Spring Break
Closing Child Advocate office for political reasons needlessly endangers state's most vulnerable
Aaron Igdalsky
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: Commentary
In her budget proposal released earlier this month, Gov. M. Jodi Rell called for the elimination of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) as an independent agency. Under the proposal, all but one of the current staff positions at the OCA would be eliminated. The one remaining employee of the Office, Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein, would be transferred to the Attorney General's office. Such a proposal is not only unacceptable, but it will not yield any significant cost savings for the taxpayers of Connecticut.
The OCA performs countless indispensable tasks, from advocating for children at risk, to investigating complaints regarding possible wrongdoing, working for the most vulnerable members of society: children who otherwise lack the means to advocate for themselves. Additionally, the OCA acts as an independent watchdog agency overseeing the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The DCF, which has an annual budget of roughly $900 million and a caseload of several thousand children, has long struggled to provide adequate service to the children under its care. The OCA ensures that the DCF and other public and private agencies caring for children in the state provide proper care and services to the children under their charge. The OCA makes certain that agencies like the DCF remain accountable for their actions.
There is a compelling argument to be made that Gov. Rell's decision to eliminate the OCA is political retaliation for the work the Child Advocate's office has performed in the past. Many of the OCA's investigations have found that the DCF, whose commissioner is directly appointed by the Governor, has failed to adequately provide service and care for the children in its care. Such investigations reflect poorly on DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton and her senior administrative staff, which has, in turn, angered Gov. Rell and her Chief of Staff, Lisa Moody. By eliminating the Office of the Child Advocate, Gov. Rell eliminates the most frequent and vocal critic of the DCF.
The OCA performs countless indispensable tasks, from advocating for children at risk, to investigating complaints regarding possible wrongdoing, working for the most vulnerable members of society: children who otherwise lack the means to advocate for themselves. Additionally, the OCA acts as an independent watchdog agency overseeing the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The DCF, which has an annual budget of roughly $900 million and a caseload of several thousand children, has long struggled to provide adequate service to the children under its care. The OCA ensures that the DCF and other public and private agencies caring for children in the state provide proper care and services to the children under their charge. The OCA makes certain that agencies like the DCF remain accountable for their actions.
There is a compelling argument to be made that Gov. Rell's decision to eliminate the OCA is political retaliation for the work the Child Advocate's office has performed in the past. Many of the OCA's investigations have found that the DCF, whose commissioner is directly appointed by the Governor, has failed to adequately provide service and care for the children in its care. Such investigations reflect poorly on DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton and her senior administrative staff, which has, in turn, angered Gov. Rell and her Chief of Staff, Lisa Moody. By eliminating the Office of the Child Advocate, Gov. Rell eliminates the most frequent and vocal critic of the DCF.
Be the first to comment on this story