35 Foster Children Dead Since 2008 in LA County -- How Many Is Too Many?

35 Foster Children Dead Since 2008 in LA County -- How Many Is Too Many?

Can you hear the drumbeat, right out of a battle march? An egregious death: 2-year old Viola Vanclief was killed by hammer-wielding caregiver. A hammer. Viola died while in the care of a foster care agency, United Care, that had a history of sloppy work including citations for caregivers choking, hitting or whipping the state's children. The response from our public leaders is predictable: fire the LA County Child Welfare Director, Trish Ploehn, and/or technology will save the children. Neither option gets at the heart of the problem, yet both proposals offer the public a convenient scapegoat and a hallow solution.