DHS Continues Its Bang-Up Job

Last Sunday, the Inquirer reported on neglectful behavior at DHS. A few days later, DHS head Cheryl Ransom-Garner was gone as well as her deputy.

And so, on Friday when Ransom-Garner resigned, the Department of Human Services workers walked out on the job in protest (and to get an early start on the weekend). In the rush of all the traffic-blocking and writing on the office boxtops with protest signs — clearly, the oppressed have risen up — you think the DHS workers would, y’know, make sure all the… kids… were…

“We have 1,500 workers in a total uproar,” said Rita Urwitz, in the crowd outside City Hall. “Hopefully nothing serious happens to a child this afternoon.”

AAAAAAAAAAGGGG !@($*&@#)($*#&)(@$*@$@ Idiots!

Hundreds of DHS workers walk out in protest
Archives: Department of Human Services

Leftovers: Don’t Let The Door Hit You, Etc.

• You go, Inquirer! Just a few days after the paper’s report on the city’s Department of Human Services’ failures in the deaths of several children, the head of the DHS resigns. Cheryl Ransom-Garner — who said, “I think DHS is doing a great job” in Sunday’s Inquirer report — escaped the fate of her deputy, John McGee, who was relieved of his duties. [Inquirer]

• A substitute teacher at Creighton Elementary school lost three of her fingertips after a defective window slammed down on them. There is one thing worse than being a substitute teacher in the Philadelphia School District. Being a substitute teacher in the Philadelphia School District and losing three of your fingertips to a defective window. [Daily News]

• A West Chester man is suing the makers of Second LIfe for confiscating his property after he figure out a way to buy it for a much cheaper price. (Or something like that.) Reuters’ Second Life bureau — yes, they have one — will surely be on this right away. [Inky]

• That Bill Giles trophy presentation last night? Apparently, the trophy is named after his father. Heh, who knew? [The 700 Level]

And What A Great Job It Is

Yesterday, the Inquirer unveiled a nice investigative piece on the Department of Human Services, the city agency responsible for removing children from abusive homes, among other things.

And it turns out — surprise! — the DHS is in shambles. Well, it might not be that bad, but when a former consultant (and dean of the School of Social Work at Penn) leaves so he can help people suing the agency, well, then, you might have a problem.

The thorough piece explains mistakes made in several recent deaths of children, including Alayiah Turman, the girl allegedly killed after she messed up her father’s video game. DHS had been investigating an abuse complaint at the time but “didn’t find any bruises” even though the coroner found a healed arm fracture.

But, eh, you know, everything’s seems to be great, according to the woman in charge:

“I think DHS is doing a great job,” [DHS Commissioner Cheryl Ransom-Garner] said. “Our staff do a heroic job every day, working to save Philadelphia’s children. One child death is too many. And from every death we do a review to determine what can we do differently.”

Gee, I’d hate to see what an agency in shambles looks like.

Inquirer Investigation: ‘Bury Your Mistakes’ [Inquirer]