Accompanied by two deputies from LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s office, Anne Thomas, ER social worker for 14 years, responded to alleged sexual abuse of four-year-old girl by her father.
The deputies, Lisa Mandel, Yaroslavsky’s children’s deputy, and Joel Sappell, his deputy for special projects, were on the second part of their ride-along with Chatsworth social workers. The visit was part of our program to expose representatives from all five Supervisor’s offices to social work in Los Angeles.
The abuse referral came after the girl’s therapist, a mandated reporter, contacted DCFS. Thomas was called to the girl’s grandparents’ home for a follow-up visit. She’s been living there her entire life and believes they are her parents.
“I always encourage people to go out with me on a ride along. I think it is especially important for decision makers who are determining policy to come out and see what we really do. If not, the Board of Supervisors will make judgments and decisions without knowing what we do and the challenges we face.
It is not cut and dry, black and white. You can’t really predict what will happen.”
— Anne Thomas
ER Children’s Social Worker
The child, whose mother is a stripper and was arrested and jailed for having sex with a 15-year-old boy, and her father, who allegedly owns a porn business, with possible child pornography, answered the door. Her mother came out in pajamas.
Thomas immediately asked the mother sharp and incisive questions about the child, her supervision and schooling. The Board deputies were impressed.
Then the deputies saw how gray our work can be. After consulting her supervisor, Thomas maintained the case as “inconclusive.” There was not sufficient evidence to detain.
Anne would visit the father’s house later that night, even though she would receive no overtime pay. Like many social workers, she said she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if she did not do everything she could.