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State of Florida

Department of Children and Families

Charlie CristGovernor

George H.SheldonSecretary

Steve Holmes

Regional Director

Dedrick Review (Initial)

Alleged Victim: Shannon Lee Dedrick

Date of Birth: March 11, 2009

Alleged Perpetrator: Crystina Lynn Mercer (mother)

James Dedrick (father)

Other Household Members:

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to determine the prior involvement the Department of Children and

Families has had on the above subjects, specifically the alleged victim, and the adequacy of actions

taken to ensure child safety, provide the family with needed services, ensure engagement and

cooperation of services, and to determine if the appropriate level of risk and safety was made by the

Department.

The review is based on information obtained via Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN).

Prior Investigation2009-049087

On March 23, 2009, the Florida Abuse Hotline accepted a call concerning substance misuse by the

mot~ynn Mercer, father, James Dedrick, and other household members ~and The alleged victim was twelve day old, Shannon Lee Dedrick. The allegatIOnsare as follows:

"Mom is emotionally handicapped, suffers from ADHD, and is bipolar. All the adults in the

home are smoking marijuana and cigarettes around Shannon. Mom was told at the hospital

not to smoke around Shannon because she couldn't take it. Mom is always looking for

places to dump Shannon off."

Supplemental allegations were made on the same day, March 23, 2009.

"The four adults in the home smoke a lot of marijuana and cigarettes. The mother used

marijuana during her pregnancy with Shannon. 2 weeks ago, the home was thick withCircuit14,

500West 11thStreet,PanamaCity,Florida32401

Mission: Protect the Vulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self-Sufficient Families, andAdvance Personal and Family Recovery and Resiliency



cigarette smoke. The mother pawns Shannon off on anybody she finds to care for Shannon.

The mother allows the mentally challenged individuals in the home to care for Shannon. Itis unknown if the individuals in the home are mentally challenged enough to the point that

they can't care for a child. The mother has left Shannon with the father's sister who has

seizures and uses marijuana/pills."

March 24.2009

Child Protective Investigator (CPI) Mylisa Fuelner and CPI Jennifer Renfro responded to the home

to address the allegations of substance misuse. All adults denied smoking marijuana~garettesaround the baby, however admitted to smoking marijuana. The mother, father, and Wcompleteda urinalysis which was positive for marijuana. The parents denied the paternal sister who has

seizures had ever met the baby but his other sister does watch the baby. Mother advised she was

-nvestigators' observations of the home was messy but not hazardous, family had formula for the

baby, both parents were attentive to the baby, baby was small due to being premature, dressed

~ave any marks or bruises. Additionally, CPI Fuelner noted adults

~~ but not to the point that they cannot care for the baby with someassistance like parenting' .

Services alr~ed were Healthy Start, Social Security, Women, Infants, and Children(WIC), and ~ CPI Fuelner discussed with mother and father substance abuse evaluationand voluntary prevention program, Family Focus Services. Parents agreed to cooperate.

CPI Fuelner confirmed allegations with the reporter.

Initial safety assessment completed by CPI Fuelner with a risk level of intermediate due to parent's

marijuana use , and the baby being their first child. Additionally noted was the

parent's agreement to cooperate with services and if their level of cooperation changed riskwould

be higher.

Initial review by Child Protective Investigator Supervisor (CPIS) Barry Lee supporting assessment

by CPI Fuelner and providing additional actions to take to complete investigation.

March 25. 2009

Family Focus Services (FFS) transfer staffing with recommendations for substance abuse

evaluation, urinalysis, and parenting. Case accepted for services.

March 26. 2009

Second Party Review completed by Operational Program Administrator (OPA) Beau Whitfield

agreeing with assessment and applauding CPI Fuelner for referring and providing FFS to family.

April 15.2009

CPI Fuelner contacted FFS Prevention Specialist Kristy Hancock regarding update on family.

Family is cooperative, has concerns with roommates not paying rent or working but baby is fineotherwise.

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April 22. 2009

Thirty day review completed by CPIS Kelly Faircloth reviewing information already obtained and

requesting additional actions be completed prior to investigation closure.

CPIS Faircloth also contacted FFS Prevention Specialist Hancock regarding services family is being

provided and other information. Mother is receiving family has been referred to

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), and both parei1tSliaVebeen testing negative on

urinalysis. Additionally, the primary physician has no concerns regarding drug use and

acknowledged the baby is gaining weight and doing well.

May 13.2009 .

CPI Fuelner completed follow up collateral with substance abuse evaluator. Mother cooperativewith services.

CPI Fuelner made contact with Health Start, Angie Raybon. The case worker assigned was not in

the office,-"

"t?

CPI Fuelner contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office and verified no 911 calls had beenmade from the residence.

Investigation closed with Some Indicators of Substance Misuse. Riu..closure remained at

intermediate based on parent's_ cooperation with FFS,~ substance abuse program,

negative urinalysis, referral to APD, and - -

- -~"- ~"-.:.:.~:"; .-" ---

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2009-131355

On August 12,2009, the Florida Abuse Hotline accepted a call concerning substance misuse and

threatened harm b the mother, Cr stina Lynn Mercer, father, James Dedrick, and other household

members The alleged victim was five month old, Shannon Lee

Dedrick. The allegations are as follows:

"The adult named James picks up the baby (victim) and shakes her. James shakes the baby.ause she cries and this gets on his nerves. The household members named_ andhave also shook the baby. "They" smoke cigarettes and drugs with the baby in the

same room. The household members take their food stamps and trade them for drugs. The

household members are not working. The victim is mentally challenged."

August 12, 2009

CPI Jason Smith confirmed allegations with reporter.

CPI Smith responded to the home to address the allegations of substance misuse and threatened

harm. Both parents and household members admitted to marijuana use and tested positive for

marijuana. All denied ever shaking the baby. Mother advised she was All

other household members denied mental/physical health needs. Mother told CPI Smith the baby's

primary physician had told her it was too early to know if the baby would be mentally disabled.

Investigator's observations of the home were messy and cluttered, two bedroom/one bathroom,

baby had bassinet in parent's bedroom, electrical outlet had almost caught fire so parents had taken

it out and it was covered, adequate food in the home (hamburger helper, rice, canned goods, and

baby food). The father told CPI Smith the family was looking to relocate. Investigator's

observations of the baby were overall positive. Baby was "somewhat clean" with her feet and legsbeing dirty but other areas of her bodywere clean. No marks or bruises were noted on child and she

was dressed in only a diaper (noted appropriate for weather) however diaper needed changing.

Baby smiled at all household members, could move her arms and legs, and was able to focus on

objects. Child would smile "spontaneously and responsively".

CPI Smith discussed need for additional substance abuse involvement and provided family andother household members with date and time of evaluation.

CPI Smith made referral to substance abuse program. Evaluation scheduled for August 27, 2009 at9:00 a.m.

August 13. 2009

CPI Smith contacted Child Protection Team, Tara Oswald, to request a medical evaluation on baby.

Medical scheduled for August 14,2009 at 10:00a.m.

Initial safety assessment completed by CPI Smith with a risk level determined to be intermediate

due to the household member's marijuana use and prior history with the Department.

Initial review by CPI Lee supporting assessment by CPI Smith and providing additional actions to

take to complete investigation.

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AU!wst 14, 2009

Second Party Review completed by Operational Program Administrator (OPA) Beau Whitfield

agreeing with assessment.

CPT medical and specialized interview completed.

August 17,2009

CPI Smith received a copy of the CPT medical history and physical examination repo~formedby Dr." Findings were no evidence of abuse from history and examination. Dr. ~dvised

mother was cooperative and did not act defensive. Noted baby's head was abnormally shaped andears were low set.

August 24, 2009

CPI Smith received the specialized interview report from CPT. Information was same as above

with risk level at low to moderate and recommendations to refer mother for mental health

assessment and both parent's for substance abuse evaluations. Weight of child was noted at ten

pounds, fifteen ounces at five months of age.

September 03,2009

Final case summary received by CPI Smith from CPT. Information in summary was same as

above. Closed with some indicators of substance misuse and no indicators of head injury.

September 08, 2009

Mother contacted CPI Smith to let Department know family was moving. This request was made at

commencement of investigation. Mother told CPI Smith the parents did not make the last two

substance abuse appointments because they did not have a ride and the last one they were all sick.

Roommates no longer reside with family.

September 10, 2009

Thirty day review completed by CPIS Lee reviewing information already obtained and requesting

additional actions be completed prior to investigation closure.

September 14, 2009

CPI Smith made two attempts to contact a neighbor regarding the family. Phone was busy.

Collateral contact made with FFS Prevention Specialist Hancock regarding the family. CPI Smith

was advised the mother was only "slightly" positive for marijuana on the first urinalysis and all

others were negative. Issue for rrs was not substance abuse but cleanliness of home. FFS was

completed successfully, as well as a substance abuse program.

CPI Smith verified with the Washington County Sheriffs Office no 911 calls made from theresidence at commencement or the new residence of the family.

Children's Legal Services (CLS) staffing held with CPI Smith and CLS Amanda Browning. CPI

Smith provided history on family and service involvement. CLS Browning requested additional

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information from substance abuse program, mental health program, Healthy Families to ensure

cooperation and re staff by September 18, 2009.

CPI Smith completed collateral with prior CPI Fuelner. CPI Fuelner discussed concerns for

parent's age and mental ability and immediate need for services during her investigation.

mith contacted substance abuse program, Stephanie, to determine cooperation.

September 15. 2009

CPI Smith made attempt to contact a neighbor regarding the family. Phone was busy.

September 16. 2009

CPI Smith completed contact with child's primary physician, Dr._ office. Information

will be gathered from doctor and will be provided to the investigator.


September 17. 2009


Collateral contact made with Healthy Start worker, Candice White. No concerns for the family.

Family is cooperative and she will continue to serve them at their new address.

CPI Smith completed a visit to the family's new residence to assess for safety. Home was adequate

for family's needs, messy and cluttered due to recent move. CPI Smith noted baby's crib was

already set up, food (chicken and beef) and drinks (milk and juice). Baby was observed clean with

no marks or bruises and wearing only a diaper which was deemed appropriate for weather. Mothertold CPI Smith Healthy Start was continuing to work with the family at the new location.

September 18, 2009 _PI Smith received information from Dr. office that the providers in the office had

expressed no concerns regarding the baby. Front desk advised sometimes the baby is not very clean

but the mother is good about bringing the baby in for follow up appointments.

CPI Smith and CLS Browning met again to discuss case. Determination made of no legal

sufficiency for judicial intervention based on no indicators of shaken babyby CPT, cooperation

with services, no concerns of primary physician, and referral for mental health counseling had been

completed.

Some Indicator staffing held between CPI Smith and CPIS Lee. Family receiving services.

September 19. 2009

Closure review completed by CPIS Lee addressing cooperation of services (past and present) and

acknowledging risk factors: mental health, substance abuse, prior investigation with similar

allegations, and weight of the baby. However, based on information from collaterals (Healthy Start,

6



primary physician, CPT) no significant concerns. Two legal staffings held with no legal sufficiency

noted. Safety plan and voluntary services in place.

September 20. 2009

Investigation closed with Some Indicators of Substance Misuse and No Indicators of Threatened

Harm. Risk at closure remained at intermediate due to prior report, positive marijuana use, age of

the parents, and mental health needs. However, also noted was parents' successful completion of

FFS and prior services and current cooperation with Healthy Start, substance abuse program, and

other providers.

Other Information Reviewed

On March 26, 2009 Family Focus Services, an in home and intensive program via Anchorage

Children's Home began making unannounced and announced visits to the home several times a

week to address parenting, substance abuse issues, random urinalysis, as well as any other needs

which may arise. This program was in its infancy at time of referral. Based on a review of the

notes in FSFN, the program addressed smoking issues with the family and household members,

cleanliness and the importance of removing clutter, medical needs of the baby, encouragement and

support in working with family and household members in gaining employment, assistance in

education on parenting issues related to holding, feeding, and changing the newborn, and provide

random urinalysis to all household members, and numerous other basic parenting techniques and

available supports to the family from within the local area. Additionally, the Prevention Specialist

assigned to the case responded on two occasions when the family called concerning the infant.

Both incidents resulted in visits to the local Emergency Room. One incident due to the~ingoff the bed and another where it was determined bymedical professionals that the bab~Also, clinical staffings were completed by Anchorage Children's Home periodically throughout the

case. The chronological notes reviewed indicated observations of appropriate interaction between

the mother, father, and baby with much attention and many questions by the parents relating to the

needs and well being of the baby. FFS closed successfully in June of2009.

Findin!!s

The initial findings of this review found very thorough and timely work completed by the Child

Protective Investigation staff involved with this family. Noted throughout the investigations were

the numerous risk factors present within the household, however no evidence to provide a nexus of

harm to the baby was found during either investigation. Instead, investigators recognized the need

for services and potential risk to this child if the family was not supported and provided those

services. One thing noted was the mental health referral completed in the second investigation. It is

important to know if the mother follow up and what the assessment of this service found. This

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refeITalcould have been made sooner in the investigation and the follow up information obtained

prior to investigation closure, allowing for an added assessment. Observations by all investigators,

service providers, medical professionals, and the Prevention Specialist involved with the familywere very appropriate and indicated the family's understanding and cooperation in following up on

all needs for the baby.

Based on this review several actions are taking place to dig further into the Department's prior

involvement with the family. The investigative files have been requested, follow up regarding the

mental health refeITaland assessment is being requested, and a conference call will be held with

parties involved to review and discuss any information which may not be visible via review of

FSFN chronological notes.

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