Santa Clara County’s Family and Children Services Director Damion Wright is resigning, after more than a year of controversy over the fentanyl overdose death of an infant who the agency – under policies pushed by Wright’s predecessor – refused to separate from her drug-abusing father.
Wright’s resignation is effective Jan. 17, according to a farewell letter obtained by San José Spotlight. Wright said the decision comes after the death of his father, which prompted him to “reevaluate” his priorities and accept another opportunity in Southern California. Wright joined the the department as an assistant director in early 2021. He became director last August, after his predecessor, Daniel Little, was promoted to Social Services Agency director.
“During my tenure as Director, since late August 2023, I have dedicated myself to establishing a robust safety net for children and families in partnership with DFCS staff and internal and external stakeholders,” Wright wrote. “Together with our staff and partners, we have made significant strides toward enhancing workplace practices that prioritize child safety.”
County officials confirmed Wright’s resignation. A county spokesperson said they anticipate announcing an interim director in the coming days.
“We thank Damion for his continued dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of children residing in our County and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” a spokesperson told San José Spotlight.
Wright, who could not be immediately reached for comment, took over the agency several months after the May 2023 drug overdose death of 3-month-old Baby Phoenix in San Jose.
Phoenix’s death – and a Mercury News investigation – raised questions about the county’s family preservation policies pushed by Little, which gave county lawyers more power to block the removal of children from troubled families and aimed its focus more on family healing through classes and programs. But social workers said those policies trumped child safety. Mercury News reporting showed that social workers assigned to Phoenix’s case repeatedly objected to giving the child back to her parents.
The agency has since committed to reforming its child welfare policies and practices, which came under scrutiny from two different state reports.
“I firmly believe that by adhering to the pathway forward we have laid out for safe children and safe communities, we can continue to uphold the safety of our vulnerable populations during this transition and beyond,” Wright wrote in his farewell letter. “My commitment to ensuring that children are protected, whether in their homes or through necessary court interventions, remains steadfast.”
Alex Lesniak, a social worker who has been outspoken about the county’s child welfare policies since Phoenix’s death, said her heart goes out to Wright for the loss of a loved one. But she said social worker morale has been at an all time low since the county’s handling of the Phoenix scandal.
“I have been hearing that from people who have been here for 15, 20 or even 30 years — including people who don’t typically speak up at all — who are telling me (the morale) as bad as they’ve seen it,” Lesniak told San José Spotlight.
She said Wright’s departure raises questions about a potential power vacuum over Family and Children Services.
“What does leadership look like for the next step?” Lesniak said. “A lot of us know that the person who implemented the policies and procedures that led to Baby Phoenix’s death is still the agency director for the Social Services Agency.”
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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