Public safety calls for major overhaul at bloated DSHS

It’s no secret the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) has been an ongoing distraction in the state, and not in a good way. The massive agency has been riddled with lawsuits for failing to adequately supervise children in the Child Protective Services system, and to many of us, has lost complete control of policies and the staff who administer them.

Here are several examples that illustrate the need for change at DSHS:

n The case of Shayne Abegg: He was only 25 pounds, about half the average weight of a child his age, when finally removed from his home. He was starved by his father and his father’s girlfriend in 2007. A DSHS review of the case found the agency missed a pattern of abuse and neglect, failing to hold the adults caring for Shayne accountable for his well-being. It also concluded DSHS failed to follow policy to ensure the boy’s safety. The case was settled for $6 million.

n The case of 7-year-old Tyler DeLeon: He died of starvation in foster care. This year, the state paid more than $6 million to former foster children of Carole Ann DeLeon. DSHS settled the case that accused it of failing to properly investigate DeLeon’s background and that of another caregiver in her home, and also failure to respond to numerous complaints of abuse.

n Several weeks ago, seven convicted sex offenders housed in the McNeil Island Special Sex Offender Commitment Center, which is operated by DSHS, were indicted on federal charges for possession of child pornography.

Fast forward to the most recent incidents of two mentally-ill and unstable individuals escaping while in the care of DSHS officials. I consider this one of the largest breaches of public safety in our state’s history. One escapee, Phillip Arnold Paul, had been committed to Eastern State Hospital after being found “not guilty by reason of insanity” for brutally killing an elderly woman. Mr. Paul escaped while on a DSHS outing at the Spokane County fair. It amazes me that chaperones of the patients let two hours lapse before calling local authorities, giving Paul a large head start. This situation should raise concerns and outrage at the highest levels of state government, namely the governor’s office.

It is no surprise the public is rightfully shocked and angry to learn these “outings” have been going on for years without their knowledge, and despite critical safety concerns.

What are my solutions? First, the governor should take responsibility for DSHS. After all, she appoints the secretary of the agency who carries out her directives, policies and orders. Next, she should tell the public what she intends to do to correct the misguided and irresponsible policies that allowed a criminally-insane killer to go to a public event, let alone one that hosts many families with young children.

Finally, I believe the governor should take a look at a bipartisan proposal I co-sponsored in the 2009 legislative session. House Bill 2197 would have started the process of splitting up DSHS into smaller, more manageable pieces. The break-up would allow for better oversight of the many critical elements, such as Child Protective Services and mental health facilities, housed under the agency’s umbrella.

The department oversees too many critical services to be lumped together in a way that no one agency can responsibly manage all at once. It’s no wonder that every year DSHS has major issues that put children and the public at risk. These inexcusable failures are eroding public trust that we must fight to regain. Safeguards must be put in place, but with its current bloated and complex bureaucracy it cannot be done in a way that ensures accountability and transparency.

Policies handed down from the Legislature and the courts to correct the shortcomings of DSHS are not working because the governor is failing to enforce much-needed reforms. It’s time to think critically and take action to fix the system.

This isn’t a witch hunt. This is an opportunity to lay a foundation in our state’s public safety and child protection agencies for a more accountable and responsive state government. My hope is more thoughtful solutions are brought to the table over the next several months. We should take action in the 2010 legislative session to correct shortfalls in DSHS and other corrections agencies that need to be addressed to ensure greater public safety.



Rep. Kirk Pearson of Monroe is the Republican leader on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. He can be reached at pearson.kirk@leg.wa.gov.