The state of North Carolina does not check on all children after they are adopted.
The case of Blake and London Deven, two children police say were murdered by their adoptive mother, has ignited calls for reform.
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WRAL has received dozens of emails from foster parents across the state after the premiere of WRAL’s newest documentary, "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina." The documentary shows how the foster care system is failing children.
One foster mother shared, “I had a teen who aged out. She was in 35 foster homes within six years in foster care.” Another wrote, “Broken doesn’t even begin to address the situation.” A third foster parent said, “The DSS director in our county has not answered a single phone call or email in the last two years.”
North Carolina is one of nine states with a state-supervised, county-administered foster care system, meaning that while the state oversees all 100 counties, each runs its own program.
Gaile Osborne, the executive director of Foster Family Alliance of NC, has fostered more than 40 children. She said the 100-county system is challenging for families. “There’s not a solid, consistent way of doing things. That is the biggest issue we see and hear from across the state,” said Osbourne.
WRAL’s documentary Broken investigates the case of Avantae Deven, who adopted five children from three different counties. Police say she abused them, leading to the deaths of Blake and London Deven.
“This is my child that I’ll never get to say goodbye to. There needs to be more oversight,” said Blake’s biological mother, Felicia Chandler.
The state does not check on children after they are adopted unless the adoptive parent requests financial assistance. WRAL News confirmed Avantae Deven declined that assistance in 2013.
“When you’re a foster parent, every single thing is watched. Every conversation is documented. And then, the next day, nothing,” said Osbourne about the switch from foster parent to adoptive parent.
The Deven case has rocked the child welfare community in North Carolina.
Karen McLeod, a child welfare advocate with the nonprofit Benchmarks, said those working in the system are deeply affected by these failures.
“I assure you that the workers involved in these cases are crushed. These are children. This is life and death,” McLeod said.
The Deven case has sparked conversations among lawmakers, advocates, and child welfare professionals about whether more post-adoption checks should be required.
Karen McLeod asked, “Do we need to have a touchpoint after children are adopted? What would that look like? How do we fund it?”
Susan Osbourne, a deputy secretary with DHHS, said they are looking at what other states are doing in terms of follow-ups.
“It’s something we’re looking at now,” Susan Osbourne said.
Gaile Osborne said she can understand why some adoptive parents may not want increased involvement from the state. She said it’s worth it to make sure no other kids end up like Blake and London Deven.
“And again, the people that are in it for the right reasons, they may be annoyed, why are we having to do this?” Gaile Osborne said. “But at the end of the day, if I know it's to keep the safety nets in place for all children, I’ll do it.”
Tap here to watch the full documentary “Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina.”