Lawmakers Reviewing DHS Abuse Reporting Policies

Thursday, August 2nd 2007, 8:18 pm

By: News On 6

State lawmakers are reviewing the ways DHS handles reports of abuse, like the one that ended in the death of a Tulsa toddler. The House Human Services Committee heard testimony Thursday as part of their review. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports Today's hearing should help lawmakers decide what state laws need to be changed to protect our children.

"A finding of confirmed abuse by beating with an instrument," read Sara Vincent-Spain of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.

The allegations are not new. Sara Vincent-Spain read a summary of years worth of complaints against a daycare where ultimately a child was killed. That child was 2-year-old Joshua Minton of Tulsa.

"Miss Chiles later admitted to tying up the child and there was also blood stained tape found in the home," Vincent-Spain said.

Minton's family members cried as they listened to details of previous abuse allegations, all at the hands of Joshua's daycare provider Vicki Chiles. Chiles is now charged with his murder. But his aunt believes DHS had plenty of ammo to close her down before then.

"A childcare provider with that many allegations against her, especially after admitting to abuse in April, should have already been closed down before my nephew died. I think itâ€™s appalling that it takes that long," Joshua's Great-Aunt Atonda Minton said.

Committee members also questioned DHS's standards.

"I would want to know, I would want my son and daughter in law to know how they're not in compliance, even in the smallest incident," said Vincent-Spain.

Adding to the scrutiny on DHS, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth conducted their own investigation. They also found plenty of mistakes.

"DHS licensing had knowledge of the danger that Miss Chiles posed to children in her care, and we don't believe they responded accordingly," Janice Hendrxy of the Oklahoma Commission for Children and Youth said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Oklahoma's DHS says they've already made a couple of changes since Minton's death. He believes another death like Minton's will be prevented.

"There are not that many cases of confirmed abuse in child care homes,â€ Oklahoma DHS Director Howard Hendrick said. â€œBut in those cases where itâ€™s appropriate we certainly do need to be responsive."

For Minton's loved ones, their response is okay, but itâ€™s not enough.

"I don't want them to stop here. Itâ€™s a giant step forward, but itâ€™s just one step on a long, long road," Minton said.

The Oklahoma Commission of Children and Youth is completing their investigation into DHS and how they handled Joshua Minton's Daycare before his death. They expect to make that report available to the public in the next two weeks.

Watch the video: DHS Policies Under Review

Related Stories:

5/17/2007 2-Year-Old Dies After Being Tied Up At Daycare, Says Police

5/18/2007 Selecting The Right Daycare For Your Children

5/18/2007 Daycare Worker Accused Of Killing Child Was Already Under Investigation

5/24/2007 Parents Of Child Who Died In Daycare Speak

5/29/2007 Court Hearing Date Set For Daycare Worker Charged With Murder

6/6/2007 Relatives Of Child Killed At Daycare Push For Change In Legislation

6/8/2007 New Allegations Against Daycare Owner Charged With Murder

6/12/2007 DHS Procedures Under Review Following Childâ€™s Death

7/17/2007 Autopsy Results Released In Daycare Death

7/23/2007 Toddler's Death Prompts Change In DHS Regulations