Delco Council Concedes Problems With CYS; Stymied How To Solve Them

Delco Council Concedes Problems With CYS; Stymied How To Solve Them — Delaware County (Pa) Council, last night, Feb. 21, in a break from its routine had a long back-and-forth with the citizens.

Possibly it was productive but we won’t hold our breaths.

The county’s Children and Youth Services department was the big topic.

Rael LaPenta of Upper Chichester questioned the hiring of CAI, a billion-dollar consulting firm, to review and draft new policies for CYS and to provide training.

Ms. LaPenta was among the parents who appeared before council two weeks ago to tell horror stories of taken children and lost jobs due to unfounded actions by CYS.

Last night, she pointed out that among the consultants CAI plans to unleash on Delco is Paula Griffin who will be among those tasked to conduct candidate searches, and complete screening and employment interviews for candidates.

Ms. Griffin directed Lehigh County’s Children and Youth Services until her retirement in October.

That was when a scandal broke alleging CYS was taking children from parents based on false claims of child abuse. The children were given to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). They were put in extended, unsupervised emergency room stays. The families said the hospital would get state agencies to remove custody.

LVHN is being sued.

Ms. LaPenta also took issue with the council’s standard statement that the members are available for questions via email. She said that she had contacted them all without hearing back.

Councilwoman  Christine A. Reuther, in a break from protocol, interrupted Ms. LaPenta. She had been in contact — it was in a phone call, Feb. 20 — and Ms. Griffin was among the issues discussed.

She said Ms.Griffin was the one from Lehigh County, but that the lawsuit doesn’t disqualify her and that she passed a background check.

It looks like she’s coming to Delco.

Ms. LaPenta conceded that they talked but noted that she had not heard from the others. She had been trying to reach all for some time.

In the second round of public comments, Ms. LaPenta said she did not mean to be antagonistic. She said, though, she followed the appropriate routes and her life remains in turmoil.

“What is the appropriate amount of time for a person who has lost her children to stop being upset,” she said.

She said that many in her group feared retaliation by CYS.

“It is your responsibility not just as council members but as human beings to act,” she said.

Ms. Reuther said that she believes a lot of what Ms. LaPenta told her.

She said CYS has been given “awesome powers” by the state, and that a bill has just passed the state senate which would give CYS agencies even more.

She agreed that a review of the department was necessary but that she was afraid to intervene in specific cases because she lacked expertise.

Ms. Reuther said there is local state agency at which complaints can be filed regarding CYS, albeit Ms. LaPenta had long been aware of it.

Council Chairwoman Dr. Monica Taylor said that Ms. LaPenta had not received responses because it had been assumed that Ms. Reuther was handling the matter.

Two months ago, we reviewed The Dirty Secrets of Divorce or What Your Lawyer Won’t Tell You by Renee Mazer. The book details horror stories from Chester County concerning her divorce and her involvement with that county’s family courts process. She says collusion between judges, social workers and lawyers was shameless and profitable for them.

She lost access to her son for a very long time.

We suggest that Ms. Reuther not sell herself short. She has the power and expertise to resolve this. Start by considering the incidents where a parent lost lawful custody due to a claim of abuse solely on the word of an angry ex, as opposed to hospital workers or school officials.

Are there commonalities? The same judge? Same lawyers? Could there be money changing hands?

Don’t dismiss that. Read Ms. Mazer’s book.

Further, Ms. Reuther can call in those running CYS. She can tell them to make things right with Ms. LaPenta, as well as with Ashley Green of Ridley Park and Sharon Poole of Glenn Mills, who had similar experiences.

She can give directions that special care be made when dealing with accusations involving exes.

It’s your time to shine, Christine. So there you are.

More stores concerning the meeting to follow.