CHILD ABUSE DEATH—Lessons To Be Learned
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CHILD ABUSE DEATH—Lessons To Be Learned
Dec 1st, 11
CHILD ABUSE DEATH—Lessons To Be Learned
In recent months, there has been increasingly disturbing news coverage of tragic incidents of fatal child abuse in Kentucky. Sadly, these tragic stories do not reflect a new trend. Fact- much too often children in Kentucky regularly die at the hands of those entrusted to care for them. In many cases, this occurs in families already known to Cabinet for Health and Family Services staff. This too is not a new trend. Nor is it a trend limited only to Kentucky. Literally, thousands of children across our nation are fatally abused and neglected by those responsible for the child’s well being. Media coverage in Kentucky (and nationally), frequently focuses on the greater need for system transparency and accountability within the child welfare system in response to these tragic cases. A key point that seems to have been omitted from most conversations, though, is the Cabinet is but one agency of many who have had contact with children who are in harm’s way. Think about it...judges, doctors, mental health workers, child care workers, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, school personnel...you and me. Each of us has had the opportunity to impact the life of a child in a positive way...what have we done? Have we done enough? Can we ever do enough? Are we outraged enough to really do something this time?
If so, then each of us needs to send an email or pick the phone up to call our elected officials and encourage them to address this issue in the 2012 General Assembly. Governor Beshear has proposed a 4-step plan that addresses how Kentucky will handle child fatalities and near fatalities. It is a starting point, not an ending point. The Governor’s Plan will help us move forward so we can hold up our governmental and community agencies as true safety nets for our children; the beacon of hope each child deserves and each parent should want for their children.
A key proposal in the Governor’s plan is the establishment of an “independent review panel.” Any time a child dies or is critically injured as a result of abuse or neglect, a formal independent case review should occur. This level of scrutiny should be applied to each of these horrific cases, not just to those previously known to protective services. These case reviews should be conducted by an unbiased multi-disciplinary panel. The panel should be given full access to all Cabinet records, and records of other agencies involved in the child’s family. The Child Fatality Review Panel will be best equipped to identify any lessons to be learned from these tragic cases. The lessons learned will promote systematic change, resulting in improved prevention and intervention systems for all children.
We must urge our elected officials to take the Governor’s plan and move for
ward. Now. Today. We do not need yet another report that sits on a shelf, we do not need to “study” the issue. We need action. We need to be engaged –all of us—in the work of ensuring the safety of Kentucky’s children.
To leave a voice message for your legislator: 1-800-372-7181
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Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is Kentucky’s only statewide child abuse prevention organization. They are a non-profit
organization focusing on awareness, education, advocacy and services to prevent the abuse and neglect of Kentucky’s
children.
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