Children Services to announce changes to policies following Takoda Collins investigation

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Montgomery County is expected to unveil changes in its policies and procedures to improve child safety within the county’s Children Services Division.

The plan will be presented this afternoon as part of the division’s “new strategic vision” and will include changes to the agency’s structure.

The announcement comes after an internal review into the organization following the homicide of Takoda Collins, who died from blunt force trauma in combination with compressive asphyxia and water submission. Al McLean and Amanda Hinze were indicted on new charges connected to Collins' death in July.

>> Bond set at $1 million each for 2 facing additional charges in death of Takoda Collins

“Based on our own internal review and input from the State of Ohio, Montgomery County has made significant improvements to our children services operations,” said Judy Dodge, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners so that we can better serve children and families.”

Key findings in the internal review included:

• Clarify policy and procedures for emergency circumstances.
• Ensure all household members are interviewed.
• Ensure staff are aware of procedures for non-cooperative parties.
• Conduct comprehensive review of historical case records to improve current investigations.
• Clarify circumstances that require consultation with the Child Protection Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office.
• Ensure staff are knowledgeable of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, parents' rights, and the ability to contact collateral sources of information without parental consent.

News Center 7 has widely reported there were numerous red flags reported before Takoda Collins' death.

>> I-Team: Lack of communication may have led to system failure in Takoda Collins' death

An investigation by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office into the response by agencies involved in the Takoda Collins homicide investigation showed those agencies did not share information with each other that is permitted under law, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said.

According to the county, the internal review of the Children Services Division also prompted a reorganization of the agency’s staff who provide for greater specialization among caseworkers, enhanced compliance review and training and a more deliberate approach to diversity and inclusion.

“The County welcomed the input of our members as we developed this new structure,” said Jane Hay, President of the Montgomery County Chapter of the Professionals Guild of Ohio. “Our members live and breathe this work every day, so we are so pleased that the County leadership team reached out and asked for their valuable input before the reorganization.”

Cox Media Group