PROMOTES DANGEROUS CHALLENGES.
THE 2 MINORS CHARGED ARE
FACING THIRD DEGREE AGGRAVATED
ASSAULT.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
THE SHOCKING DEATH OF AN
8-YEAR-OLD BOY THAT FROZE TO
DEATH IN HIS FATHER'S GARAGE
IN JANUARY IS LEADING TO
CHANGES IN SUFFOLK COUNTY.
TODAY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED
NEW MEASURES TO OVERHAUL CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
CAROLYN GUSOFF REPORTS NOW.
OUR COMMUNITY'S COLLECTIVE
HEART WAS BROKEN.
REPORTER: THE TASK FORCE
INVESTIGATING THE CASE OF
THOMAS VALVA RELEASED THEIR
RECOMMENDATION.
HIS DEATH INEARTHED A SHOCKING
LITANY OF MISSED CUES, AND
THEY ADMIT THE CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES FAILED IN
SUFFOLK COUNTY.
THE SYSTEM THAT PLACED
THOMAS AND HIS BROTHERS IN THE
CUSTODY OF THIS MAN, OF A
SYSTEM THAT DID NOT HEAR THE
PLEAS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO
PROTECT THOMAS.
REPORTER: SUFFOLK COUNTY
EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCING
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE
SYSTEM, 6 PROPOSED NEW LAWS.
AMONG THEM ENHANCED SCRUTINY
OF COMPLAINTS BY SCHOOL
OFFICIALS.
CASE LOADS REDUCED TO 12 PER
MONTH.
THIS SYSTEM IS JUST NOT SET
UP TO PROTECT KIDS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM OR OTHER KIDS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES.
REPORTER: VALVA WAS
AUTISTIC.
EDUCATORS HAD COMPLAINED TO
CPS HE WAS COMING TO SCHOOL
HUNGRY, BRUISED, WEARING
URINE-SOAKED CLOTHING.
A SPECIAL NEEDS UNIT WILL NOW
BE CREATED, AND NEW TRAINING
TO TEACH CASEWORKERS TO
IDENTIFY THEIR OWN POSSIBLE
BIAS.
THE ACCUSED FATHER WAS A
POLICE OFFICER.
CPS WILL NEVER OPERATE THE
SAME WAY AGAIN.
AND THAT IS APPROPRIATE.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED TO
THOMAS VALVA CAN NEVER HAPPEN
AGAIN.
REPORTER: ADDITIONAL STAFF
WILL BE HIRED, BUT DOESN'T THE
PUBLIC DESERVE TO KNOW
SPECIFICALLY WHAT WENT WRONG,
HOW SO MANY RED FLAGS WERE
IGNORED, ESPECIALLY FROM
EDUCATORS IN HIS CASE?
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
REPORTER: HE SAYS SPECIFICS
ARE STILL BEING REVIEWED BY
THE STATE.
LEGISLATORS ARE CALLING FOR AN
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
AND IF IN FACT THEY FOUND
OUT IT WAS WRONGDOING, PEOPLE
SHOULD BE FIRED, AND THE
COMMISSIONER SHOULD RESIGN.
REPORTER: THE COUNTY SAYS
THE PROPOSALS ARE JUST THE
BEGINNING OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
THE WORK WILL CONTINUE.
CAROLYN GUSOFF, CBS 2 NEWS.
VALVA'S MOTHER SAID IN A
STATEMENT THAT THE CHANGES ARE
UNACCEPTABLE.
SHE WANTS THE BILL TO INCLUDE
A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL CPS AND
COURT INTERACTIONS WITH
