Watchdog group gives Mass. D-minus for protecting kids

BOSTON—A federal watchdog group gives Massachusetts a near failing grade for its efforts to protect children from abuse.

Only 10 states fared worse than Massachusetts, which got a D-minus in the study by the Children's Advocacy Institute and the watchdog group First Star.

The report said the state has failed to report on near-fatal child abuse and operates under a shroud of secrecy.

It cited several high-profile examples of alleged Department of Social Services failures, including Haleigh Poutre's case.

The girl was beaten into a coma while in foster care after DSS dismissed more than a dozen allegations of abuse.

It also mentioned Rebecca Riley, the 4-year-old whose parents are charged with manslaughter after she died from a prescription drug overdose.

Juan Martinez, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, which includes DSS, said the report focuses on an evaluation of public disclosure practices.

Martinez said the department has made several improvements since Commissioner Angelo McClain began the job almost a year ago, including assigning two social workers instead of one for emergency investigations and closely monitoring the caseloads of social workers to make sure they have a maximum of 18 cases.

He said the department is hoping to reduce caseloads by hiring about 100 new social workers.

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Information from: Boston Herald, http://www.bostonherald.com