Fresno Co. supervisor wants board to look into Seth Ireland case
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1150932.html
Friday, Jan. 23, 2009
By Brad Branan / The Fresno Bee
Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea wants to take advantage of a new state law that allows county boards to review investigative files in the cases of children — such as Seth Ireland — who have been beaten to death.
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Perea will lead a discussion about how the board might use the law to review the Ireland case and “make necessary changes to their child-welfare systems to prevent future deaths.”
The law was authored by Assembly Member Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, and went into effect Jan. 1. It gives county boards the authority to review confidential files about deaths in the child-welfare system.
Fresno County Child Protective Services released the investigative file of Seth Ireland to reporters this week. But the agency redacted much of the file, citing confidentiality laws and requests by the District Attorney’s Office because of pending criminal charges in Seth’s death.
Seth was beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend while his mother watched, according to police. Child Protective Services received five complaints of alleged abuse or neglect of Seth in the four months leading up to his death. A sixth report was made as a result of the fatal beating.
Catherine Huerta, the county official responsible for Child Protective Services, has said she would welcome any review by the Board of Supervisors.
Perea said the state law gives the board a number of options for reviewing deaths in the child-welfare system. Supervisors could review the files themselves, ask the county administrative office to handle the reviews, or hire an outside consultant to review them under the direction of the administrative office.
Perea said he favors having someone with outside expertise handle the reviews. He wants to get advice about improving child welfare and other social services in a time of reduced revenues.
The reporter can be reached at bbranan@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6679.
