Don’t Rush To Judge DCF

Vermonters statewide are rightfully angry about the senseless death of two-year-old Dezirae Sheldon. It is a horrific tragedy; one that VSEA members in Rutland say was made even worse by some very serious and public threats made against them in the days immediately following.

On March 6, State’s Attorney Michael Kainen penned a commentary in the Rutland Herald, urging Vermonters not to rush too quickly to judge DCF and its frontline employees. Here’s an excerpt:

"We are lucky to have a number of hardworking and dedicated social workers, but they are under-resourced and working in a framework that encourages reunification with the custodial parent.
I am very certain that there are social workers in the Rutland office who are agonizing over what they could have differently to save that little girl. Dezirae’s death was a horrible tragedy. But rushing to blame dedicated social workers who are overworked and under-resourced is hardly constructive."

VSEA thanks Kainen for being a voice of reason. You can read his entire commentary (and a letter about the commentary from a reader) here.