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December 10th 04, 03:26 PM
Sisters' Deaths Underscore Danger Of Swimming Pools
By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
Published: Dec 9, 2004
TAMPA - Social workers who oversee children need to take special
precautions when the family has a swimming pool, the Department of
Children & Families says.
Caseworkers should discuss pool safety with the family and regularly
observe the pool to make sure it is safe.
The findings were listed in a DCF report released under court order
this week. The report investigated the 2002 drowning of 2-year-old
Selia Rose McLendon and the subsequent drowning this summer of her
younger half-sister, Voncille Lynn Cannon. Both died in the same pool.
The girls had been under watch by social services, although state
supervision ended 2 1/2 months before Voncille's death.
The DCF report says the caseworker's files could have included more
information. The caseworker's written records do not say whether he
discussed pool safety with the girls' guardian, their great-
grandmother, and do not say whether he checked the pool area to make
sure it was made safe, the DCF report says.
The caseworker's superiors say he did check the pool and did talk to
the family about pool safety, but that information was not included in
the files.
In May 2002, DCF placed Selia and Voncille, then 6 months old, in the
care of their great- grandmother, Beverly Goodson. A few weeks after
the children were placed in the home, at 10825 Old Hillsborough Road,
Selia was in the front yard playing with some puppies when she
wandered toward the pool, reports said. She went between some wooden
slats and into the water. A 9-year-old cousin found her floating in
the above- ground pool, reports said. Selia died at the hospital three
days later.
Goodson told authorities she would drain the pool.
The family was visited monthly by a DCF caseworker, and then by a
caseworker for Hillsborough Kids Inc., a private nonprofit agency
under contract with DCF to oversee child welfare. The state
supervision of Voncille's family ended this year on April 20.
On July 4, the family had an Independence Day party at the home.
Goodson went to bed, complaining of a shoulder injury, reports said.
She left 2- year-old Voncille in the care of several adults, reports
said.
A great aunt watched the girl in the kitchen and stopped her from
walking outside. Voncille had been sick and was told she could not go
swimming.
The great aunt became distracted and the girl slipped through the
kitchen door, reports said. Several gates normally blocked access to
the pool, but because so many people had been swimming earlier that
day, the gates were open, reports said.
The same cousin who had found Selia found Voncille in the pool. She
was reported dead on arrival at Tampa General Hospital.
Goodson and other relatives could not be reached for comment
Wednesday.
The report released this week makes several recommendations, including
that caseworkers investigate pool safety and observe pool areas
regularly. The report suggests creating a checklist for caseworkers to
document their attentions to swimming pools and spas.
DCF spokesman K. Andrew Ritter said that after Voncille died, the
agency developed a new form that ensures caseworkers will discuss pool
safety with families.
Chris Card, the executive director of Hillsborough Kids Inc., said
Voncille's caseworker had spoken to the family about pool safety and
had confirmed that the pool had been drained. He mentioned in one
report that the pool was gated and closed but did not make notes to
say the pool remained closed. That information probably could have
been included when the case was closed in April, Card said.
``At the time we closed the case, it had been two years [since the
first drowning] and the pool was double fenced,'' Card said. ``It was
closed up.''
Family members told investigators the pool was re- opened during the
holiday weekend at the urging of other youngsters in the family.
The caseworker ``was shocked that they re-opened the pool,'' Card
said. ``He did not anticipate that. The pool had been closed for two
years.''
Card said HKI workers will use the new checklist provided by DCF when
they visit families with pools. Caseworkers also will discuss pool
safety with families.
The DCF report suggests that caseworkers take pool safety classes and
inspect the pools, but Card said that is not practical.
``I'm not going to suggest our staff are going to be pool safety
experts,'' he said. ``I wouldn't want the liability that goes along
with that.''
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB41G6II2E.html
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action.
By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
Published: Dec 9, 2004
TAMPA - Social workers who oversee children need to take special
precautions when the family has a swimming pool, the Department of
Children & Families says.
Caseworkers should discuss pool safety with the family and regularly
observe the pool to make sure it is safe.
The findings were listed in a DCF report released under court order
this week. The report investigated the 2002 drowning of 2-year-old
Selia Rose McLendon and the subsequent drowning this summer of her
younger half-sister, Voncille Lynn Cannon. Both died in the same pool.
The girls had been under watch by social services, although state
supervision ended 2 1/2 months before Voncille's death.
The DCF report says the caseworker's files could have included more
information. The caseworker's written records do not say whether he
discussed pool safety with the girls' guardian, their great-
grandmother, and do not say whether he checked the pool area to make
sure it was made safe, the DCF report says.
The caseworker's superiors say he did check the pool and did talk to
the family about pool safety, but that information was not included in
the files.
In May 2002, DCF placed Selia and Voncille, then 6 months old, in the
care of their great- grandmother, Beverly Goodson. A few weeks after
the children were placed in the home, at 10825 Old Hillsborough Road,
Selia was in the front yard playing with some puppies when she
wandered toward the pool, reports said. She went between some wooden
slats and into the water. A 9-year-old cousin found her floating in
the above- ground pool, reports said. Selia died at the hospital three
days later.
Goodson told authorities she would drain the pool.
The family was visited monthly by a DCF caseworker, and then by a
caseworker for Hillsborough Kids Inc., a private nonprofit agency
under contract with DCF to oversee child welfare. The state
supervision of Voncille's family ended this year on April 20.
On July 4, the family had an Independence Day party at the home.
Goodson went to bed, complaining of a shoulder injury, reports said.
She left 2- year-old Voncille in the care of several adults, reports
said.
A great aunt watched the girl in the kitchen and stopped her from
walking outside. Voncille had been sick and was told she could not go
swimming.
The great aunt became distracted and the girl slipped through the
kitchen door, reports said. Several gates normally blocked access to
the pool, but because so many people had been swimming earlier that
day, the gates were open, reports said.
The same cousin who had found Selia found Voncille in the pool. She
was reported dead on arrival at Tampa General Hospital.
Goodson and other relatives could not be reached for comment
Wednesday.
The report released this week makes several recommendations, including
that caseworkers investigate pool safety and observe pool areas
regularly. The report suggests creating a checklist for caseworkers to
document their attentions to swimming pools and spas.
DCF spokesman K. Andrew Ritter said that after Voncille died, the
agency developed a new form that ensures caseworkers will discuss pool
safety with families.
Chris Card, the executive director of Hillsborough Kids Inc., said
Voncille's caseworker had spoken to the family about pool safety and
had confirmed that the pool had been drained. He mentioned in one
report that the pool was gated and closed but did not make notes to
say the pool remained closed. That information probably could have
been included when the case was closed in April, Card said.
``At the time we closed the case, it had been two years [since the
first drowning] and the pool was double fenced,'' Card said. ``It was
closed up.''
Family members told investigators the pool was re- opened during the
holiday weekend at the urging of other youngsters in the family.
The caseworker ``was shocked that they re-opened the pool,'' Card
said. ``He did not anticipate that. The pool had been closed for two
years.''
Card said HKI workers will use the new checklist provided by DCF when
they visit families with pools. Caseworkers also will discuss pool
safety with families.
The DCF report suggests that caseworkers take pool safety classes and
inspect the pools, but Card said that is not practical.
``I'm not going to suggest our staff are going to be pool safety
experts,'' he said. ``I wouldn't want the liability that goes along
with that.''
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB41G6II2E.html
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at http://www.aclu.org/action.