Q&A
Council Member Stevens questions ACS on report transparency and accountability
1:07:22
·
3 min
Council Member Althea V. Stevens engages in a discussion with ACS Commissioner Jess Dannhauser about the transparency of ACS reports and the balance between confidentiality and accountability. They explore the legal and ethical considerations in releasing information about child fatality cases.
- Stevens questions the commissioner's discretion in releasing reports and the potential for partial disclosure
- Dannhauser explains the legal constraints and the process for reviewing and learning from fatality cases
- The discussion touches on the importance of balancing transparency with protecting the privacy of surviving siblings
- Stevens emphasizes the need for accountability while acknowledging the importance of confidentiality in certain cases
Althea V. Stevens
1:07:22
And just even really briefly around that, I just wanted to just ask the question around, because isn't it up to the discretion of the commissioner to decide whether to put those reports out, and are we not at a place where we can actually put out pieces
UNKNOWN
1:07:37
of
Althea V. Stevens
1:07:37
the case that are not actually, you know, revealing, you know, details, but also just allowing transparency because it's to my understanding that past commissioners did put out those reports, and it wasn't, you know, wasn't in the sense of, like, they were able to protect privacy.
1:07:53
So is this, something that you're choosing to do, or is this something that you're still trying to figure out as a commissioner?
Jess Dannhauser
1:07:59
So, you know, the the law is a state law, at least it's law, and it says that it is confidential.
UNKNOWN
1:08:05
Mhmm.
Jess Dannhauser
1:08:05
And that if the commissioner has determined that it is not counter to the interests of the surviving siblings, information can be released about the the case.
1:08:15
And in some instances, that have been reported publicly, we haven't been involved in years.
1:08:21
And so I think, I don't want the benefit to, you know, whether we're sort of clearing our name or some of it to be the the the nexus of the decision.
1:08:31
It has to be around the surviving siblings.
1:08:34
The other thing that we are making sure we're doing is that we're learning in a in a way that is really thoughtful.
1:08:41
If you look at, industries that have created more safety, take the airline industry, the NTSB takes 18 months to review everything.
1:08:50
We do we interview staff who were involved.
1:08:52
What was what was your, caseload?
1:08:55
What was your experience, what did your supervisor say.
1:08:58
We look at all of the elements that were going on in that instance, and then we bring that together to make sure we're not learning a reaction from one instance, but we're really learning deep.
1:09:08
Yeah.
1:09:08
And so I think the process is is a strong process.
1:09:13
I do think I hear the call for that process to be, more fully transparent and understood, and so that's why I think bringing in this group of experts is necessary.
1:09:24
ACS used to do that.
1:09:25
I'm bringing that back, so we can look at trends.
1:09:29
Most of the instances, of of child fatalities that where ACS has been involved in the last 10 years, that's the number, that that gets publicly reported, are accidental.
1:09:42
And so a lot of the work that that Liz and her team lead around safe sleep, around, lock boxes for medication, Those are the kinds of things that we've also learned from the these fatality reports.
1:09:56
I'd love to go through the most recent one with you and sort of see where you think there are ways in which we can, learn better, get stronger.
1:10:05
But I do wanna make sure that we maintain a culture at ACS about learning rather than blame because blame has led us down a path in the past where we make decisions based on fear That is not good for children.
1:10:19
That is not good for families.
1:10:20
It's gotta be based on the best assessment of that individual family.
Althea V. Stevens
1:10:25
Yeah.
1:10:25
And, I mean, I just wanna go on record with saying I am a person who truly believes that we have to protect children and some of that is keeping certain things confidential and also not having all of their grueling details being exposed for everyone to read.
1:10:38
But we do have to have a balance of what does transparency look like and how do we make sure that we're able to hold not only ACS accountable, all parties accountable for the things that are taking place.
1:10:49
So, you know, I do appreciate the approach around saying, like, we do want to find a balance between the 2, but I do think, especially with, you know, some of the recent deaths that that's been going on, with the children, for me, it's a nonnegotiable.
1:11:02
Right?
1:11:02
Like, so it's like, how do we make it better and how do we do it quickly?
1:11:05
But I don't like to be reactive either.
1:11:07
So there is there is a fine balance.
1:11:10
I do have some more questions, but I'm gonna pass it over to council member Joseph, who has some questions.
