(NECN) - As hope fades in the search for missing five-year-old Fitchburg, Mass. boy Jeremiah Oliver, questions remain surrounding the actions of the Derpartment of Children and Families in his case.
Two workers have been fired and a review has been ordered of 40,000 cases.
Marylou Sudders, an associate professor at the Boston College School of Social Work, joined NECN to share some insight on the situation.
"It is the role of the Department of Children and Families to ensure that children are protected in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when their parents cannot [protect them]," said Sudders. "In this situation, it's quite obvious that the social worker and her supervisor failed in that fundamental responsibility."
Sudders went on to explain that it's important that the investigation into the DCF should be external, thorough and transparent.
