Op-ed: Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable children deserve better

On Dec. 19, 2023, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors held an unprecedented hearing in response to the tragic death of Baby Phoenix from a fentanyl overdose. The tragedy became headline news as details emerged suggesting it could have been prevented had the county’s Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) removed Baby Phoenix from a dangerous situation before she died.

That day, the board of supervisors adopted a referral intended to prompt DFCS to take a deep look at its practices and procedures and bring forth recommendations to address issues, including appropriate caseload levels for social workers and adequate resources for support and engagement of at-risk families.

One of the issues highlighted by the board was management’s decision to exclude frontline social workers and supervisors from meetings with County Counsel about legal action to remove children from dangerous situations. We are pleased to say DFCS representatives did sit down with social workers and supervisors represented by our union, SEIU Local 521. We were able to agree on recommendations that have restored the voice of social workers and supervisors in those critical meetings.

Unfortunately, no progress has been made on other major issues. Staffing has worsened, and management has adopted a more adversarial approach with frontline workers, further exacerbating the situation. Burnout, untenable work schedules and uncompetitive pay have caused too many of our most experienced frontline workers to leave for other jobs where the working conditions and pay are better and work is less stressful.

With support from members of the board of supervisors, workers have tried to engage in joint discussions with DFCS management that would lead to real solutions to the problems the department faces. However, when we’ve met to discuss problems, it seems the county’s labor relations team is calling the shots — and rather than find workable solutions to problems, they insist on what they view as their legal prerogatives.

Right now, approximately half of the social worker positions in the Emergency Removal Department are not filled.  These are the people charged with responding when children are reported in imminent danger, and an immediate response is required — children like Baby Phoenix.

What does this situation mean for our day-to-day operations?

I, Pa Chang, have worked for the county for 20 years. On paper, my team includes six social worker positions, but for the last eight months, they have all been vacant, or staff have been moved. Since November, I have had to manage and supervise four court cases while still managing 17 emergency removal referrals. I cannot provide proper coaching, training and oversight while also handling cases and investigating child abuse, which should be done by social workers in the positions that are currently vacant.

I do this work despite these conditions because nothing is more rewarding than what happens when we get it right. Like we did earlier this year when I was able to reunite a child with their parent after 12 years apart — our team made it happen.

The situation in DFCS is so dire that dedicated professionals like me are giving up and losing hope and trust in DFCS leadership. Our union wants to make sure these families get the support they need. This can only happen if county management takes responsibility and seeks solutions to this crisis with our input.

We propose making 2025 the Year of the Child in the county with monthly reports to the board on DFCS’s progress. We urge DFCS to share draft reports with employee representatives one week before board meetings to allow for comments and suggested follow-up questions.

Riko Mendez is chief elected officer of SEIU Local 521, the union that represents DFCS workers, including social workers, supervisors and support staff. Pa Chang is an SEIU Local 521 member and DFCS social worker supervisor who has worked for Santa Clara County since 2004.