We must do more to save kids
THE horrific death of Myls Dobson was truly tragic. It is always deeply upsetting when the cruel and senseless actions of an adult cut an innocent child’s life short.
As Public Advocate for the City of New York, I will be working with the Administration for Children’s Services and others to bring about necessary reforms — and ensure that our city meets its most solemn responsibility — protecting the welfare of our children.
Specifically, I believe it is important that when a custodial parent whose child has been in the ACS system is incarcerated, the agency be notified to take action to place the child with an appropriate caretaker immediately.
Unfortunately, that does not seem to have happened in this case.
Tomorrow is the eighth anniversary of the tragic death of Nixzmary Brown, a 7-year-old child beaten and killed in her Bedford-Stuyvesant home at the hands of her stepfather.
It was young Nixzmary’s death that prompted ACS to introduce reforms in the system at that time. But the issue remains the same — young children who lose their lives at the hands of unstable stepparents, familial caretakers and family friends.
Larger reforms are needed to address this issue, and I will work with the incoming administration, ACS and child advocates to keep our most vulnerable children safe.
We must simply do every single thing in our power to protect our children from abuse and help them live healthy, prosperous lives.
James is New York City’s public advocate