Fallout continues from the criminal charges connected to the death of Danieal Kelly, a 14-year old girl who died of starvation after being put under the care of the Department of Human Services. On Monday, Mayor Michael Nutter announced the suspension of 7 more employees at the DHS. That brings the number to 9 total. Most of the people suspended were career employees with decades of experience. In many ways, this is one of the most troubling aspects of the story.
I might have more sympathy for those involved if they had less experience. It might be understandable if Danieal's case was given to someone without the proper training and that person messed things up. Instead, the indictment paints a picture of an entire department that is asleep at the wheel. I think Nutter's suspension of a bunch of career employees will rattle things to the top.
At the same time, all of the focus on city employees should not overshadow the involvement of private contractors. As I wrote last week, a private non-profit called MultiEthnic Behavioral Health was charged with protecting Danieal. The agency received more than $3.5 million from the city to keep tabs on troubled kids. City officials should remember their role in this debacle and make sure that non-profits receive the same kind of scrutiny currently being given to DHS.