Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and gubernatorial candidates reacted to Olga Roche's resignation as head of the Department of Children and Families.
BOSTON — Reaction to Olga Roche's resignation as head of the Department of Children and Families has steadily rolled in since Tuesday's press conference where Erin Deveney was announced as her interim replacement.
Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo:
"Installing new leadership at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is only the first step. DCF is an agency in crisis; and we must immediately undertake the difficult, but crucial, task of creating an effective structure of protection and care for our most vulnerable children. The House's ongoing efforts to heighten oversight, provide resources to lower caseload ratios and implement significant IT improvements at DCF are already proceeding. Today, as we mark a new beginning, my deepest sympathies and prayers go out to those who knew and loved Jeremiah Oliver, Bailey Irish and Aliana Lavigne."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker:
"I am pleased that the Governor has accepted the commissioner's resignation today and I stand by my position that this should have happened months ago when it was clear DCF suffered from systemic failures. In order to protect the vulnerable children in the state's care, officials must now carry out an analysis, region by region as I proposed months ago to begin reforming the essential agency. The children and families impacted by DCF deserve accountability and swift reassurance that the state is taking the right steps to fix this serious problem."
Treasurer Steve Grossman, Democratic candidate for governor
"Commissioner Olga Roche's resignation gives DCF a long-overdue opportunity to rebuild its credibility based on three fundamental principles: safety, accountability, and reform."
Attorney General Maratha Coakley, Democratic candidate for governor
"I believe Governor Patrick has made the tough but right decision today as a first step to restoring the public'AAs trust in DCF. The challenges at DCF go well beyond the leadership of the Commissioner, however, and it is imperative that we implement additional reforms to better protect our children.
I have spent over two decades working to protect children, and I believe
the current structure of DCF creates an almost impossible mandate for the social workers who must balance keeping families together with the safety of the child. That's why I have proposed creating a separate Child Protection Division within DCF that will
be charged with investigating allegations of child abuse with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of the child.Our system of child protection will also only work when our mandated reporters, DCF, and District Attorneys' child protection units work cohesively together in real time. The recent tragedies have shed light on the fact that we need to update the process and technology for the state's mandated reporters so that there is absolutely no lag time between a report of abuse and the ability of DCF to launch an investigation. This is the kind of structural change that will help prevent children in need from falling through the cracks of a flawed system."
SEIU Local 509 Chapter President Peter MacKinnon
aThose of us on the front lines wake up each day with a sole focus on keeping at-risk kids safe a and todayas announcement presents a critical opportunity to institute the reforms and investments we need to get the job done.aAt DCF, we face a caseload crisis that worsens each day. Policy changes and accountability measures are desperately needed. Communication barriers and outdated technology continue to slow our efforts in the field.
aWe sincerely hope Interim Commissioner Deveney will take this opportunity to work with both front-line staff and the legislature to immediately address these critical issues. With child safety at stake, the commonwealth can afford nothing less.a
This post will be updated as we receive more reactions.