HAUPPAUGE, Long Island (WABC) — Suffolk County officials announced major changes to its child protective services unit Thursday. The trial of Thomas Valva.

The changes followed recommendations from a special grand jury investigating Valva’s death. Valva, 8, froze to death in January 2020 after his father forced him to sleep in a freezing garage.

Authorities acknowledged taking statements from 27 witnesses over six months; The result was a grueling report that included several changes to how children should be protected.

“We have taken significant and rapid action to reform the Suffolk County Department of Social Services to ensure that our children in Child Protective Services are truly protected,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “As well as allocating funds to fill vacancies, deliver more effective services, reform processes and provide better education, we will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure appropriate procedures and oversight are in place to ensure that another child is not subjected to this victimisation. ” “The same trauma and hardships that Thomas Valva experienced.”

A. grand jury report In April, Suffolk County found that Child Protective Services had failed to protect Valva.

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

Some changes being implemented include a revised process for removing a child from a family, improvements to the Suffolk Family and Children’s Administration, delegating CPS abuse to teams at the Child Advocacy Center, and more.

Valva’s father Michaeland her then fiancée, Angela Pollinaboth were found guilty of depraved indifference murder.

ALSO READ: Death confusion leaves Staten Island family in pain on Halloween

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