Santa Clara County has appointed Wendy Kinnear-Rausch, an experienced social worker, as the new director of the Department of Family and Children's Services, succeeding Damion Wright. Kinnear-Rausch's appointment comes as the agency faces criticism over its leadership and the recent tragic death of baby Phoenix Castro due to mismanagement. She aims to lead the agency with a commitment to child safety and family support while implementing necessary changes from ongoing investigations and a five-year corrective action plan.
Protecting children and supporting families in our community has always been at the heart of my work, Kinnear-Rausch said in a statement Wednesday.
The department is in the midst of a 5-year corrective action plan after an investigation by the California Department of Social Services found that the agency prioritized family preservation over child safety.
Wendy Kinnear-Rausch will lead a team of social workers who frequently voiced complaints about the agency’s leadership and accountability failures.
Kinnear-Rausch was part of the leadership team as an assistant director in 2021 when then-agency Director Dani Wright left.
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