Fresno County supervisor says he was unaware of CPS kids in horrid conditions until last week
Fresno County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Steve Brandau first learned last week that some foster children were living in deplorable conditions inside Fresno County Child Protective Services’ downtown office while they awaited placement.
“I did not know it reached a crisis level until just last week,” he said during the supervisors’ meeting Tuesday. “It is very bothersome to me to find out that this was happening right under the noses of the Board of Supervisors.”
The Fresno Bee reported last week that some foster children slept on yoga mats or tables, could not shower and were fed fast food or snacks while staying at the office. Children often slept in rooms with lights that don’t turn off.
Brandau said he met last week with county employees from the Service Employees International Union, which represents the social workers and many other county employees. He thanked the social workers for speaking out, and said he encouraged other employees to bring any other issues in the county to him.
“I’m personally not going to rest until this situation with the children has been completely, 100% dealt with,” he said.
The problems seen inside Fresno County’s Child Protective Services hub last week only highlighted how often county workers are ignored by their bosses and underappreciated by the county’s management, union workers told the Board of Supervisors during public comment on Tuesday.
“We are in this position because management did not respect our voices when we initially asked them to address the living conditions and safety for minors and staff,” Fresno County social worker Lorraine Ramirez said.
Social workers said they have been drawing attention to the problem for years, but were ignored by management.
Social worker Yolanda Dinwiddie said many workers don’t feel appreciated or treated with respect. They are overworked and underpaid, she said.
“Currently the retention rate is low and the morale is even lower,” she said. “The only thing we look forward to is going to work and helping these kids that are the most vulnerable.”
The social workers are paid the lowest in the state for the county job, according to the Service Employees International Union. The department hemorrhages workers after they are trained, because they can earn more and work under better conditions in surrounding counties, they have said.
County employees were required to return to work during the pandemic before a vaccine was available, and they have not received hazard pay.
Service Employees International Union local president Riley Talford, who is a juvenile corrections officer, said employees are fed up, and that is in part why the Child Protective Services issue became public.
“They feel like they’re not being adequately compensated for the work they do on behalf of the county,” he said.
Some of the workers have not seen a raise since 2011, he said. The conditions are not just a problem for social workers.
County locksmith Howard Glover said many in the maintenance department have worked in high-risk conditions during the pandemic, such as in the jail, morgue and health department.
“We’ve been here every day. We kept the lights on, we kept the doors open,” he said. “There was no vaccine available and we came to work every day.”
