The grand jury report lambasting the state Department of Children and Families' handling of abuse and neglect cases noted that first responders, law enforcement, hospitals, a service provider for the department and others are being forced into difficult positions because of DCF's alleged shortcomings.
The report did not identify any agency or person by name. But the Ocala Star-Banner reached out to some agencies to see if they had any response to the 10-page report, which focused on DCF's performance in both child and elder abuse/neglect cases in Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando counties.
HCA Ocala Florida Hospital and the Marion County Sheriff's Office
declined comment. Officials at Adventhealth Ocala could not be reached for comment.
What is the Ocala Police Department's reaction to the grand jury report?
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said: "I am aware of the grand jury’s report and take the concerns raised very seriously. Unfortunately, failures like those mentioned can have real and tragic consequences, and as a community, we have a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
"To that end, when the system fails, there is an obligation to speak up, demand accountability, and work with our partners to ensure those failures are addressed and corrected."
Balken continued: "At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge that DCF has some incredible, dedicated, and very talented professionals who do amazing work throughout our community each day. I commend those individuals, and we owe them our gratitude for their service.”
How did Kids Central Inc. respond to the grand jury report?
Kids Central is the lead child welfare agency in the five counties covered by the report.
That agency's statement: "We acknowledge the work of the grand jury and the cases described in the report. Kids Central does not administer Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Investigations, or the Florida Abuse Hotline. Therefore, we cannot comment on cases or recommendations from the grand jury specific to those systems.
"Any instance in which a child may not have been adequately protected warrants careful review and corrective action. At the same time, the report examines an extremely small percentage of cases and does not reflect the full scope of the work performed every day across the five counties of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
"Child welfare is inherently complex and demanding, and a breakdown anywhere in the system can place additional pressure on everyone involved. Overall, Kids Central maintains a positive working relationship with DCF, and we collaborate closely on individual cases to help children and families achieve safe and permanent outcomes.
"We are continuing to review the grand jury’s recommendations. Many address Adult Protective Services or DCF’s statutory investigative responsibilities, which are outside Kids Central’s authority.
"From our perspective, priorities should emphasize a robust and effective system designed to prevent child maltreatment and provision of funding necessary to retain a well-trained and supported workforce, effective supervisory oversight, and continuous quality improvement. Finally, we support the thoughtful consideration of reforms that strengthen child safety and accountability."
How did the Belleview Police Department respond to the grand jury report?
Chief Terry Holland said instead of having a toll-free number for everyone to call if they wish to report abuse or neglect, the agency should have a direct number that law enforcement can call to reach DCF.
Holland said DCF should have more qualified staff in training and in the field. He also called for a better relationship between DCF and law enforcement.
DCF's response to the grand jury report
As reported earlier, the department's interim secretary, Kate Williams, issued this statement to the Star-Banner:
"The work of DCF is challenging, and we know there are areas, including localized issues, where we must do better. Addressing those challenges requires strong leadership, clear accountability, and a willingness to make meaningful changes when they are needed.
"I am excited to take on the responsibility of leading this Department and build on the progress Florida has made. I have spent much of my career in child welfare, and I know the dedication of the people who do this work every day. I also know there is more work to be done.
"My expectation is clear: We will address what is not working, strengthen our operations where needed, and continue moving this Department in the right direction. We will continue raising the standard for how we serve Floridians, with the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults at the center of every decision."
The grand jury report
One section of the report is titled "Systemic Failures in Elder Abuse & Exploitation Services." It notes that the five counties have "a disproportionately large retiree population, naturally resulting in a higher volume of elder service calls."
"Regardless of volume," the report says, "we find that DCF routinely fails to respond to calls, closes cases prematurely without thorough review, and misinterprets policies to shirk its responsibilities."
Under the heading "Shifted Burdens and After-Hours Neglect," the report says first responders who report after-hours abuse or neglect are told by hotline operators to take the person to an emergency room or a Baker Act facility, even when that is not appropriate.
The report notes that in Marion County, "DCF's operational gaps are so severe that local law enforcement, medical professionals, and first responders established an independent Co-Responder Program.
"While DCF attends these meetings, local emergency services (the fire department and sheriff's office) are effectively burning their own resources to act as a de facto placement and transport service. Without this program, these vulnerable citizens would have no oversight or safety net," the report says.
The report cites one case of a victim waiting in a hospital up to a year before placement.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: The grand jury spoke on DCF failures. How did public agencies respond?
