State Intervention in Bertie County Child Welfare Services Following Child Fatality

Executive Summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has assumed control of child welfare services in Bertie County following the death of a two-year-old child previously known to the county’s Department of Social Services (DSS). This intervention, the second for the county, highlights critical failures in local institutional capacity and raises significant concerns regarding the fulfillment of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Background of the Intervention

The state’s action was prompted by the December death of two-year-old Jamie Drain. An subsequent state review of Bertie County’s child welfare services magnified concerns, leading to the takeover. This marks a historic recurrence, as Bertie County is the first in the state to have its child welfare services placed under state control for a second time. The family of the deceased child is actively seeking information and accountability regarding the circumstances of her death.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Implications

The events in Bertie County directly contravene the principles of several Sustainable Development Goals, indicating a lapse in the provision of essential public services and protections for vulnerable populations.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Institutional Failure (Target 16.6): The repeated necessity for state intervention demonstrates a severe breakdown in the effectiveness, accountability, and transparency of local government institutions responsible for child welfare.
• Access to Justice (Target 16.3): The family’s reported inability to obtain official documents, including medical and autopsy records, points to a failure to ensure equal access to justice and information for all citizens.
• Child Protection (Target 16.2): The death of a child within the social services system represents a fundamental failure to end abuse, neglect, and violence against children.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Preventable Child Deaths (Target 3.2): The death of a young child is a direct setback to the goal of ending preventable deaths of children under five years of age.
2. Failure of Health and Safety Systems: The case underscores a systemic weakness in the public infrastructure designed to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable children.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Disparities in Public Services: The fact that this is the fifth state takeover of a county DSS, and the first repeat intervention, highlights significant inequalities in the quality and reliability of essential public services across different regions within the state.

Current Status and Forward Actions

The death of Jamie Drain remains an active investigation by the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office. DHHS staff are now on-site in Bertie County to manage and stabilize child welfare services, working directly with county personnel. The objective of the state intervention is to rebuild institutional capacity to ensure the protection and well-being of children, thereby aligning local governance with the foundational principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central focus is the “unexpected” death of a 2-year-old child, Jamie Drain. This directly relates to the fundamental goals of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being, particularly for children.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article extensively discusses the failure of a local institution, the Bertie County Department of Social Services (DSS), to effectively carry out its child welfare duties. The state’s intervention, the family’s quest for answers (“justice”), and the lack of transparency from officials highlight issues of institutional accountability, effectiveness, and access to justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” The death of a 2-year-old, especially one who was “previously involved with the Bertie County Department of Social Services,” is a clear instance of a potentially preventable death that this target aims to eliminate.
• Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article states that the child’s death is “still an active investigation,” which implies that violence or neglect could be a cause. The death itself is a data point for “related death rates.”
• Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The failure of the child welfare system, which exists to protect children from such harm, leading to a child’s death, is a direct failure to meet this target.
• Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The article provides a clear example of institutional failure. The state had to take over the county’s child welfare services for a second time due to “major concerns.” The family’s statement, “They won’t give me any paperwork, no medical records, no autopsy, they won’t give me nothing,” is a direct testament to a lack of institutional transparency and accountability.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.2: The death of the 2-year-old child is a specific instance that would contribute to the “Under-five mortality rate” (Indicator 3.2.1). The article provides a qualitative case study of this indicator.
• Indicator for Target 16.1: The specific death of Jamie Drain, which is under active investigation, serves as a potential data point for “Number of victims of intentional homicide” (Indicator 16.1.1) or other violence-related death statistics.
• Indicator for Target 16.2: The failure of the DSS to protect a child in its system, culminating in death, is a critical, albeit tragic, indicator of a breakdown in child protection services. This implies a failure to prevent violence against children (related to Indicator 16.2.1).
• Indicator for Target 16.6: The article provides several qualitative indicators of institutional failure:
  • The state takeover of a county’s DSS is a direct measure of an institution failing to function effectively.
  • The fact that “this is the fifth time the state has taken over a county’s DSS, and the first time a county DSS has been taken over twice” provides a comparative measure of institutional weakness.
  • The father’s testimony that officials “won’t give me any paperwork, no medical records, no autopsy” is a direct indicator of a lack of institutional transparency.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: witn.com