Opinion ID: 3026511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bennett Case Reassigned & Discharged

Text: In November 1999, the Bennett DHS case was reassigned to social worker Iris Dejesus. On the case assignment sheet, social work supervisor Patricia Wilson wrote, “If you cannot 2 A Child Advocate is member of the Child Advocacy Unit of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. 3 The length of time Alexus lived primarily with her paternal grandfather is in dispute, but it is not material to the issue before us. 5 locate family by Nov. 14 [1999] request an early listing for discharge of this case, again, as floater SW [social worker] did. If you do locate family, J. Lynn made an order to take Aliyaha into DHS custody!!!” Dejesus did not try to locate the Bennetts until late March of 2000. On March 27, 2000, Dejesus sent search letters to the Department of Public Welfare and to the Office of Services to the Homeless and Adults. On April 17, 2000, Dejesus checked DPA’s computer records and learned that Tiffany Bennett was receiving DPA benefits at a Grandsback Street address in Philadelphia. That same day, Dejesus visited the Grandsback Street address, but the house appeared abandoned. On April 18, 2000, DHS again petitioned family court to discharge DHS supervision and Aliyaha’s dependency petition because the “family is unable to be located.” The child advocate did not object, and DHS supervision and the dependency petition were discharged by agreement.