The brutal killing of 8-year-old Genesis Mata has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of Kern County’s Child Protective Services. Authorities say Genesis was scalded with hot water, beaten, tied, and whipped by her father and stepmother before she died on August 2.

In the weeks since her death, community members have demanded accountability and called for an independent investigation into the county’s child welfare system. On Tuesday, the Kern County Board of Supervisors heard a request from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to explore hiring outside experts to review CPS practices and recommend reforms.

Lerdo Murilla, Director of Human Services, led the request alongside Chief Deputy Vanessa Ferrando and Assistant Director Maria Bermudez. Murilla explained that his team had consulted other counties familiar with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), a national organization that previously partnered with Kern DHS to improve family engagement, provide staff training, and update policies.

“It is more than a procedural step, it’s a commitment to closely examine our processes and do everything possible to safeguard the children in our community,” Murilla told the board.

Public comments quickly followed.

Dr. Albert Ma, a child psychiatrist who serves Kern County families, proposed establishing a Parent Assessment Team based on a model created by Dr. Laura Miller of the University of Illinois Chicago. The team would evaluate high-risk cases involving mental health, addiction, or neglect when referred by the courts or CPS.

“Within one afternoon, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, therapists, and the CPS caseworker would assess each case in detail, interview every family member, and recommend treatment if needed,” Ma explained. “At the end of the day, we would also make a recommendation to the court about the child’s safety.”

Ma said Kern County currently has no comparable program, but he is willing to volunteer his time to help establish one.

Other speakers shared deeply personal stories of frustration with CPS.

School counselor Brooke Malley Elut described submitting countless reports of child abuse and neglect, often involving the same children, only to see no meaningful action taken.

Several parents and grandparents also testified. One mother recounted how her infant daughter died after a head injury. She said CPS and a detective pressured her to admit she had shaken her child, even though medical evidence and a later court ruling confirmed the death was accidental. Despite being cleared, she said CPS forcibly removed her other children before eventually returning them.

Community member Josefina Villarreal launched a petition demanding a private investigation into CPS. The petition has gathered more than 5,000 signatures. Nadine Escalante presented the petition to Supervisors Leticia Perez and David Couch, urging them to take action after Genesis’s death.

The testimonies highlighted a common theme: many families believe CPS has failed to protect Kern County’s children and continues to repeat the same mistakes.

In response, the Board of Supervisors approved the request to pursue an external review of child welfare services, marking the first step toward what community members hope will be lasting reform.