A state investigation released by the California Department of Social Services revealed that Santa Clara County’s child welfare agency failed to follow standard safety checks prior to placing vulnerable children in foster homes. Investigators uncovered significant systemic gaps in documentation and timeliness regarding emergency placement procedures, noting that only 10% of emergency placements complied with state law. Furthermore, about half of the background checks on foster parents were completed only after children had already been placed in their care, and workers frequently omitted criminal record evidence when screening potential foster parents and extended family members.
Background and Tragic Cases:
The county’s Department of Family and Children’s Services faced heightened scrutiny following the 2023 fentanyl overdose death of a 3-month-old under its care and the April death of 2-year-old Jaxon Juarez in a foster parent’s home. Jaxon’s foster mother had a prior felony conviction for child endangerment, and county officials subsequently fired four social workers related to the case. Following Jaxon’s death, county officials requested a state investigation, prompting a review of 55 foster care cases, 60 emergency placements, and 13 resource-family approvals spanning from April 2025 through May 2026.
Investigators identified safety concerns in 20 cases, which involved caregiver neglect, unauthorized and unsafe individuals living in homes, children experiencing behavioral crises, and unsupervised contact with parents. The state also raised concerns regarding the county’s use of “extended visits” temporarily placing children with relatives or kinship caregivers during emergency assessments while formal approvals remained pending.
County Response and Corrective Actions:
In response to the findings, Angie Schwartz, deputy director of California’s Children and Family Services Division, stressed the need for continued monitoring and intervention to ensure laws are followed to protect children. Santa Clara County Executive James R. Williams stated that the county is systematically reviewing every aspect of the department and adopting all state recommendations. This includes the creation of a new compliance office designed to provide dedicated in-house case reviews and standard operating procedures. The state has directed Santa Clara County to respond to the findings by October 7 and submit an updated corrective action plan by November 13.
