Child In Foster Care Drowns, Parents Question DHS

DHS is struggling with child safety. Over the weekend, two children in foster care were killed in horrible accidents. A toddler was run over at a barbecue, and a two-year-old girl drowned in an Oklahoma pool.

Sky Dawn Word was playing in the pool at her foster parents' home. As News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports, her birth parents are putting the blame on DHS.

"I don't understand how she got into the pool or why. But, I do know it wouldn't have happened if she would have been watched," said Melissa Word, Sky's mother.

Melissa Word and her husband Rocky are grief-stricken. The youngest of their 4 children, Sky Dawn Word drowned over the weekend in an above ground swimming pool.

"She was just beautiful. I mean she was always happy. She was very independent, very smart," said Melissa.

On Sunday, Sky Dawn was at the foster home when she slipped away and climbed a ladder leading to the pool. By the time she was found, it was too late.

"I want other folks to know out there. They take your children away, their supposed to be safe and this is what happens," said Rocky Word, Sky's father.

Three of the couple's four children were in foster care at the home because of past alcohol problems.
The couple says they were attending parenting classes and making progress. Now they want answers from DHS.

"We are working with law enforcement. We're working with the District Attorney's Office to come to a very speedy and complete investigation of this matter," said George Johnson, who is a DHS Spokesperson.

DHS has removed the other foster children. Johnson says DHS requires fences around pools at foster homes; however, The News On 6 observed no fence around this one.

DHS couldn't say more about the case because no one has been charged.

"This is what we consider or could be considered on one of those deaths that could have been avoided," said Johnson.

Those words are of little comfort to these grieving parents.

"Somebody's going to have to change this system because our kids shouldn't have to die where they were supposed to be protected," said Rocky.

Sky's foster parents are not talking about the case.