Harmony Montgomery’s story exposes the devastating failures of child protective services. Years of warnings were ignored, oversight collapsed, and a child disappeared under the care of those sworn to protect her.

A child’s safety should never depend on whether an agency follows its own rules. The November 7, 2024 audit of Massachusetts DCF revealed widespread neglect of oversight, missing documentation, and ignored court orders, proving once again that systemic failures continue to endanger vulnerable children.

Massachusetts has become a state where children slip through the cracks of a broken system. Despite repeated warnings, audits, and tragic deaths, DCF continues to ignore red flags and fail the very children it is sworn to protect. From Jeremiah Oliver to David Almond, the pattern is clear: systemic neglect and secrecy have replaced accountability.

Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families has failed again and again to protect the most vulnerable children. From infants poisoned by fentanyl to teenagers starved and hidden from school, the agency ignored warnings, mishandled safety plans, and allowed children to die in homes already flagged as dangerous. Investigations show a pattern of missed opportunities and systemic neglect that continues to put lives at risk.

Illinois DCFS was legally required to release detailed reports after every child death or serious injury in its care. Instead, between 2018 and 2025, over 1,200 children died and more than 3,000 were seriously harmed with no public explanation. Families were left in the dark, reforms were delayed, and children continued to suffer as secrecy replaced accountability.