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LA County Child Welfare Chief Removed From Post

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The heavily criticized Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is undergoing a leadership change.

The Los Angeles Times reports Monday that county Chief Executive William T. Fujioka has removed Trish Ploehn from her post as director of the department that actively supervises more than 30,000 children.

The department has been under scrutiny for mistakes that kept children in homes where they died, even after allegations of abuse or neglect.

Fujioka's spokesman Ryan Alsop tells the Times that Ploehn is being transferred to a position in the chief executive's office that handles administrative work unrelated to child welfare.

The Times says Ploehn sent a message to her staff saying her journey with the department has come to a close.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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