Maine: Logan Marr's caseworker back at work
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Logan Marr's caseworker back at work
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The state caseworker assigned to Logan Marr is back on
the job following a month of paid leave.
The worker, identified in various documents as Allison Peters, was
responsible for the 5-year-old girl's case when she died of asphyxiation at
the home of her foster mother in January.
The Department of Human Services employee is under "heightened supervision"
in the Lewiston office, agency spokesman David Winslow said.
Winslow, who did not identify Peters by name, said her duties have changed.
But he would not say whether Peters has an active caseload or direct contact
with children, as she did before she was placed on leave.
Peters was Logan's caseworker when the girl died in the Chelsea home of
Sally Schofield. Schofield, a former DHS worker, has been charged with
manslaughter in the case.
Schofield is accused of binding the girl to a chair, covering her mouth with
duct tape and leaving her alone in the basement.
Christy Baker of Dover-Foxcroft, Logan's biological mother, said Peters was
her caseworker in 1999 and again last year.
Peters was not solely responsible for placing Logan and her sister Bailey in
the Schofield home, but she was their caseworker when that decision was made
and was involved in the placement decision.
DHS has acknowledged that Peters failed to make a required quarterly visit
to the home and to act immediately when the girl complained of abuse in
December.
During a supervised visit with her biological family, Logan said that
Schofield had squeezed her mouth until it hurt. Peters was told of the
allegation and scheduled a visit for early February.
Winslow would not say whether Peters has been or will be disciplined for
violating DHS policies in Logan's case.
Peters did not return a message left at the Lewiston office on Wednesday.
"I personally don't think she should be working" for DHS, Baker said.
Baker and Logan's father, John Wagg III of Bowdoinham, have said separately
that they are prepared to sue the state separately over their daughter's
death.
Wagg's lawyer said recently that his client has not ruled out a lawsuit
against Peters.
Baker said she has not discussed that possibility with her lawyer.
The state first took Logan from her mother in 1998 and returned her in March
1999, after Bailey was born. The state took both girls in March 2000 and
placed them in a Rumford foster home before placing them in Schofield's home
in September.
The files have not been made public, but documents that have come to light
since Logan's death allege that Baker moved too frequently and allowed her
children to be in the company of sex offenders. They also say that Baker's
husband once beat her in front of Logan.
Baker says the charges are misleading or inaccurate.
http://www.fosters.com/news_2001b/may_01/17/me0517b.htm
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Fight CPS And Win
May 18, 2001
Maine's foster care investigation wrapping up investigation
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The Department of Human Service is nearing completion
of an internal investigation into the state's troubled foster-care system.
The agency has been scrutinizing the system since the Jan. 31 death of
5-year-old Logan Marr, who suffocated while in foster care in Chelsea. Her
foster mother, Sally Schofield, is facing manslaughter charges for allegedly
binding Logan to a chair and covering her mouth with duct tape.
The agency's findings were expected to be released as early as Friday
afternoon to state legislators.
DHS has acknowledged that Allison Peters, Logan's caseworker, did not
monitor Logan's well-being as closely as she should have before the girl
died.
David Winslow, the spokesman for DHS, declined comment on when the internal
report will be released or what it will say.
Some legislators say the report is long overdue.
"It's about time that they did this," said Rep. Joseph Brooks, D-Winterport,
a member of the Health and Human Services Committee.
Brooks said the agency needs to be more responsive to people if it wants to
restore its tarnished reputation.
The Legislature is planning to launch two studies of its own into the foster
care system.
http://www.fosters.com/news_2001b/may_01/18/me0518e.htm
Fern5827
Why is DHS so incredibly mismanaged?
Read my further posting about IL situation and the beating of 2 children while
in foster care, and when caseworkers records reflected that he made his visits
to the home.
I hope someone in IL is forwarding this situation to Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.
Http://www.childrensrights.org (class action firm in NYC overseeing foster
care)
