1210 TONIGHT TO HOST A SPECIAL ONE HOUR
FAMILY AFFAIRS MONDAY 7PM
ON DHS REFORM IN PHILADELPHIA IN THE WAKE OF
THE GRAND JURY INDICTMENT FOR THE DEATH OF
14-YEAR OLD DANIEAL KELLLY
CHUCK WILLIAMS, SHOW HOST WAS RAISED IN DHS CARE. HE WILL POINT OUT THE NEED FOR MAYOR NUTTER TO MAKE SWEEPING REFORMS, ON TOMORROW NIGHT’S SHOW
Philadelphia (PA) – Upon reading the many heart wrenching stories published this weekend, in both the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer, Dr. Chuck contacted his friend and radio buddy, Dr. Mazz about doing a special show focused on the need for Philadelphia to push for drastic reforms at the embattled DHS. Dr. Mazz responded –“Of course! This is an issue about which I am very passionate”. So, the plans were made to host the first ever one-hour special devoted to DHS reform on 1210 Tonight’s Family Affairs show, co-hosted by Dr. Mazz and Dr. Chuck. “ I was more than pleased that Mazz was so committed to doing this special show. He understands my concern for these issues as a child-welfare professional and as someone who grew up in DHS care,” stated Chuck Williams.
The story involving 14-year old Danieal Kelly culminates in a more than 200-page grand jury indictment and some scathing words from both the grand- jury and Philadelphia’s DA, Lynn Abraham. According to published reports, DA Lynn Abraham was seething with anger as she read, aloud, the reasons for the indictment. DHS was “in total meltdown” according to published reports quoting Philadelphia’s fiery DA. The 256-page indictment points to “...dysfunction that goes deep, down to the bone.” She also went on to proclaim that the state should seize control of the embattled child-welfare agency and that this grand-jury report “ should outrage the whole Philadelphia community”. Well, enrage one Philadelphian it did.
Chuck Williams grew up in DHS care, given that there were serious addictions, neglect and abuse issues taking place within his home. He was removed from his home at the age of 13 and sent to live at St. Francis Homes For Boys, which is located in Bensalem, Pa, a suburb outside of Philadelphia. He remained there until he was accepted at Temple University. Today, he has earned a PhD, lectures at Penn State, and hosts a radio show. “I am extremely blessed. In many instances, I’m the exception to the rule. Many of the kids who grew up with me, did not make it out of the system [DHS] alive, literally. It is because of this that I’ve dedicated my life to pushing for serious reforms at DHS.” Chuck recently chaired a committee on child abuse and neglect, which was a part of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children’s Behavior Health. As a part of that committee’s work, a recommendation was made to appoint a child advocate for the city. He has also recently teamed with the National Adoption Center to push for reforms in the foster care system, focusing on encouraging DHS to find families for abused and neglected children, which is also a major issue for the agency. “Many children languish in foster care for years because DHS refuses to allow them to be adopted by families. I had a client who was 3-years of age and DHS had placed him in six different foster care homes. This has got to stop,” stated Williams.
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Anthony Mazzarelli, MD, JD, MBE is a physician, attorney and bioethicist. He is the host of 1210 Tonight week nights on The Big Talker. He is also on the medical staff at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey, where he lives with his wife.
Chuck Williams, MGCOD, PhD, is a trained child therapist, organizational dynamicist, and educational psychologist. He hosts Family Affairs on 1210 Tonight and is the co-host for Grimaldi vs Williams, a political call in show on The Big Talker. He currently resides in the University City section of Philadelphia.
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