"We must examine our foster care system thoroughly and independently, identify where it must improve and act to better protect our children," Parker said in a statement announcing the examination.

The mayor's order comes as prosecutors continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Malayshia's disappearance and death. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski discussed the case at a news conference last Thursday, where a photo of the girl was displayed.

Details about how Malayshia came to be in the foster care system, and whether caseworkers or oversight agencies missed warning signs, have not been fully disclosed. The independent examination is expected to scrutinize the system's practices and identify gaps in child protection.

The death has raised urgent questions about the safety of children in city care and whether the agencies responsible for their welfare are adequately funded, staffed, and held accountable. Advocates for child welfare have long warned that overloaded caseworkers and fragmented oversight can leave vulnerable children at risk.

Parker, who took office promising to address systemic failures in city government, now faces a test of whether her administration can deliver meaningful reforms to a foster care system that serves thousands of Philadelphia children.

The review is expected to produce recommendations for improving the system, though a timeline for its completion has not been announced. City officials have not said who will lead the examination or whether its findings will be made public.

Malayshia's death has shaken the community and intensified calls for transparency and action. Community members and child welfare advocates are pressing for answers about how a 10-year-old girl could slip through the cracks of a system designed to protect her.

The investigation into her death is ongoing. No arrests have been announced in connection with the case.