While the death of one Sacramento child last week unleashed an internal review of the county's Child Protective Services, the streak of dead children known to the agency actually began in September, a Bee review of public documents shows.

Since then, seven children have died on CPS' watch, including one just before Christmas. And at least two more kids known to CPS nearly died last year – one of them a 4-month-old girl, who was referred to the agency 12 times before being hospitalized for suspected shaken baby syndrome.

One of Sacramento's five county supervisors vowed Tuesday "to look very closely within," and a second prominent child advocate in California called for a grand jury investigation into the deaths.

"When you have young children dying in the numbers we've talked about here, that's cause for concern," said Supervisor Don Nottoli. "The community is going to expect us to figure it out as best we can."

Other supervisors remained largely silent, or expressed ongoing support of CPS and its work.

"I have to believe our CPS department is working as hard as they can," said Supervisor Jimmie Yee, who said he does not back a grand jury probe.

Supervisor Susan Peters did not return Bee phone messages on the topic last week or this week. An aide for Roger Dickinson said the supervisor was too busy Tuesday to talk about CPS. Roberta MacGlashan said she plans to meet with CPS officials later this week and would respond to The Bee after that meeting.

A Bee series published in June revealed persistent problems at CPS with training, supervision, investigations and evaluation of children's risk. The report also raised questions about the agency's willingness to hold workers and supervisors accountable for serious mistakes.

The deaths in the past 11 months have ranged from 9-year-old Taylor Ward, killed Sept. 3 when her mother committed suicide in Yolo County by driving in front of a train, to 4-year-old Jahmaurae Allen, beaten to death last week. The mother's live-in boyfriend has been charged with Jahmaurae's murder.

In all seven cases identified by The Bee, there is a common link: CPS had received some report of abuse or neglect involving the child but did not remove any of them from their homes. One of the children died in foster care.

"What could possibly be more important to the elected Board of Supervisors than preventing the deaths of helpless children?" asked Robert Fellmeth, a law professor and director of the San Diego-based Children's Advocacy Institute. "We have a system of mandated reporting of child abuse to local agencies for a reason."

Last week, Robert Wilson of Sacramento Child Advocates – whose attorneys represent children in dependency court – called for a grand jury investigation. Fellmeth said Tuesday he believes the grand jury should look into the agency, too, but that county supervisors also bear responsibility.

"We now have the disclosure of repeated deaths," Fellmeth said. "Where are our elected officials responsible for overseeing these agencies? Where is the grand jury, charged with examining local agencies?

"These children count on some check so those who protect them are held accountable: Will Sacramento supervisors begin to provide it? When?"

Other California grand juries have recently delved into child protection. Last month, the Santa Barbara County grand jury issued a report that called the county's Child Welfare Services "a system of care that lacks stability."

County supervisors elsewhere in California also have taken action.

Last month, Los Angeles County supervisors – angered by the ritualistic torture of a 5-year-old boy – ordered county officials to devise a new system to formally link various agencies to share information. The boy's mother, accused along with two friends of burning, whipping and malnourishing the child, had a lengthy criminal history and repeated contact with numerous public agencies, said Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who pressed for the changes along with Supervisor Gloria Molina.

Call The Bee's Marjie Lundstrom, (916) 321-1055 or Sam Stanton at (916) 321-1091.