Schofield verdict reinforces resolve for changes at DHS

AUGUSTA – The conviction of former Department of Human Services worker Sally Schofield in the death of her foster daughter has reminded lawmakers that they must keep a close eye on the agency to make sure it fully implements changes in the system.

The grisly death of 5-year-old Logan Marr prompted two reviews of the department, and many reforms were ordered.

Schofield is awaiting sentencing after being convicted this week of manslaughter in Lincoln County Superior Court.

Lawmakers who have been working to improve the child welfare system since Logan died in January 2001 say Schofield’s trial did not reveal anything new about DHS’ shortcomings or about the state’s role in Logan’s death.

But they say the trial underscored the fact that the Legislature must do a better job of overseeing the child-protection system.

That’s the consensus among legislators who have closely followed the child-protection issue since Schofield bound and gagged the child in a high chair with duct tape and left her alone in the basement, where she suffocated.

Some legislators said Wednesday they will fight to protect new child welfare jobs, including that of a state ombudsman, from cuts Gov. Angus King is making to balance the state budget.

But when it comes to updating state policies, lawmakers said the Legislature should give recent changes a chance to work before passing even more laws.

“We’ve already looked at the system and we’ve already made some changes in the system,” said Rep. Charles LaVerdiere, D-Wilton, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. “Now we have to put them into effect and make sure they work.”

“We’ve been down that road,” Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland, said of passing laws to better protect children.

The state acknowledged after Logan’s death that her caseworker did not check on her as often as state rules required while the girl was living in Schofield’s home.

E-mail messages between the caseworker and Schofield revealed that they had an overly friendly relationship, not the arms-length relationship that should exist between a foster parent and a state worker who is monitoring the care of a foster child.

In addition, the state dragged its feet after Logan complained, only weeks before her death, that she had been physically abused in Schofield’s home.

DHS took steps last year to prevent a recurrence of those types of problems, but two studies launched by the Legislature revealed other complaints about the child welfare system. Those investigations produced a series of recommendations, many of which the Legislature enacted this year.

The new laws order DHS to give biological parents information about their rights in child-protective proceedings. They also expand access to such hearings so more people can attend them. And they require that DHS tape-record scheduled interviews with parents, children and others during investigations by state caseworkers.

The Legislature put up $4 million this year to upgrade child welfare services, in part by hiring another 28 caseworkers and putting more money into home visits, family support and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

New laws require the state to work harder to keep troubled families together, place abused children with relatives rather than strangers whenever possible, and do a better job of supervising caseworkers.

The Legislature must “remain extremely vigilant” from here on out, to assure that everyone at DHS plays by the new rules, said Rep. Julie Ann O’Brien, R-Augusta.