Report faults many states on child abuse policies
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEaWj265oYw3u5-C7ObFt2sOyXDgD90BA4Q80
By DAVID CRARY – 1 day ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Many states often fail to release adequate information
about fatal and near-fatal child abuse cases, placing confidentiality
above disclosure to a degree that thwarts needed reforms, two child
advocacy groups say in a new report.
Their report, which gave 10 states a failing grade for their disclosure
practices, urges Congress and state legislators to adopt stronger
policies and laws regarding deadly and life-threatening child abuse
cases. It was being released Tuesday by First Star, a national nonprofit
which advocates for abused children, and by the University of San Diego
School of Law's Children's Advocacy Institute.
"When abuse or neglect lead to a child's death or near death, a state's
interest in confidentiality becomes secondary to the interests of
taxpayers, advocates and other children, who would be better served by
maximum transparency," said Amy Harfeld, First Star's executive director
and a co-author of the report.
"Once we know what is broken, we can try to fix it," she said.
Several of the states receiving low grades defended their policies on
grounds that families entangled in near-fatal abuse cases were entitled
to confidentiality. Harfeld responded that the report is not pressing
for disclosure of families' names, but rather for other details
illuminating how state agencies handled the cases.
Every state accepts federal funds under the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act, which directs states to "allow for public disclosure" of
information regarding fatal and near-fatal cases.
But the report says many states limit disclosure because the act
provides too much leeway. For example, according to report, some state
policies cover abuse deaths but not near-fatalities, while other states
impede access by releasing information only if a petition is filed.
Robert Fellmeth, executive director of the Children's Advocacy
Institute, noted that extensive details often emerge only when a child
abuse death gets heavy media coverage.
"But the reality is that 90-plus percent of the time, nobody knows
anything and the states actively conceal it," he said in a telephone
interview. "That's not right and that's what we're mad about.
"The system most of all wants to protect its most embarrassing gaffes,"
Fellmeth said.
About 1,500 American children die from abuse annually. The report
contends that more standardized and thorough disclosures about these
deaths, and near-fatal cases, might reduce the toll.
Changes resulting from a single high-profile tragedy "are usually
knee-jerk responses," the report said. "Enhanced public disclosure of
all child abuse and neglect deaths and near deaths enables the public,
child advocates and policymakers to work together to understand
comprehensive trends and craft more thoughtful, comprehensive reforms."
The report issued grades for the disclosure policies of all 50 states
and Washington, D.C.
Only six states — Nevada, New Hampshire, California, Indiana, Iowa and
Oregon — received grades of A or A minus. Ten states received an F:
Georgia, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont.
In South Dakota, Virgena Wieseler of the Division of Child Protection
Services said her agency will propose changes based on the laws in
states that got high grades. Rob Johnson of Tennessee's Department of
Children's Services said legislative efforts were under way "on how to
better release information."
But several states contested their ranking.
Cathy Utz of Pennsylvania's Office of Children, Youth and Families said
the report did not reflect a recent state initiative to provide
summaries of fatal and near-fatal cases in its annual child abuse
report. Elizabeth Sollis of Utah's Department of Human Services said the
report was wrong in asserting there her state had no policy on disclosure.
Tara Muhlhauser of North Dakota's children and family services division
said officials withhold only information that is deemed confidential
under state or federal law.
"We are not failing in our efforts to protect children in North Dakota,"
she said, contending that the F grade reflected only a "narrow category"
regarding public information.
Vermont's and Georgia's low grades were due partly to their policies of
withholding information about near-fatalities.
"If a child survives a situation that serious, being on page one of the
newspaper could be incredibly re-traumatizing," said Steve Dale,
commissioner of Vermont's Department of Children and Families.
Romaine Serna of New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department
said her state complies with federal law.
"It's a balancing act for us because we do believe in the public's right
to know but we also believe in families and their right to
confidentiality," she said.
Elyn Jones of Maryland's Department of Human Resources said the low
grade was no surprise because the agency has long been criticized for
restrictive disclosure policies. Maryland is one of a handful of states
that doesn't release information about serious child abuse unless a
criminal charge is filed.
However, Jones said the department is working on being more open with
information than past administrations.
The report made three general recommendations:
_Amend federal law to clarify and strengthen disclosure requirements, so
states know how to comply with its intent.
_Revise state policies and laws to make disclosure policies more
enforceable.
_Separate disclosures from criminal proceedings so information on fatal
and near-fatal abuse is made available no matter whether a criminal
charge is filed.
On the Net:
* First Star: http://www.firststar.org
* Children's Advocacy Institute: http://www.caichildlaw.org
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CONSTITUTIONALLY
GUARANTEED LIBERTIES & CIVIL RIGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER
AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read the free handbook from
connecticut dcf watch..
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*
Physical Abuse CPS/Foster care 160, biological Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS/Foster care 112, biological Parents 13
Neglect CPS/Foster care 410, biological Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS/Foster care 14 biological Parents 12
Fatalities CPS/Foster care 6.4, biological Parents 1.5
Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
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