In this powerful and deeply important episode of More Than Politics, State Senator Michael Moore sits down with former Worcester Juvenile Court Judge Carol Erskine and nationally recognized child welfare strategist Maureen Flatley to examine systemic failures within the child welfare system — and what must change to protect vulnerable children.

The conversation centers on the heartbreaking cases of Harmony Montgomery and David Almond, two children whose deaths exposed serious breakdowns in oversight, accountability, and interagency coordination between Massachusetts and neighboring states. Judge Erskine and Flatley outline how federal child welfare guidelines were ignored, how safeguards meant to protect children were bypassed, and why children with disabilities are particularly at risk within the system. The discussion also explores:

-The failure to follow federal permanency timelines

-The Interstate Compact (ICPC) and how it was waived

-Concerns about oversight within the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF)

-The need for transparency and accountability in the juvenile court system

-A newly filed request for a federal “pattern or practice” civil rights investigation

-Why systemic reform requires both state and federal action

This episode is a sobering look at where the system has failed — and a call to action to ensure that no child is overlooked again. This is more than politics. It’s about protecting children and demanding accountability.