The director of a Santa Clara child welfare agency has resigned a year after the fentanyl-related death of an infant

The director of Santa Clara County's child welfare agency, which came under scrutiny following the fentanyl-related death of a three-month-old baby that exposed the agency's troubling practice of keeping children in unsafe homes, announced this week that he has died. resignation.

Damion Wright, who became director of the Department of Family and Children's Services a few months after the infant's death in May 2023, said in a letter to his staff that his father's recent death prompted his decision to accept another position in Southern California. i The Mercury News reported Thursday.

Wright, a former assistant director of the agency responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect throughout the state, said she believes the agency has made great strides in the past year “in developing workplace practices that prioritize child safety.”

“I strongly believe that by following the path forward we have set for safe children and safe communities, we can continue to protect the safety of our vulnerable populations during this transition and beyond,” Wright's letter read in part.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas released a brief statement following Wright's announcement, saying she wished him well in his new job and that he “remains committed to continuing to work with the County Department of Administration and the Department of Family and Children Services on the changes.” [they] we started together.”

Wright's resignation comes nearly a year after the agency came under scrutiny Bay Area news team, which launched an investigation into the agency following the death of Phoenix Castro, a 3-month-old infant who died of a fatal overdose of fentanyl and methamphetamine in San Jose.

This newspaper has learned that hospital officials notified social workers because of health concerns in Phoenix. The baby had withdrawal symptoms related to her mother's drug use during pregnancy, the news team reported.

Despite a warning from the social worker who was already overseeing the case of the couple's two older children, the social organization allowed the baby to be returned home.

Phoenix's father, David Castro, 38, is charged with child endangerment in this case. The baby's mother, Emily De La Cerda, 39, died four months after her daughter suffered a fentanyl overdose.

As part of its investigation, the news team found another drug-related infant mortality. It also learned that a state investigation of a local social agency found that the Santa Clara County law enforcement team often ignored recommendations from social workers and administrators to remove children from unsafe homes.

The news team reported that the influence of the legal team was part of the change in the district so that the children could stay with their families but they also unfortunately put the children in danger.

Wright said in his letter that his resignation will take effect on January 17.