Denise Revels Robinson, the disgraced director of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, has been appointed to be the assistant secretary overseeing the Children's Administration in Washington State.
Remember, Robinson resigned in the wake of the horrific torture that 13-month-old Christopher Thomas Jr. suffered at the hands of his foster mother and aunt, Crystal Keith. Keith tortured Christopher to death and mercilessly abused his sister while they were in her care.
Many caring individuals wanted to be a parent to Christopher and love him. Instead, the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare determined that he belonged with Keith.
Read the details of what this foster mother did to Christopher. (Warning: Graphic)
Robinson, the head of the agency that placed Christopher with Keith and was responsible for monitoring his care, resigned in the wake of the baby's death; but she apparently landed on her feet.
The state of Washington wants Robinson to serve.
From The Olympian:
[Washington state Department of Social and Health Secretary Susan Dreyfus] said in a news release today she selected Revels Robinson as assistant secretary overseeing the Children's Administration because of her nationally recognized experience, and Gov. Chris Gregoire also applauded her as a leader:"I was seeking someone with a proven and passionate commitment to public child welfare," said Dreyfus, "and Denise Revels Robinson is that person: she understands the function of child welfare within the spectrum of social services and community. She is recognized and respected at both the state and national level as a leader in child welfare. Denise believes in ensuring that our system has the resources and partnerships we need for quality practices and better outcomes for every child every time."
The DSHS release also said:During her tenure with Milwaukee County, starting in 1997, Revels Robinson led the way to safely reduce the number of children in out-of-home care from 6,800 to 2,600 by 2003 by accomplishing reunification of children with their families in 70 percent of cases, and 30 percent adopted within 24 months of entering foster care.
Some in Washington are concerned about hiring Robinson, citing her shocking lapses and fatal failures during her tenure in Wisconsin, but officials in Washington have faith in her.
UPDATE: Thomas Shapley, spokesman for DSHS, said Revels Robinson’s long 40-year background in child services outweighed any controversy in the hiring. “There was a broad review. There was a national search and we had panels, both internal and external review panels, that talked to all the candidates. All the information was disclosed. Everything was taken into consideration. What was the overwhelming thing was the over 40 years of solid child-welfare service that she put in.’’
He added: “Of course, we were in contact with the union letting them know that this was taking place.”
The new assistant secretary replaces Cheryl Stephani, who left at the end of December.
What are they thinking?
Have Washington state officials really looked into what was going on at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare?
How can they disregard the way Robinson handled the death of Christopher Thomas?
The problems at the bureau stretched far beyond Christopher's murder. Sadly and inexcusably, other children were victims of its incompetence.
I think there's reason for citizens in the state of Washington to be very concerned that Robinson is being given a position of responsibility in the Children's Administration.
9 comments:
Thank you for alerting us. I'll call Sen. Cornyn.
Just to be clear, Robinson's new position is in Washington State.
One of my sisters just retired early from Washington State's Department of Social and Health Services. She has spent her life/career as a case worker with Child Protective Services here. I'm forwarding this to her. I'm sure she'll have an opinion on it! She retired early as she couldn't handle the direction the system was going.. only caring about the numbers looking good instead of truly caring about the children. She was chastised about spending more than the 15 minutes allowed per month for in home visits for counseling and addressing questions and concerns that foster parents had. Unbelievable... It truly is not about the children any more.
Mary, here is my sister's response.
"Interesting indeed. You know that this does not surprise me. However, in all fairness, we do not know the entire story. There are a multitude of factors and mandates in a child's placement; primarily by the courts, attorneys and State legislatures that are beyond Children Services control. I did not know a Children social worker that did not have some degree of paranoia a child might be injured or die on their caseload, This said, one would wonder if there was not just as qualified of candidate without this blemish on their portfolio."
Susan,
Thanks for getting your sister's perspective on this. I wish there were more people as devoted and concerned as she is about really doing what's best for the kids.
Christopher's story was covered quite thoroughly in the media. There were foster parents interested in adopting him. His grandparents wanted him. They documented their complaints with the system. There were many other options than Crystal Keith.
It's so sad.
In this case, the agency failed Christopher. Very poor decisions were made on his behalf and he paid with his life.
The larger thing to see here is that Robinson resigned! She took or was made to take, the responsibility for what happened. Do you think the director knows of every decision made by subordinates? I like the fact she had 70% placement with relatives without an incident. Currently WA State places only 33% with family and we have all kinds of horror stories over which NO one has resigned. She actually promises to be an improvement. Time will tell.
The lapses that took place under Robinson's watch in Milwaukee were so egregious that I have trouble giving her credit for simply resigning, as if that's indicative of being conscientious.
It was troubling that she refused to communicate with the media, and community at large. She adopted a bunker mentality when citizens were looking for explanations and accountability.
I hope Robinson has more success in Washington than she did in Wisconsin. I hope there's no string of tragedies there.
i had served under Ms. Robinson (as a worker) and she didn have any sense of the families/children and workers under her.
Workers had about 100 cases and she did not do anything to relieve that. She not listen to our "pleas" regarding the families we serve. There would be no changes to Washington State if Denise is in charge.
Dear Senator Cantwell, Governor Gregoire, Susan Dreyfus, Denise Revels Robinson and Myra Casey, of Washington State, some of the problems in this Country , Washington State and around the world stems back to Seneca Falls, New York, 1848. The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott for women’s rights. Based on the American Declaration of Independence, the Sentiments demanded equality with men before the law, in education and employment. Thus, the first pronouncement demanding that women be given the right to vote. Susan Brownell Anthony, an American reformer a leader of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, when she was a teacher in New York State, she agitated for equal pay for women teachers, for coeducation, and for college training for girls. When the Sons of Temperance refused to admit women into their movement, she organized the first woman’s temperance association, the Daughters of Temperance. Queen Elizabeth, II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, head of the Commonwealth, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Duke of Normandy, Lord of Mann. President’s, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, of Costa Rica, Roza Otunbayeva, of Kyrgyzstan, Doris Leuthard, of Switzerland, Dalla Grybauskaite, of Lithuania. Prime Minister’s Sheikh Hasina Wajed, of Bangladesh, Johanna Siguroardottir,of Iceland, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, of Finland and Jadranka Kosor, of Croatia. Sarah E. Goode was the first African American woman to be granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for her inventions. Tyler Deleon, of Washington State, Christopher Thomas of Wisconsin and Paris Arnold of Ohio, are victims of the results, from the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, Daughters of Temperance, Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution, they died at the hands of a woman. A few of these women, were in power when it happen. A woman’s place is in the home, having babies, raising kids and in the Kitchen!!
Max Lawson ,
U.S. Armed Forces, Retired
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