FOSTER MOM FACES MURDER CHARGE

Philadelphia Daily News

A Phillipsburg, N.J., woman is to be charged today with murder in the beating death of her 2-year-old foster child, who died last night at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The foster mother, Colleen Chavez, 24, will be charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a minor, said Warren County prosecutor Richard Hare.The child was placed in the Phillipsburg home by Children's Home of Easton, a Northampton County foster care agency under contract with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services.

On Tuesday, Gladys Campbell, the child who was in Chavez's care since February, was taken by helicopter to CHOP. Hare said Gladys had brain injuries from being beaten in the head, and was placed on life-support.

Chavez is the second foster mother this year - and the third in 19 months - to face criminal charges in connection with the death of a foster child placed by the city's Department of Human Services.

Chavez and her husband, an employee of the N.J. Department of Transportation, applied to be a foster mother in late 1987 for Children's Home of Easton, agency director Michael Danjczek said this morning.

Following the "standard interview process with reference checks" the couple, who have a 3-year-old natural daughter, were approved in January 1988, Danjczek said.

"They received (Gladys) in February '88," he said. "Up until this incident, she indicated to us that she had both the desire and ability to provide loving care to children." Gladys was their only foster child, he said.

Danjczek said he was beginning an internal investigation, but so far it appeared that his agency followed proper procedures in recruiting the couple. The agency also met the minimum standards for visiting the home monthly to check on the child.

"Philadelphia standards require once a month visits in the home," Danjczek said. "That all took place." The agency's records indicate that a visit took place as recently as May 23. The visit, he said, "indicated nothing abnormal."

Anne Shenberger, of the Pennsylvania Welfare Department, which licenses private foster care agencies, said this morning that Children's Home of Easton ''has a very fine reputation." She said state officials would begin their investigation Monday. She said she knows of no previous problems with foster parents recruited by Children's Home.

In March, Walter Hairston, 28, of Roosevelt Boulevard near Guilford Street, and his wife, Marian, 33, were charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of 2-year-old foster child Joey Huot.

In December 1986, foster mother Leona Murray, 51, of Locust Street near 61st, was charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old in her care. Murray, who in the year preceding the death of Naeem "Peeper" Sanders had been honored for her contributions as a foster mother by Lutheran Children and Family Service, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter June 3.