According to DFCS reports, 152 children died in Georgia in 2012 whose families had a history with the state child protection agency.
In light of the deaths of two children, two DFCS workers have been fired due to their role in both cases.
In 2012 police received a call from the mother of Markea Berry saying the teen was unresponsive. Detectives determined she was starved to death and arrested her mother, Ebony Berry, for murder. According to the autopsy, Markea, 16, only weighed 43 pounds. The Cobb County supervisor over Markea’s case was given a written reprimand for her, “negligence in performing one of the key responsibilities” of her job. This same supervisor was over the case of 12-year-old Eric Forbes who was found dead. His father, Shayaa Forbes, has been charged with cruelty to children and murder after the child’s body “had severe, visible signs of child abuse.”
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who went on camera stating that “the system isn’t broken but could use some improvement,” has approved and promised a $27 million budget that will allow for 500 new DFCS caseworkers to be hired over the next three years.
After a petition and investigation following the horrific death of 10-year-old Emani Moss, a DFCS director admits agency failures after child deaths. Moss’ case dated back to 2003 and included at least six previous contacts or complaints with the Georgia Department of Family and Child Services. The most recent complaint was just two months before her death. Moss’ was laid to rest Wednesday mourned by her grandmother who fought for years to keep her granddaughter.
Gov. Deal is hoping that the hiring of more employees and implementing more in depth training of the DFCS staff, these deaths will decrease or cease.
From physical abuse to starvation, no child should have to endure abuse and any adult who is aware of the abuse and not take the appropriate action should be charged in their deaths.
