Jaxon's Tragedy: County's Foster Care Failure

0:00A two-year-old boy named Jackson Juarez died in Santa Clara County's foster care system this month after the child protection agency placed him with a dialed. Relative who had a prior felony child endangerment conviction. That placement broke county policy, which bans putting kids with anyone convicted of that crime, even in emergencies. Just weeks later, on April 9, Jackson passed away in a hospital following alleged sexual assaults by the woman's then 17-year-old son. Who now faces six charges? Jackson's mom died last year from alcohol abuse, leading the county to take custody. He bounced between foster homes, including time with his grandfather near Sacramento before landing with Bridget Michelle Martinez in late February. Her conviction stemmed from a 2014 incident where police pulled her overdrunk on the Santa Moss Expressway with her one-year-old daughter. In the car, her blood alcohol over 0.15%. Many members are furious, calling it a total failure of the agency's duty to protect

1:01kids. Jackson's aunt and Arizona says they begged to take him, but got turned down over distance from his dad, and now they're planning to sue. Child welfare experts echo that outrage, questioning if the county knew about her record and why they ignored it. The county admits it's a deeply troubling case and has lost investigations through its own enforcement team and the Department of Family and children's services. They've also called in California's Department of Social Services for an independent review, promising transparency on findings. This tragedy piles on scrutiny for an agency already under state watch after two other toddler deaths in 2023. As they push reforms to prioritize safety over reunification, one thing's clear. Every placement decision needs to put child safety first to prevent. More heartbreak like this, California News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters. I'm Cory with the story.