ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) board launched an investigation Wednesday into the local social services board in Rockbridge County.
The VDSS board says this is the first time it has ever investigated a local board. This follows a report released last May by a special grand jury, accusing the board members of negligence.
Wednesday's investigation follows documented reports of child abuse and two incidents of children dying in foster care in Rockbridge County that the department ignored. Since then, a new director has been hired, but so far, all but one of the board members remain the same.
The grand jury report stated that "even after infant deaths, the board members asked no probing questions. The... investigation revealed a Board of Directors willing to routinely receive reports... with no way of verifying the completeness or accuracy of these reports."
Wednesday, an advocate for reform in the department, Susan Lawrence, presented the VDSS board with the report and pleaded to investigate whether or not the board members should be removed. That's something the VDSS board has the authority to do, but she says it has never attempted. After discussion in closed session, the VDSS board voted unanimously to launch the investigation.
"This is uncharted territory for us. We've never done an investigation like this and so part of our process and our comfort with that decision is understanding what's our legal authority and what's the procedure involved," Board Chair Dr. Danny Avula said.
To get that understanding, Avula said the VDSS board will work with the attorney general's office to conduct the investigation.
"I'm blown away. I'm very excited and really appreciative of the board for listening to us," said Lawrence, who has been working for more than a year to hold her local social services board accountable. "Our concern was with the children who died, with the children who were abused, but also that it was going to happen again," Lawrence said.
Avula said the board wants the investigation to begin within a week.