaum’s
letter to Commissioner Mattingly.
August 1, 2006
John B. Mattingly
Commissioner
Administration for Children’s
Services
150 Williams St.
New York, NY 10038
Commissioner Mattingly:
I am writing in reference to the tragic
death of two-year-old Sharllene Morillo. Below are specific questions
concerning the sequence of events following the anonymous June
13 call to the State Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and
Maltreatment.
This case, like so many others, raises
questions not only about ACS’s actions but also about mandated
reporters’ understanding of their. As you may recall, in
response to dozens of child fatalities in the City’s shelter
system, I introduced legislation, subsequently passed into law,
designed to educate shelter residents and workers on the role
of mandated reporters. I took this step because there were clear
indications that, in at least one child fatality case, shelter
workers suspected abuse but did not report it.
The role of mandated reporters is
not important only in the shelter system, however. What the cases
of Sharllene Morillo, Nixzmary Brown, and too many other children
have in common is a lack of intervention by those who suspect
abuse. If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a
village to protect a child.
To that end, I believe the City has
a responsibility to ensure that all mandated reporters understand
their role and to raise awareness among all members of the community—neighbors,
relatives, friends—that they can help save a life. I call
on ACS to launch a campaign to increase training for mandated
reporters and launch an awareness campaign so that people know
that when they see something, they must say something.
Additionally, I request that you keep
me apprised of your agency’s investigation into the death
of Sharllene Morillo. Specifically, I would like a better understanding
of the actions taken by ACS and of indications that ACS caseworkers
may have missed signs of abuse. Please include answers to the
following questions in your reply:
How long did it take ACS to contact
the family after the SCR report of June 13? Did ACS respond within
24 hours as mandated by State law? If not, why not?
On what date did ACS visit the household of Sharllene’s
mother, Karen Mejia? Was a safety assessment conducted? Did ACS
interview Ms. Mejia’s live-in boyfriend, Paul Jimenez, at
that time?
At the time of the June 13 report, what was the caseload of the
ACS child protective specialist(s) assigned to Sharllene’s
case?
Was Sharllene’s family or Mr. Jimenez previously known to
ACS?
How long after the June 13 report was Sharllene brought to a child
advocacy center for psychological and medical evaluations?
Had ACS arrived at a determination in Sharllene’s case prior
to her death on July 28? If not, what steps still needed to be
taken to complete the investigation?
How does ACS train organizations like Kingsbridge Heights Community
Center and day care providers like Gertrudis Acevedo to fulfill
their responsibility as mandated reporters? When did the last
such trainings for both the community center and Ms. Acevedo take
place?
Thank you in advance for providing
my office with this information in a timely manner. I am confident
that the ACS’ investigation will be thorough and objective
and that, as the facts of this case emerge, you will adjust policies
and procedures as necessary and inform me of all changes. Mark
Woltman in my policy department will follow up with your office
on this matter.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
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