HARRISBURG, Pa. - A former child abuse prosecutor will now head the Dauphin County Children and Youth agency. Dauphin County Commissioners named Annmarie Kaiser the new director of CYS.
Kaiser is an attorney as well as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. She has spent most of her career advocating against child abuse. The former prosecutor will continue the implementation of improvements at the agency in the wake of the death of 9-year-old Jarrod Tutko, Jr.
"Under my leadership, the agency will stop at nothing to keep predators from hurting our community's children," Kaiser said. "When children's lives are at stake, that must be our goal."
Tutko's death sparked an internal review of the agency. That review resulted in 84 citations that ranged from paperwork filed incorrectly, to caseworkers being employed without receiving child abuse clearances.
"I will also ensure that all staff are receiving the proper training so there is never any doubt that action needs to be taken to protect children," she said.
Kaiser succeeds acting administrator Joe Dougher, who took over back in March.
She starts her new job on Monday.