Media Advisory on Charlie and Nadine H. v. Whitman

PRESS RELEASE

JUDGE BROWN TO CONTINUE HEARING TESTIMONY ABOUT CORRUPTION OF EVIDENCE IN CHILD WELFARE REFORM LAWSUIT

WHAT:
Experts and caseworkers continue testimony about New Jersey Division for Youth and Family Services (DYFS) altering case records to be reviewed in Charlie and Nadine H. v. Whitman lawsuit.

WHY:
Lawyers representing children in New Jersey's foster care system have charged that DYFS ordered caseworkers to change case records detailing children's treatment in foster care in an effort to alter evidence sought in the federal lawsuit.

WHO:
Hon. J. Garrett E. Brown, Jr. will hear testimony from:

Expert witness Dr. Richard J. Gelles, chair for Child and Family Violence School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, who will continue his testimony from last week when he stated that backdating of records:
"renders the case files invalid for our purposes of knowing, of determining whether or not the agency practice was acceptable and appropriate practice regarding child welfare....We couldn't draw valid conclusions."

Gelles also stated that it is needed to be made explicit to caseworkers that "thou shall not put something into a file without noting the date upon which it's put into a file."

Caseworker from Camden District Office of DYFS who will testify that she was asked to create documents covering casework for dates that were before she even started working at DYFS.

WHEN:
Monday, March 26: 1:00 to 2:00 PM

WHERE:
U.S. District Court
Clarkson S. Fischer Federal Building
Courtroom 4A
402 East State Street, Fourth Floor
Trenton, NJ

Children's Rights works throughout the United States in partnership with national and local experts, advocates and government officials to document the needs of children in the care of child welfare systems. Children's Rights helps develop realistic solutions and, where necessary, uses the power of litigation to ensure that reform takes place.