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Oklahoma moves to fire two social workers after disabled boy's death Oklahoma moves to fire two social workers after disabled boy's death
(7 months later)
Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services (DHS) said it had moved to fire two social workers this week, the culmination of a months-long online campaign over the death of a disabled 15-year-old boy.Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services (DHS) said it had moved to fire two social workers this week, the culmination of a months-long online campaign over the death of a disabled 15-year-old boy.
The case of Quinten Wood, who was born with a disorder known as Chromosome 9 Ring and was unable to walk, talk or care for himself, had reached national attention after his sister started an online petition demanding an investigation into his death.The case of Quinten Wood, who was born with a disorder known as Chromosome 9 Ring and was unable to walk, talk or care for himself, had reached national attention after his sister started an online petition demanding an investigation into his death.
Valerie Wood-Harber’s campaign on Change.org garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, prompting Oklahoma authorities to examine how Wood was able to die at home from pneumonia in January 2013 despite what his sister says were repeated calls that she made to report abuse and neglect.Valerie Wood-Harber’s campaign on Change.org garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, prompting Oklahoma authorities to examine how Wood was able to die at home from pneumonia in January 2013 despite what his sister says were repeated calls that she made to report abuse and neglect.
“I just couldn’t stand the fact that my brother had died and that nobody was doing anything about it,” Wood-Harber, 28, told the Guardian.“I just couldn’t stand the fact that my brother had died and that nobody was doing anything about it,” Wood-Harber, 28, told the Guardian.
“I wanted at least people to learn from the situation and to see what happens when you don’t do the right thing.”“I wanted at least people to learn from the situation and to see what happens when you don’t do the right thing.”
In a statement, Oklahoma DHS called the death “heart-wrenching” and credited Wood-Harber for vigorously pursuing state agencies.In a statement, Oklahoma DHS called the death “heart-wrenching” and credited Wood-Harber for vigorously pursuing state agencies.
“A thorough and comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances of Quinten’s death led us to the difficult and sad conclusion that the individual actions of two employees associated with this case clearly violated agency policies and reasonable child protection practices,” DHS director Ed Lake said in the statement.“A thorough and comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances of Quinten’s death led us to the difficult and sad conclusion that the individual actions of two employees associated with this case clearly violated agency policies and reasonable child protection practices,” DHS director Ed Lake said in the statement.
“Based upon the information that has been obtained, the decision has been made to initiate steps to terminate those employees.”“Based upon the information that has been obtained, the decision has been made to initiate steps to terminate those employees.”
Wood lived with his brother, Cameron, at the home of their and Wood-Harber’s father in Oklahoma. (Wood-Harber has a different mother and lives in Arkansas.)Wood lived with his brother, Cameron, at the home of their and Wood-Harber’s father in Oklahoma. (Wood-Harber has a different mother and lives in Arkansas.)
Cameron, then 14, had told his sister they were being neglected in the weeks before Wood died, she said. Wood-Harber said she alerted Oklahoma Child Welfare Services in December 2012. She called Child Welfare Services every day for three weeks, she said, until Wood’s death on 4 January.Cameron, then 14, had told his sister they were being neglected in the weeks before Wood died, she said. Wood-Harber said she alerted Oklahoma Child Welfare Services in December 2012. She called Child Welfare Services every day for three weeks, she said, until Wood’s death on 4 January.
Wood-Harber said that a social worker visited Wood at school but a follow-up visit at his home was not carried out.Wood-Harber said that a social worker visited Wood at school but a follow-up visit at his home was not carried out.
“If Oklahoma Child Welfare Services had done their job and followed through with a home visit, they would have found Quinten and Cameron’s living conditions deplorable,” Wood-Harber said in the petition, adding that intervention “could have saved Quinten’s life”.“If Oklahoma Child Welfare Services had done their job and followed through with a home visit, they would have found Quinten and Cameron’s living conditions deplorable,” Wood-Harber said in the petition, adding that intervention “could have saved Quinten’s life”.
DHS said a criminal investigation into Wood’s death is ongoing.DHS said a criminal investigation into Wood’s death is ongoing.
Michael Wood, Quinten’s father, has previously denied that he was at fault.Michael Wood, Quinten’s father, has previously denied that he was at fault.
“If I didn’t care properly for Quinten, he wouldn’t have lived 15 years, especially when we were told that he wouldn’t live to see a year,” he told CNN in October 2013.“If I didn’t care properly for Quinten, he wouldn’t have lived 15 years, especially when we were told that he wouldn’t live to see a year,” he told CNN in October 2013.
Wood-Harber’s petition called on the Governor of Oklahoma to investigate Oklahoma Child Welfare Services and Midwest City public schools “to hold neglectful parties responsible for my brother’s death and ensure other children don’t suffer the way he did”. It has almost 500,000 signatures to date.Wood-Harber’s petition called on the Governor of Oklahoma to investigate Oklahoma Child Welfare Services and Midwest City public schools “to hold neglectful parties responsible for my brother’s death and ensure other children don’t suffer the way he did”. It has almost 500,000 signatures to date.
The public statement from Oklahoma DHS on Monday, more than a year after Wood died, said that Wood-Harber’s persistence had led the DHS to identify “areas within its own organization that the agency will strengthen to improve child protection”.The public statement from Oklahoma DHS on Monday, more than a year after Wood died, said that Wood-Harber’s persistence had led the DHS to identify “areas within its own organization that the agency will strengthen to improve child protection”.
“Had it not been for her advocacy and persistence, the truth about what Quinten and his brother endured might never have been fully investigated,” Lake said.“Had it not been for her advocacy and persistence, the truth about what Quinten and his brother endured might never have been fully investigated,” Lake said.
In the future there will be improved collaboration between the internal DHS departments and training will be updated, he said.In the future there will be improved collaboration between the internal DHS departments and training will be updated, he said.
A spokeswoman from Oklahoma DHS would not elaborate on the two employees it was seeking to terminate.A spokeswoman from Oklahoma DHS would not elaborate on the two employees it was seeking to terminate.
“Personnel actions such as these are private and only become public record once the actions have become final,” Sheree Powell, the DHS’ director of communications and community relations, told the Guardian on Tuesday. She said the employees had not officially been fired yet.“Personnel actions such as these are private and only become public record once the actions have become final,” Sheree Powell, the DHS’ director of communications and community relations, told the Guardian on Tuesday. She said the employees had not officially been fired yet.
“At this time, termination proceedings have been initiated but the employees have rights to due process. When the actions become final, that information may be obtained by the public.” “At this time, termination proceedings have been initiated but the employees have rights to due process. When the actions become final, that information may be obtained by the public.”
Wood-Harber became a legal guardian to Cameron, now 15, last year, and he now lives with her in Arkansas. She is studying social work and criminal justice at university and plans to become an advocate for people with developmental disabilities after graduation.Wood-Harber became a legal guardian to Cameron, now 15, last year, and he now lives with her in Arkansas. She is studying social work and criminal justice at university and plans to become an advocate for people with developmental disabilities after graduation.
“The system is not set up to really protect people who can’t protect themselves,” Wood-Harber said. She said she was satisfied with the DHS’ response but urged people to report instances of suspected abuse.“The system is not set up to really protect people who can’t protect themselves,” Wood-Harber said. She said she was satisfied with the DHS’ response but urged people to report instances of suspected abuse.
“If you see something, you should say something. And if something doesn’t happen you need to keep saying it. You need to record it and document what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to, and make sure that somebody listens.”“If you see something, you should say something. And if something doesn’t happen you need to keep saying it. You need to record it and document what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to, and make sure that somebody listens.”