DELAWARE COUNTY, PA – November 7, 2026 – Like all of you, I am heartbroken about the death of Malayshia Alford and my deepest sympathy goes out to her family, friends and classmates. As we learn more, I am infuriated because it is another example of how our child welfare system is failing to keep our most vulnerable children safe. We’re learning that years before Malayshia was placed in this foster home, allegations of severe abuse involving another foster child and her sister had already been documented, supported by medical evidence, and reviewed by state officials. State officials substantiated abuse findings and reportedly recommended that this individual never again serve as a foster parent.
Yet those findings were expunged, and Malayshia was placed, not with another family member but in the foster home of a dangerous and repeated abuser.
I believe in due process, but I also believe we must believe and support children when abuse is reported and ensure they are not retraumatized by the very systems intended to protect them, especially when those reports are supported by medical evidence. That’s why, when I came into office, I introduced and fought for Act 23 after I learned from a constituent that children lacked adequate protections during DHS Board of Hearings and Appeals proceedings.
Today, we are mourning another child’s life lost after the systems responsible for protecting vulnerable children failed to do so. Cases like this reinforce why Pennsylvania needs stronger independent oversight of child-serving agencies and why I continue to support the creation and funding of an independent Office of the Child Advocate.
We owe it to Malayshia, her family, and every child in care to demand accountability, strengthen oversight, and ensure these failures are never repeated.