Philly removes neglected children from homes to keep them safe. But they often face worse abuse in foster care placements.

Stoneleigh Fellow Steve Volk and his colleagues at Resolve Philly and The Philadelphia Inquirer have published a new article covering Philadelphia’s Community Umbrella Agency system.

A story like this could begin in dozens of places.

It could begin with Elliot, an infant shaken so badly that he suffered a traumatic brain injury; or Adeen, another boy, submerged in scalding water; or Samaya, held down and burned with an iron.

A story like this could also begin with a mom, like Tytianna Hawthorne, whose daughter Su’Layah Williams was removed from her care by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and placed in a private home where the girl was allegedly murdered.

This story could begin with any of these tragic incidents because they all stem from the same problem: a child welfare system in need of reform.

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