How Many Will Die? Another Child's Story Reveals Holes in DHS

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A former caseworker said state lawmakers have it all wrong as they try to overhaul the agency in charge of protecting children, as another disturbing report involving the Department of Human Services.

The report reveals serious flaws in the system that should help prevent child abuse. However, unlike the first report, the latest one ends with the death of a young boy.

The report, from the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, details the short life of Ryan Weeks.

Investigators in Beckham County said the 3-year-old was beaten to death last year by his mother's boyfriend, Rocky Allen Moore.

In its report, the Commission said Ryan and his siblings were taken out of the family's home numerous times by the DHS.

Documents provided by DHS indicate the children were neglected and abused and often exposed to violence, filth and drugs.

Yet, time and time again, the courts ordered the children to be returned to the family.

That is, until Ryan died last November.

Dana Spence-Venters is a former DHS caseworker and is far from surprised about Ryan's death and other cases like it.

• Read the full report on Ryan's death and the events that led up to it.

"DHS really needs to be looked at from the top down," Spence-Venters said.

During her time at DHS, Spence-Venters said managers would encourage her to lie about cases and created a hostile working environment for new employees.

"I'd watch over the months as their enthusiasm turned to frustration, outrage, sometimes just unbelievable anger," Spence-Venters said.

Lawmakers are currently debating a bill that will re-organize the agency and provide more training for DHS caseworkers, but Dana said workers already spend too much time on training and not enough time on the kids who need help.

"The amount of dollars, I can't imagine, that is spent on training," Spence-Venters said. "That is not useful."

A spokesman for DHS said the agency cannot comment on Ryan's case.

More on News9.com:

• Read the Full DHS Performance Audit
• Mothers Speak Out Against DHS
• Read the Full Report on Ryan's Death
• A Charged After Failing to Report Abuse
• Foster Child Drowns in Pool, Parents Question DHS
• Woman Angered by DHS Mix Up