A scathing 21-page
report compiled by state officials found the Cuyahoga County Division of
Children and Family Services failed at seemingly every turn in its
investigations into the alleged abuse of Aniya Day-Garrett, the
four-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her mother and mother’s
boyfriend in mid-March.
</p><p><em>Aniya Day-Garret's mother, Sierra Day, was arrested in mid-March for her daughter's death.
The
state review found county social workers failed to properly conduct
follow-up investigations and failed to conduct adequate interviews and
observations, in addition to failing to follow long-established
procedures.
According to state officials, the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services conducts a preliminary review when a child with a history at a
county children services agency dies. However, Aniya Day-Garrett’s case
received a more thorough administrative case review, which is warranted
when there are extenuating circumstances, including questions of whether
state law was properly followed.
According to state records, the
ODJFS’ administrative review spanned the period of February 2017 through
March 2018. In that time period, allegations that Aniya was being
abused came to the attention of the Cuyahoga County Division of Children
and Family Services a total of five times, the report states.
</p><p><em>The Jane Edna Hunter Social Services Center in Cuyahoga County.
The problems and potential missteps started almost immediately, the state review found.
In February 2017, caseworkers conducted a face-to-face contact with
Aniya and her mother, Sierra Day, according to state records. However,
Aniya and her mother were never observed together, officials said.
Despite this fact, the case file suggests that Aniya and her mother were
‘bonded,’ which the state contends is a conclusion that can only be
reached when the two are observed together. Aniya's case was this
particular caseworker’s first case without a mentor.
The February 2017 investigation revealed that CCDCFS officials became
aware that Aniya’s daycare, Harbor Crest Childcare Academy, had
documented injuries on Aniya’s body on multiple occasions. However, the
state review found that investigation was closed without county social
workers ever obtaining copies of those reports. The reports documenting
Aniya’s injuries, which dated back to 2015, weren’t obtained by CCDCFS
case workers until May 2017 when a subsequent allegation of abuse
surfaced, according to the state’s review.
In the May 2017 investigation, a county social worker was dispatched
to the hospital in reference to additional injuries observed on Aniya’s
body. According to a Euclid police report, the daycare manager called
police after she noticed that Aniya had a head injury and was bleeding
from her ear. The injuries were consistent with abuse, the daycare
manager believed.
The county social worker was dispatched to the hospital where Aniya
was taken. The state review found the social worker noted that the
emergency room doctor was reportedly unable to determine whether Aniya’s
injuries were caused by abuse. However, the state review found that the
hospital’s discharge summary, which was signed by the same doctor,
clearly stated that Aniya’s injuries were consistent with abuse.
According to the state’s case review, the discharge summary was
included in CCDCFS’ case file. Despite this, both the case worker and
the case worker’s supervisor said they never reviewed those medical
reports, the state review found.
The May 2017 investigation spanned 39 days. However, a total of 38
days passed between the initial contact with Aniya and her mother at the
hospital and the closure of the case. There were no subsequent
observations of Aniya after the first meeting at the hospital, despite
the fact that daycare workers and the emergency room doctor both
suspected abuse, according to state records.
“I think it sums up the entire fiasco,” said Paul Grieco, the
attorney representing Aniya’s biological father, Michael Garrett. “There
was clearly a lack of communication, lack of supervision and lack of
training. Just an overall lack of overall care in my opinion. It’s
tragic that the agency put into place to protect the most vulnerable
individuals in our society, young children like this, failed Aniya
Garrett, Michael Garrett and the Garrett family. It’s just a tragedy.”
</p><p><em>Paul Grieco, the attorney representing Aniya’s biological father, Michael Garrett
The
state review, which Grieco said highlights the systemic failures of
CCDCFS, also documents the agency’s failure to follow up on its own
recommendations. According to state records, CCDCFS recommended three
times that Aniya’s mother receive counseling. However, at no point did
anyone from CCDCFS ensure that Aniya’s mother actually sought the
recommended counseling, the state review found.
State investigators also found that at least one of the reports of
alleged abuse was not screened into the agency correctly. Instead, the
report was screened into a category that is not intended to assess cases
of suspected abuse or neglect. Additionally, at least one report was
not initiated within 24 hours, which is required by the state. The
state's review found that In the third investigation conducted by
CCDCFS, county social workers visited Aniya’s home but no one answered.
There were no additional documented attempts at face-to-face contact
within the state-mandated window of four days after the complaint is
received, according to state records.
State reviewers found there was no justifiable reason why this did
not occur. When the face-to-face contact was successfully made, it
occurred 15 days after the initial complaint was made, the state found.
According to state records, CCDCFS’ family assessments were not
comprehensive in scope and did not include an adequate assessment of
risk and safety for Aniya.
The state review found that documentation in the case file revealed
Aniya, in response to how she received her injuries, told caseworkers
that "mommy did it" and "daddy did it." Despite this, caseworkers said
due to the child’s age and development, she could not comprehend or be
interviewed regarding the allegations of abuse or injuries. Aniya’s
statements were discounted as unintelligible or confused despite her
repeatedly stating that her mother caused her injuries, the state review
found. However, the caseworker could not articulate why Aniya’s
statements were discredited.
At no point was there a discussion held regarding the ongoing pattern of injuries to the head, state records suggest.
“It goes to an overall systems failure. It’s not on a particular
individual,” Grieco said. “It’s an overall system, a system that should
be in place to protect and remove abused children like Aniya. Again,
it’s even more egregious because it’s the overall system. These are
social workers. These are individuals that are hired to protect our
children. When they fail to do so, and now we know they were pretty
egregious in their failures, everyone needs to be held accountable.”
According to state records, in the late 2000s, the CCDCFS implemented
a continuous quality improvement unit, whose role it was to review
cases for compliance with local and state procedures, in addition to
identifying trends and patterns. However, the state review found that
shortly after the unit was created, it was disbanded after the
supervisor retired and assistant supervisor moved to another agency.
In the fallout of Aniya’s death, County Executive Armond Budish
appointed an independent panel of child welfare experts to review
CCDCFS’ handling of Aniya’s case. The panel recommended a series of
changes that the agency make. Among the changes were the hiring of a
dozen more social workers, as well as nearly a dozen former or retired
law enforcement officers who would help with investigations.
Additionally, a DCFS advisory board would be created which would provide
oversight.
“The death of Aniya Day-Garrett is a tragedy which saddens us all,”
Budish said in a statement. “We have reacted very strongly to the death
of Aniya Day Garrett and immediately assembled a panel of experts in
child welfare to review the case thoroughly and to make recommendations
for the future. We have worked with the public, county council,
community partners, child welfare experts and families to improve our
practice and assure the public that child safety is our number one
priority.”
The county has until mid-October to formally respond to the state’s
findings and submit its corrective action plan. Aniya’s father, Michael
Garrett, has channeled his grief into a quest for change. Aniya’s legacy
lives through the
Justice for Aniya Garrett Foundation
.
</p><p><em>Aniya’s biological father, Michael Garrett
Sierra Day and her boyfriend, Deonte Lewis, are scheduled to go on trial for murder later this year.
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