Child-Abuse Activist Wants Officials Fired

Angry at the deaths of three Ventura County children, a longtime advocate for child abuse prevention has demanded the immediate termination of two top social service providers.

Robert Woodson, a former board member of the Child Abuse and Prevention nonprofit organization, told Ventura County supervisors during a public comment portion of a meeting Tuesday that James E. Isom, the director of Public Social Services Agency, and Jerome Blesener, the Child Protective Services director, should both be fired.

Woodson blamed both men for the deaths of 2-year-olds Joselyn Hernandez and Christopher Greer, as well as 2-month-old Rachel Rother, who starved to death after a visit from Child Protective Services investigators.

Joselyn Hernandez died this summer after being returned to the custody of her teenage parents, and Christopher Greer died 10 years ago after suffering from battered child syndrome.

“I’m beginning to wonder if PSSA ever gets it right,” Woodson told supervisors. “Mr. Isom and Mr. Blesener need to be fired immediately.”

Isom said his agency does the best it can, and said he, too, is frustrated by the deaths.

“It’s not a perfect world,” he said. “Any death is unacceptable. Hindsight is wonderful. . . . But these workers do the best they can.”

Blesener was unavailable for comment.

Supervisor Judy Mikels said she was not convinced there is reason to fire Isom or Blesener.

“All of these issues have been around and have been investigated,” she said. “It was not demonstrated to me that there was anything untold going on.”