Northampton County Should Remove Gag Rule on Children & Youth

Outside Bethlehem's Public Library sits an interesting sculpture of three children holding hands. It's title? "The Future Lies in the Hands of Our Children." People like Kevin Dolan understand that very well.

You probably have never heard of Kevin. He heads Northampton County's Children, Youth & Families Division. That office serves one of government's most noble roles - caring for children in crisis. Kevin is a dedicated public servant with a very tough job. Diagnosed with a weak heart many years ago, he started running. If you follow any of the local foot races, you've probably seen him. He never wins. But a few weeks later, you'll see him again somewhere else, giving his all. He understands that victory is in the effort, not the race times. Whether he's running a marathon or his own office, no one has ever accused him of giving less than 100%.

Until now.

I'm certain Kevin is more disgusted than any of us by the recent arrest of one of his own caseworkers, Jose Huertas-Aponte, who supposedly molested a 14 year-old boy all the way back in 2003. But unlike the pols, his concern is about the kids, not the political fallout.

Northampton County's solicitor office and other unnamed officials (presumably including Kevin) are awarded an Express Times turkey this week because they've refused to answer questions about this incident.

[O]fficials have refused to answer basic questions, including whether a thorough background check was done, how many children Huertas-Aponte might have come in contact with on the job, and whether the county has been in touch with the families of those children since the arrest. The need for some secrecy is warranted, but this stonewalling is bad practice.

Let's look at these questions, one by one.

1. Was a thorough background check done?

Yes. Former Director R. Nancy Haley's letter to the editor, published the same day as the turkey award, makes very clear that caseworkers must (1) have a child abuse clearance from the state's childline; (2) submit fingerprints to the FBI; (3) agree to a state police criminal records check; and (4) submit references from former employers. Ms. Haley also makes clear that the state annually audits these records. Other counties take similar precautions. I believe the county could state its general practice without violating any confidentiality obligation to Huertas or the children he saw.

2. How many children did Huertas Aponte see?

According to the county, Huertas was hired December 3 and resigned June 24, the day of his arrest. He only worked six months but also worked part-time as a counselor for the Valley Counseling Group in Bethlehem. I believe the county could and should discuss the caseload of a Children & Youth caseworker so long as it stays away from specifics.

3. Has the county notified families seen by Huertas?

Because the Children, Youth & Families Division exists "to prevent neglect, abuse and exploitation" of children, it has an obligation to notify those families who came into contact with Huertas. The public does have a right to know whether that has occurred.

4. Has Huertas abused any children in Northampton County?

According to a Northampton County deputy sheriff, Bethlehem police are investigating an incident at the counseling agency where Huertas worked part-time. Public disclosure of those details would likely jeopardize the work being done by Bethlehem police.

No criminal investigation of child abuse by one department (Bethlehem police) should be publicly discussed by another (Northampton County Sheriff). The county does have an obligation to protect the confidentiality of both its employees as well as the children it protects. But the county could easily state its current procedure on criminal background checks without getting into specific cases. It could state the number of families seen by Huertas and the steps it has taken to protect them without violating the confidentiality it owes to these families. Northampton County parents do have a right to know that people like Kevin Dolan are doing all in their power to help. People like Kevin should be able to tell us what I already know - he is doing his job.