The Thomas Valva Case: Suffolk County Child Protective Services Reform Following the Death of an 8-Year-Old Child

HAUPPAUGE, Long Island (WABC) — Suffolk County officials on Thursday announced key changes to their child welfare unit after Thomas Valva case.

The changes followed recommendations from a special grand jury investigating Valva’s death. Eight-year-old Valva froze to death after his father forced him to sleep in a cold garage in January 2020.

Officials acknowledged they heard from 27 witnesses over six months, culminating in a tedious report with some changes in how to protect children.

“We have taken important and swift action to reform the Suffolk County Department of Human Services to ensure that our children in Child Protective Services are truly protected,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “As well as providing funds to fill vacant positions, provide more efficient services, reform processes and provide better training, we will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure proper procedures and oversight are in place to ensure that another child does not suffer the same trauma and difficulties that and Thomas Valva.”

A grand jury report Back in April, it was revealed that Suffolk County Child Protective Services failed to protect Valva.

“We must ensure that we never again have a tragedy like the one that happened to Thomas Valva and his brother,” added Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

Some of the changes being implemented include a revised child removal process, improvements to the Suffolk Office of Children and Families, transfer of CPS abuse cases to Child Advocacy Center teams and more.

Valva’s father Michaeland his then fiancee, Angela Pollinaboth were convicted of murder out of depraved indifference.

ALSO READ: A deadly mix-up left a Staten Island family in agony on Halloween.

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