Mayor orders review of Philly's foster care system after young girl's death

Philadelphia Mayor orders review of Philly's foster care system after young girl's death Mayor Cherelle Parker ordered a review of Philadelphia's foster care system following the murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford. By Brian Sheehan and David Chang • Published November 10, 2026 • Updated 4 hours ago Mayor Cherelle Parker ordered a review of Philadelphia's foster care system following the murder of a 10-year-old girl. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Parker signed an executive order establishing a Child Welfare Review Committee (CWRC) in reaction to the death of Malayshia Alford. Stream Philadelphia News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC10. WATCH HERE “This is a crisis of unimaginable proportions. The death of Malayshia Alford has shaken me and our city to its core,” Parker said. “The review required by law must take place, but I am requiring the city to do more. We must examine our foster care system thoroughly and independently, identify where it must improve and act to better protect our children.” The murder of Malayshia Alford Philadelphia Nov 9 Calls for DHS reform grow after murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford Philadelphia Nov 6 Docs reveal history of abuse for foster mom charged in girl's death Philadelphia Nov 8 Community remembers Malayshia Alford as family demands accountability Philadelphia Nov 7 Dozens march in Philly demanding justice for 10-year-old Malayshia Alford Philadelphia Nov 5 Foster mom charged in murder of missing 10-year-old girl On Nov. 4, 2026, Alford's foster mother, 36-year-old Carprice Williams, was arrested and charged in the girl's murder. Alford was last seen alive at a West Philadelphia home back on Oct. 22. After she was reported missing, her body was eventually found in the trunk of a vehicle in Lindenwold, New Jersey, on Nov. 4. Investigators said Alford died from blunt force trauma and her death was ruled a homicide. Williams was later charged in the girl’s murder. Investigators said Williams had also repeatedly physically abused the girl while she was in her care for about a year. The city confirmed Alford was in the legal custody of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) while Williams was her foster mother. The girl was receiving case management services from Catholic Community Services, Community Umbrella Agency No. 4. Alford and Williams were also receiving services from Pennsylvania MENTOR, the certifying foster care agency. Philadelphia's Act 33 team will conduct a review of Alford's death, as required by Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law. The DHS is legally required to perform an Act 33 review whenever a child dies or nearly dies from suspected abuse or neglect. The review will assess the performance of the Philadelphia DHS and Pennsylvania DHS in Alford's case and recommend steps to prevent future child abuse, officials said. Parker's order also calls on the city to establish the Child Welfare Review Committee to examine the broader foster care system and recommend changes to better protect children, officials said. According to Parker, the committee's independent review is separate from the required Act 33 review as well as the ongoing police investigation. View this post on Instagram Parker said she will appoint up to 15 members for the committee, including national experts and child advocacy groups. Under the order, the committee must submit its findings and recommendations within 120 days after convening. The order also directs city departments and agencies to help the committee in carrying out its work. “We will leave no stone unturned as we seek answers for what happened in this case, to understand more fully how it happened, and to make any changes necessary to ensure that it never happens again,” Parker said. “We grieve Malayshia Alford’s loss. Every child matters in Philadelphia.” The order comes the same day NBC10 obtained the official Act 33 report on a separate case in which Carprice Williams was accused of physically abusing a 4-year-old foster child who nearly died in January 2021. The report of the January 2021 case According to the report, Carprice Williams initially claimed that she went upstairs inside her home when she heard a thump. She told officials she called for her 4-year-old foster daughter who didn’t respond. She then said she went downstairs where she found the girl on the floor unresponsive and with labored breathing. Williams then called 911, claiming the child fell “frequently.” After the girl arrived at the hospital however, doctors noted “an unusual pattern of an injury in an L shape to the upper leg most likely from a strike by a manmade object,” according to the report. The report also states they found acute subdural hemorrhaging and possible evidence of old injuries. Finally, they noted the child was poorly nourished with a distended abdomen and multiple small abrasions on her face. Investigators concluded the child had been abused and neglected during her time with Williams. They also recommended that Williams never be allowed to care for other foster children. That report was finalized in November 2022 and while Philadelphia police investigated the case, no one was ever criminally charged. Williams appealed the state’s original findings which indicated she was a child abuser and her record was expunged. Despite the recommendation, Malayshia Alford began living with Williams in 2025, raising questions as to how the girl ended up in her care. “Well, we don’t fully know that,” Cathleen Palm, the founder of the Center for Children’s Justice , told NBC10. “One of the things that is interesting that the Act 33 report doesn’t deal with is that the same Department of Human Services that issues the Act 33 report maintains a registry of foster parents. So, if that foster registry doesn’t have an ability to kind of click and say, ‘Hey, going forward this person shouldn’t be considered,’ then one of the recommendations from the Department of Human Services probably should have been to the legislature, ‘We should create this or build this into the system.’” Williams also remained employed in the Philadelphia School District following the report. NBC10 reached out to the school district for comment. A spokesperson said Tuesday that they don’t comment on personnel matters. 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