CPS review finds office in neglect for infant death

An independent review panel found the Colfax Child Protection Services office in neglect in regard to the death of a Pullman infant earlier this year. The investigation was launched June 30 by the Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration into the death of the four-month-old Pullman infant.

The investigation, called a Child Fatality Review (CFR), was headed by members with relevant expertise and who had no prior interactions or involvement with the family in question.

The child’s father, Charlie W. Becker, 25, has been charged with second degree manslaughter by negligence related to the death of his infant son on Easter morning. The infant was taken to Pullman Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead.

According to the investigation report, which was posted on the DSHS website, the Colfax Children’s Administration office became involved with the family after the infant was born in November 2014. Parts of the posted report were blacked out, but the report of the initial involvement gave a background of the family.

“The parents reported that [the mother] was a full time student at WSU studying child development and the father was the primary caregiver for the children. The father admitted to being frustrated with his daughter when his wife was in the hospital but denied using physical discipline with her. The investigator observed that the family home was cluttered and that the parents seemed overwhelmed by multiple stressors including lack of transportation, conflict between the children, social isolation and lack of social and financial supports.”

Two other children were reported to be in the home.

The report noted that an investigator was assigned to the case, and shortly after the infant’s birth provided the parents with written information about Infant Safe Sleep, a nationwide campaign to promote safe sleeping habits, and the Period of Purple Crying, a method of helping parents understand the time in their baby’s life where there may be significant periods of crying.

After this, the report is blacked out for two and one half paragraphs. It picks up on March 9, 2015, when the investigator visited the home. At that time, the report indicates the investigator was attempting to see the children and re-engage the family in services.

“The father explained that he and his wife did not want to participate in the program because his wife’s schedule prevented her from attending sessions in their home and they would prefer to attend classes together. The worker offered to schedule the classes in the evenings or on the weekends but he declined those options as well. During the visit the father stated that the younger children were napping and (name blacked out) was at preschool. The mother was not home during the visit.”

The report then notes that the worker did not enter the home during the visit nor see the children. The report also indicates that the investigator had never evaluated the children’s sleeping environment at this point, though it also states “this case had been open for investigation in the months prior to the child’s death and was pending case closure when (the infant) died.”

The next contact with CPS did not occur until the infant’s death, listed as April 5, 2015. The infant was brought to the emergency room via ambulance. The parents provided an interview about what might have led to the infant’s death, detailed in the report.

According to the report, the parents put the baby to bed at 12:30 a.m. the previous night in an upstairs room, where he slept on two queen-sized mattresses alone. The mattresses, as noted by the investigating WSU Police officer, “were bare without sheets or other linen. They were dirty and smelled strongly of urine.”

The parents stated that this room was adjacent to another bedroom where the two older children slept, and they slept on couches in the living room on the first floor.

The baby was found on the floor of the second floor bedroom around 11 a.m.

“The mother went to check on the baby and found him on the floor next to the bed. The parents attempted CPR and called emergency responders. The baby was taken to (blacked out) by ambulance where he was pronounced dead at 11:39 a.m. The medical examiner later determined that the baby had asphyxiated on a plastic bag sometime during the night.”

In addition to describing the condition of the bed in which the baby slept, the officer also described the condition of the home.

“The investigating officer from WSU Police described the home as filthy and cluttered with health and safety hazards including dirty diapers, soiled clothing, old food and numerous small choking hazards within reach of the children.” The officer noted several latex balloons by the bed.

Following the infant’s death, the two other children in the home were placed in out-of-home care and the CPS investigation issued findings for negligent treatment against both parents.

The report noted several errors the CPS office in Colfax made in regard to the family.

“The Committee noted that though assessments were completed timely, the investigator seemed to focus primarily on the alleged physical abuse of (name blacked out), and when she felt this had been addressed, did not gather sufficient information to assess the parents. Specifically, subject interviews were not comprehensive, the physical condition of the children was not assessed and no attempt was made to observe or fully evaluate the home for safety concerns.”

One “missed opportunity” the report noted was the family’s apparent involvement with several service providers in the community.

“The investigator took at face value that they were engaged in these services without critically assessing the extent and level of involvement by corroborating the parent’s assertions. The Committee felt that the parents’ inconsistent attendance at appointments and their lack of cooperation with services should have been indicators of struggles, not protective factors.”

The Committee also noted “a lack of curiosity” on the investigator’s part which they felt “significantly limited the information available to evaluate the allegations.” Noted here was the investigator not going upstairs in the home to evaluate where the children slept, despite three separate home visits.

The Infant Safe Sleep Guidelines which were given to the parents shortly after the child’s birth require the worker to review the guidelines, assess the sleep environment, engage the caregiver in creating a safe sleep environment and consult with the supervisor when there are concerns about the caregiver’s ability to maintain child safety. This policy became effective Oct. 31, 2014, prior to the infant’s birth.

The Committee, according to the report, felt that the social worker in question could have done more to engage the family in services and in accessing the home environment.

“The Committee heard information that because of staff shortages in the Colfax office, the supervisor carried a caseload and she felt that this negatively impacted her ability to focus on clinical supervision.”

The Colfax office currently has nine staff members and five supervisors. Two of the supervisors are also staff members.

The Committee made four recommendations in their report.

One of the recommendations included having an area administrator work with regional CPS program to “identify a mentor for the supervisor to partner with to improve and reinforce clinical supervisor skills and to develop a plan for continued staff development and training among staff.”

Becker entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of second degree manslaughter alleging death by criminal negligence Sept. 18 and has been scheduled for a Dec. 14 trial.