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Indiana child deaths more than doubled despite gigantic increases in investigations and home removals

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* A new report suggests that ramping up child abuse and neglect investigations and removing more children from their homes may not have the intended effect…

In 2017, Indiana had the third-highest rate of investigations for child abuse and neglect in the country, with at least one investigation for every 10 kids, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2019 Child Maltreatment report. The state also had the second-highest rate of victims of abuse and neglect, 18.6 out of every 1,000 kids, behind only Kentucky. […]

In Indiana, courts are involved in 75.4% of child abuse and neglect cases, which is more than twice the U.S. average of 29% and the most of the 41 states that reported that data for 2017. The state also removes kids at twice the national rate, with 12 children per 1,000 in foster care in 2016, the fourth most of states, according to data reported to the federal government. […]

Despite this aggressive approach, the number of deaths from abuse and neglect in Indiana grew from 34 in 2008 to 78 in 2017, when the state had the third-highest reported rate of child fatalities, the federal data shows.

Interesting.

Go read the rest if you have time. Lots of fascinating lessons to be learned.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 11:58 am

Comments

=== with at least one investigation for every 10 kids ===

What?!?!?!?!?!

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:03 pm
Somebody yesterday said something like, liberals like paying taxes for robust social services. Didn’t understand it yesterday or today.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:07 pm
I don’t think it’s fair to conclude that more state investigations cause more child fatalities. More likely is that other factors are at work causing the increase, which might have been worse had it not been for the increased enforcement.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:12 pm
Maybe, just maybe, this is a problem that’s not one of government. Is it conceivable that there’s some failure of values and culture we should focus on instead? Perish the thought.

Comment by Driveby Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:16 pm
McHenry County State’s Attorney’s criticism of DCFS from May, 2018:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-patrick-kenneally-dcfs-letter-20190430-htmlstory.html

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:18 pm
I don’t think the lesson of these deaths is related to a judgment of whether the system is punative towards parents or strives to keep families together albeit at a cost.

I think the lesson is that the department needs to conduct real investigations, where everyone who has contact with the child is interviewed, where pictures are taken, where the house is thoroughly inspected, where experts are contacted, and follow up occurs in a timely fashion.

Conducting these types of investigations is an extremely labor intensive detail oriented process, and it needs to occur after 5pm and on weekends.

The Tribune had a great article last weekend analyzing the AJ timeline. Through consulting with an expert, the Tribune shows how the DCFS investigations on his behalf and related to complaints, were a fraud. After receiving a complaint It took them weeks to make contact with the child after half hearted attempts.

Comment by Merica Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:21 pm
More caseworkers isn’t going to make things better if everyone is turning everyone else in for trivial things like a school child getting dirty on the way to class.

Comment by Ahead of the game Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:23 pm
I suspect that more investigations could lead to more findings of death due to abuse or neglect, rather than some other cause.

Back in the day, there was an old medical examiner in Iowa who routinely would rule the death of virtually every infant as SIDS. The coppers would stay on some cases they were suspicious about and find evidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome, and get the ruling reversed so they could pursue charges.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:25 pm
That’s too bad. So many innocent people put in prison for this.

https://www.phttps://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/shaken-baby-

syndrome/risonlegalnews.org/news/2018/may/15/shaken-baby-syndrome-diagnoses-discredited-convictions-questioned/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/shaken-baby-syndrome/The-unsettled-science-of-Shaken-Baby-Syndrome.html

Comment by Too bad Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:52 pm
–Maybe, just maybe, this is a problem that’s not one of government. Is it conceivable that there’s some failure of values and culture we should focus on instead?–

To be clear:

You’re suggesting that it’s not a function of government to seek to prevent or investigate deaths of children from abuse or neglect?

Instead, government should be focused on instilling “values and culture?” Let me take a wild guess — “values and culture,” as defined by you?

What name would you like to give to your theocracy?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 1:00 pm
Could it be that since there are more investigation more cases are coming to light?

Comment by illinois_citizen Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 1:02 pm
==Is it conceivable that there’s some failure of values and culture we should focus on instead?==

Well Utah focused on not taking away children of families just because they are free range. So that’s one way values and culture were improved on.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 1:07 pm
–Maybe, just maybe, this is a problem that’s not one of government. Is it conceivable that there’s some failure of values and culture we should focus on instead?– the failure of values and culture could be the very issue but the reality for these children is culture and values do not exist.

Comment by illinois_citizen Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 1:10 pm
Pure speculation and I haven’t had a chance to read the report, but the opioid crisis explosion may be a factor in this.

Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 1:13 pm
Poverty should never be a reason a child comes into care. It’s always more cost effective for the state, and better for the child, to keep the child with a parent if the only problem is money. Cut them a check and call it a day.

Focus attention on those cases where interpersonal problems, violence, significant ALCOHOL or drug use is indicated, or troubling mental health matters are evident. They seemingly don’t and that is the likely reason why child death rate is high, despite their $100 mil. surplus.

Comment by fedup Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Poverty should never be a reason a child comes into care. It’s always more cost effective for the state, and better for the child, to keep the child with a parent if the only problem is money. Cut them a check and call it a day.

Yea, just cut them a check and raise taxes to do so. A simple solution that is Mr. Magoo vision and ignores long term impact of such ‘thinking.”

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 2:31 pm
Wait, this is the state proclaiming to be an oasis from Illinois?

Comment by Alex Ander Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 2:32 pm
Can it be that the increase in Indiana’s resources led to discovery of more cases of abuse/neglect that otherwise would not have been investigated? What would Illinois stats look like with improved staffing levels, proper training and supervision? I’m gambling our rates would soar wildly, if for the population difference by itself.

Comment by revvedup Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 3:27 pm
- Yea, just cut them a check and raise taxes to do so. A simple solution that is Mr. Magoo vision and ignores long term impact of such ‘thinking.” -

So money is being spent either way, right? I’d contend its less expensive to cut a check to a family and keep the family intact then take kids into care due to poverty. Since I’m missing the long-term thinking part of this, educate me.

Comment by fedup Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 5:06 pm
When DCFS touches a family, it is seldom the first state agency there. Some families need a multi agency caseworker who can see what is in all the files. Much of the information is siloed by law. DCFS cannot share information with other agencies and vise versa.

Writing a check to a poor family of drug users means they buy better drugs. Not that they help their children.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 8:28 pm
==Writing a check to a poor family of drug users means they buy better drugs. Not that they help their children.==

Who is advocating writing a check to drug users? All poor people aren’t “drug users”. The article was about poverty being a factor in removing children from a family. The commenter fedup who wrote “cut them a check” addressed drug use in his second sentence.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, May 2, 19 @ 8:20 am