tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244532973936681387.post7731243279238666491..comments2023-04-17T11:10:07.810-04:00Comments on The Law Office of Michael L. Rich: "Assessing impact at the DSS"Zensho Martin Harahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13911257858994892587noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244532973936681387.post-47305150737744758262007-06-05T06:33:00.000-04:002007-06-05T06:33:00.000-04:00Of course there are many different areas in which ...Of course there are many different areas in which DSS needs to be overhauled. In regard to the specific areas addressed in my letter to which the above comment was appended, I would suggest the following at a minimum:<BR/><BR/>1. The legislature must pay more active attention to DSS and oversee it at times other than when there have been serious tragedies;<BR/><BR/>2. DSS must be accountable to the courts that place children with them;<BR/><BR/>3. There must be some discretion in the mandated reporting law (General Laws chapter 119, section 51A) to allow a professional working with a family who suspects abuse or neglect to determine whether a report or some other intervention is more likely to benefit the child;<BR/><BR/>4. A higher standard of proof should be required before DSS can force itself into the life of a family or remove a child from his/her family;<BR/><BR/>5. There must be a procedure for meaningful review in a timely fashion if parents disagree with DSS's determination to "support" an allegation that a child has neglected or abused.MLRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955987885707332477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244532973936681387.post-29509774912822733232007-06-05T01:19:00.000-04:002007-06-05T01:19:00.000-04:00I was very impressed by your insights and comments...I was very impressed by your insights and comments of this little known area of public justice. What would you recommend as a course of act? how could the public initiate a course of action that could install a system that worked more effectively?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244532973936681387.post-62097261614103573912007-06-01T15:59:00.000-04:002007-06-01T15:59:00.000-04:00Good points. Experienced pediatricians and savvy ...Good points. Experienced pediatricians and savvy teachers are likely to be in a better position to determine whether there is a real risk than any 23-year-old staffing the Hotline. A system that intervenes when it shouldn't, and fails to act when it should, is in dire need of something besides just additional funds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com