This Week’s News For At Risk Children

Street Child World Cup: ‘We should be treated the same as your children’? Ravi Karkara Global Advisor to the World Conference on Youth 2014 + Expert… http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/apr/15/street-child-world-cup-brazil View Discussion

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We believe that promising children the basic rights of safety and health care will solve our nations problems with violence, crime, education, and public safety and make life better for all of us John Christensen Board Member at Kids At Risk Action (KARA) – Children’s Rights… 1 new comment Join our webinar 23rd April “We don’t report because it’s a family affair” A grounded look at community-based child protection in three rural and urban areas in Kenya. Lucy Hillier Consultant – Community child protection forum coordinator at… 2 new comments ENS publishes a report on childhood statelessness: Preventing Childhood Statelessness in Europe: Issues, Gaps and Good Practices. More details: http://lnkd.in/dq4fdT2 Alessia Conti Lawyer – Refugee and Asylum Law, Migration Law, Child Rights… Add a comment Want to see what’s new? View all discussions   Ask a question or share your ideas. Click hereView all discussions

 

Child Welfare in the News

CA: Number of California Foster Youth Aging Out Cut Nearly in Half, for Now
The Chronicle of Social Change – April 16, 2014
The number of foster youth in California who age out at 18 has plummeted in the past two years, suggesting that its federal partnership to expand foster care until 21 has had a significant impact.
http://tinyurl.com/pc2pfpq

CA: Sibling Visitation Law Introduced
The Chronicle of Social Change – April 16, 2014
A state bill backed by a youth-led advocacy group to strengthen requirements on sibling visitation rights for foster youth will be introduced in California.
https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/news/reunited-and-it-feels-sort-of-good/6161

CA: Legislation Would Bolster Child Welfare, Education Info Sharing
The Chronicle of Social Change – April 15, 2014
In the wake of a federal law giving child welfare agencies direct access to education records, legislation is moving in California to bolster its data sharing efforts. Assembly Bill 1878 creates a direct link between agencies and schools for the sharing of information when a child is in the foster care system.
http://tinyurl.com/mn5n29e

MI: Mateen Cleaves joins Genesee County leaders to urge people to stand up against child abuse
MLive.com – April 15, 2014
In 2013, there were 18 confirmed infant deaths in Genesee County due to abuse and neglect, with nine of those being because of unsafe sleeping environments. Another 35 under the age of 5 were severely beaten.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/04/genesee_county_leaders_urge_co.html

NM: County had more child abuse reports, revictimization in 2013
Albuquerque Journal – April 16, 2014
Sandoval County has recently seen a significant increase in the number of children repeatedly placed in protective care by the Children, Youth and Families Department, according to a late 2013 report available on the CYFD website.
http://www.abqjournal.com/384911/riowest/observer-news/county-had-more-child-abuse-reports-revictimization-in-2013.html

NY: New Alternatives for Children Launches Campaign to Encourage Foster Parent Recruitment (Includes Video)
PR Newswire – April 16, 2014
New Alternatives for Children, Inc. (NAC), New York City’s only child welfare agency exclusively devoted to serving children with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses, is launching a campaign to help more medically challenged children find loving foster families.
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/alternatives-children-launches-campaign-encourage-151200023.html

PA: Corbett signs 4 more child-abuse prevention bills
Associated Press – April 15, 2014
Four more bills spurred by the Jerry Sandusky and Roman Catholic clergy child sexual abuse scandals are now law in Pennsylvania.
http://www.wfmj.com/story/25255095/corbett-signs-4-more-child-abuse-prevention-bills

SC: Director testifies before panel investigating child deaths and DSS (Includes Video)
WCBD-TV – April 15, 2014
The director of South Carolina’s Department of Social Services is testifying before a Senate subcommittee created to investigate the agency. The investigation comes from claims that the agency missed cases of abuse that led to child deaths.
http://www.counton2.com/story/25263281/director-testifies-before-panel-investigating-child-deaths-and-dss

UT: Education Webinar Captures the Latest Strategies to Combat Child Abuse
PRWEB – April 17, 2014
School Improvement Network, the leader in educator effectiveness resources, today announces a webinar with the latest strategies for how educators can help prevent child abuse and neglect with experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Child Welfare Information Gateway on Wednesday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m. EST. The webinar is in conjunction with multiple other resources School Improvement Network is releasing in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/04/prweb11770859.htm

WI: Wisconsin governor signs bill banning advertising children online for adoption
Associated Press – April 16, 2014
Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that prohibits people from advertising their children for adoption online.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/a858990573734ed080ec7bec127d50c7/WI–Child-Advertisements

US: Are ‘a Whole Bunch of White People’ Adopting Black Kids? Here’s What’s More Important
The Root – April 16, 2014
The headline-grabbing antics of one Alabama lawmaker obscure the much more serious concerns about African-American children, says one adoptee and advocate.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/04/white_parents_adopting_black_kids_who_cares.html?wpisrc=newstories

US: The Technology We Need to Protect Children
Governing – April 15, 2014
The reason technology matters so much for protecting vulnerable kids is because we can use it to organize what we know about a child from whatever source, whether inside or outside of government, into a shared picture that gives everyone involved a clearer understanding and catalyzes a coordinated path to action.
http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/voices/col-child-protection-technology-caseworkers-shared-data.html

INTERNATIONAL

Canada: Children’s ministry gets $2-million boost to increase adoptions
Vancouver Sun – April 15, 2014
The Ministry of Children and Family Development will make a one-time funding boost of $2 million to increase the number of kids in government care getting adopted by families in the next year.
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Children+ministry+gets+million+boost+increase+adoptions/9742247/story.html

Fiji: Child abuse cases concerns government: Fatiaki
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation – April 16, 2014
Latest statistics released by the Social Welfare Ministry show that about five children are the subject of investigations of abuse or neglect every week.
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/19214/child-abuse-cases-concerns-government-fatiaki

Ireland: Most children placed for intercountry adoption now have special needs, conference told
The Irish Times – April 15, 2014
The only children being placed for intercountry adoption are increasingly those with special needs, a conference was told yesterday.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/most-children-placed-for-intercountry-adoption-now-have-special-needs-conference-told-1.1762027

United Kingdom: What the Children and Families Act 2014 means for social work and social workers
Community Care – April 16, 2014
After 13 months of intense debate in Parliament, the Children and Families Act 2014 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents/enacted) became law last month. The act is wide-ranging, tackling everything from school meals to smoking in cars, but at its core lie significant – and controversial – changes to how adoption works and major reforms to improve the lives of looked-after children.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/04/16/children-families-act-2014-means-social-work-social-workers/

AL: An interview with DDPS Chief Mathis on preventing child abuse in our community
Southeast Sun – April 15, 2014
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which was passed by President Nixon on January 31, 1974, to nationally address the problem of child abuse. In honor of the month and this important anniversary, I interviewed Daleville Department of Public Safety Chief Harvey Mathis about the ways we can identify and prevent child abuse and neglect in our community.
http://www.southeastsun.com/daleville/article_b0b86a2c-c4c4-11e3-b167-0017a43b2370.html

CO: State’s monitoring of psychotropics trails other states’ efforts
Denver Post – April 16, 2014
Colorado lags other states that established policies years ago to reduce the use of powerful psychotropic drugs by children in foster care. Since 1992, Illinois has contracted with a medical school to review all prescriptions for children in foster care and to advise state officials on whether to allow the medication.
http://www.denverpost.com/fostercare/ci_25574614/colorados-monitoring-psychotropics-trails-other-states-efforts

FL: Gov. Scott calls for lawmakers to fund his DCF reforms
Miami Herald – April 15, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott visited a Department of Children & Families service center in Opa-locka on Tuesday to tout additional funding and staffing for the troubled agency’s child protection system. Also: Scott calls out Senate for low-balling child protection but defends gaps in his plan: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/04/scott-calls-out-senate-for-low-balling-child-protection-but-defends-gaps-in-his-plan.html#storylink=cpy:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/15/4061312/gov-scott-calls-for-florida-senate.html

IN: Adoption subsidy issue is dead this year
South Bend Tribune – April 09, 2014
Democrat John Broden’s bill did not receive a hearing this year, so he was hoping a House bill on an adoption tax credit could house his measure to restore the adoption subsidy cut in 2009 by former Department of Child Services Director James Payne, whose oft-cited mantra was “People should adopt for love, not money.”
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/politics/adoption-subsidy-issue-is-dead-this-year/article_4628541a-a773-11e3-99e6-001a4bcf6878.html

IN: DCS hot line adds regional sites
South Bend Tribune – April 09, 2014
Last summer, under new DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura, DCS unrolled a plan in its annual report to legislators to open four regional call centers around the state in addition to the central office in Indianapolis — including a call center in South Bend that has opened in the last few weeks with a skeleton staff of 11 employees.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/keynews/watchdog/dcs-hot-line-adds-regional-sites/article_13c00870-a777-11e3-a8c1-001a4bcf6878.html

MN: ‘Serious shortcomings’ cited in archdiocese’s handling of sex abuse cases
St. Paul Pioneer Press – March 13, 2014
The Safe Environment and Ministerial Standards Task Force said the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had for many years “concentrated too much power in one or two individuals to make decisions” about clergy sex abuse.
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25565070/st-paul-archdiocese-report-sex-abuse-handling-had

MO: Child abuse on rise statewide
Neosho Daily News – April 13, 2013
“Missouri has seen a 7 percent increase in report of abuse and neglect cases recently,” said Newton County Judge Kevin Selby in his opening remarks. “But that is a troubling number to me. It means that we are not dealing with awareness on a level that we need to be dealing with it. I can tell you that I am very pleased with our judicial system and our juvenile system courtrooms works that we are doing once we have a child in care.”
http://www.neoshodailynews.com/article/20140413/NEWS/140419472

NC: Course helps train prospective foster parents
Star News – April 15, 2014
MAPP, or the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting, is a 10-week training course that helps prospective foster parents decide if being a surrogate parent to a child in need is the right thing for them, according to Tamela Jones, Brunswick County DSS recruiter for foster and adoptive parents.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140415/ARTICLES/140419802?Title=Course-helps-train-prospective-foster-parents

NY: Poloncarz proposes package of reforms to deal with child abuse issues
Buffalo News – April 15, 2014
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz on Tuesday unveiled a package of 19 reforms he is suggesting to state legislators to deal with child abuse issues.
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/erie-county/poloncarz-proposes-package-of-reforms-to-deal-with-child-abuse-issues-20140415

SC: DSS Appears to Run Afoul of Federal, State Child Protection Laws
Free Times – April 16, 2014
Internal reports leaked to Free Times suggest that the state’s Department of Social Services is frequently out of compliance with state and federal laws requiring caseworkers to visit at-risk children within 24 hours of opening an investigation into suspected abuse or neglect.
http://www.free-times.com/news/dss-appears-to-run-afoul-of-federal-state-child-protection-laws-041614/

TN: Specialists Join Call for Veto of Drug Bill
New York Times – April 14, 2014
Women’s rights and medical groups have called on Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee to veto legislation that would allow criminal assault charges to be filed against women who use illegal drugs during pregnancy. Critics say the measure will harm babies because pregnant women will be afraid to seek medical care.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/us/politics/specialists-join-call-for-veto-of-drug-bill.html?hpw&rref=health&_r=1

TX: Group wants CPS changes after foster care deaths (Includes video)
KVUE – April 15, 2014
The non-profit group “Texans Care for Children” says the state is in crisis after ten children died in foster care last year. They released a report with numerous recommendations including increase foster parent training hours, adding a yearly home visit for foster parents and reduce CPS worker caseloads.
http://www.kvue.com/news/Group-wants-CPS-changes-after-ten-foster-care-deaths-255405841.html

WA: Alleged sex abuse victims file $25M in claims against Kennewick School District
Tri-City Herald – April 14, 2014
Five men who say a retired Kennewick High School teacher molested them as students filed $25 million in claims Monday against the Kennewick School District.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/04/14/2927433/alleged-sexual-abuse-victims-file.html?sp=/99/900/

US: In Child Custody Disputes, LGBT Parents Face Bias in the Courts, New Drexel Review Finds
Drexel Now – April 14, 2014
Court decisions that favor a heterosexual parent over a gay or lesbian parent in a custody dispute often do not consider important social science research on parenting by gay and lesbian individuals, according to a new review from Drexel University.
http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2014/April/LGBT-Custody/#sthash.N8pyzMzW.dpuf

INTERNATIONAL

Iraq: PACE rapporteurs say no to child marriage in Iraq
Parliamentary Assembly, Council of Europe – April 15, 2014
Two key PACE rapporteurs appealed to their fellow Iraqi parliamentarians not to vote a bill called the “Jaafari law”, which would legalise forced and child marriage and marital rape. Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur on children, and José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur on violence against women, said that the law, which would apply to the majority Shia community in Iraq, would mean that children in Iraq could be legally married and divorced at the age of nine.
http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4996&lang=2&cat=133
AZ: Shanesha Taylor’s story touches everyone … but the Arizona Legislature (Includes video)
Arizona Republic – April 11, 2014
Nearly $100,000 has been raised to help the Phoenix mother who left her two children in the car while interviewing for a job. More than 11,000 people have signed an online petition asking that Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery dismiss the charges against her.
http://www.azcentral.com/story/laurie-roberts/2014/04/11/shanesha-taylor-arizona-child-abuse/7565687/

FL: & Ireland: Florida adoption ‘ethics’ warning
Irish Examiner – April 14, 2014
Just months before Ireland signed an adoption agreement with the US, the Adoption Authority (AAI) admitted there were wide ranging “difficulties” with the “practice and ethics” of adoptions from Florida.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/florida-adoption-ethics-warning-265278.html

GA: As child abuse awareness moves to forefront, reports of maltreatment rise
Daily Tribune – April 14, 2014
“Unfortunately, between the period of July 2013 and March 2014, there has been a substantial rise in the reports of child abuse in the state of Georgia,” [Associate Juvenile Court Judge Jamie Averett.]
http://www.daily-tribune.com/view/full_story/24922556/article-A-brisk-breeze-blows-through-blooming-dogwoods-outside-the-Bartow-County-gold-domed-courthouse?instance=main_article

GA: Child Welfare Council Reacts To Deal’s Privatization Plans (Includes Audio)
WABE – April 14, 2014
Members of a Governor Nathan Deal’s child welfare panel are responding to his plan to privatize some of the child welfare system.
http://wabe.org/post/child-welfare-council-reacts-deals-privatization-plans

KY: Judges: Legislature should act to open more juvenile proceedings (Opinion)
Kentucky.com – April 12, 2014
SB 157 creates a limited, measured pilot project to test whether Kentucky should presumptively open the juvenile courts of the state.
http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/12/3191724/judges-legislature-should-act.html

ME: Maine Voices: Legislature can help ease youths’ transition from foster care to cap and gown (Opinion)
Maine Telegram – April 12, 2014
A bipartisan bill would extend support until age 26 to help former foster children through education or job training.
http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/Maine_Voices__Maine_Legislature_can_help_ease_youths__transition_from_foster_care_to_cap_and_gown_.html

NE: Tanzanian-made bags for Nebraska foster kids ‘a win-win’
Omaha World-Herald – April 14, 2014
Beneath the colorful material lined with recycled plastic from Africa is a story of partnerships that help provide care to disabled children in Tanzania and dignity to Nebraska foster kids.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20140414/MONEY/140419443/1707

NM: Study explores how to prevent child abuse
Albuquerque Journal – April 12, 2014
Expanding in-home prevention programs could help New Mexico stem steady increases in child mistreatment and re-victimization rates, according to a legislative report released Friday.
http://www.abqjournal.com/383006/news/study-explores-how-to-prevent-child-abuse.html

NM: Report by New Mexico official urges more services to prevent child abuse
Associated Press – April 11, 2014
The state agency responsible for protecting children needs more authority to intervene in cases of alleged neglect and abuse when there’s not enough evidence to go to court to remove a child from the home, a top official in Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration told lawmakers on Friday.
http://www.scsun-news.com/silver_city-business/ci_25548612

NV: Family services looking at new rules for foster families (Includes video)
KLAS-TV – April 11, 2014
They worry new rules are keeping them from fostering. DCFS had its final hearing before adopting several regulations designed to keep kids in foster care safe. One of biggest issues was whether foster kids should be in a home where there was a loaded gun. The Department of Child and Family Services says absolutely not.
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/25228503/child-and-family-services-looking-at-new-rules-for-foster-families

NY: Tompkins DSS Gets $225K Grant for Support Program
Ithaca.com – April 11, 2014
The Tompkins County Department of Social Services, on behalf of the Family Treatment Court, has been awarded a $225,000 grant by the California-based non-profit Children and Family Futures to support a two-year initiative to provide more comprehensive family-centered care to children, parents, and families affected by substance use disorders and child abuse and neglect.
http://www.ithaca.com/news/tompkins-dss-gets-k-grant-for-support-program/article_8cd4c316-c0e7-11e3-a5da-001a4bcf887a.html

SC: State’s sealed adoption records a roadblock in quest for birth parents
Greenville Times – April 13, 2014
Couick is one of thousands of people in South Carolina looking to learn their past, a search stymied by state law, those who work to match birth mothers and adoptees say.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2014/04/12/states-sealed-adoption-records-roadblock-quest-birth-parents/7647207/

SC: State officials examine resources available to investigate child abuse, fatalities
SCNow – April 12, 2014
Friday, law enforcement officers, social workers, coroners and medical care providers from across the state gathered in the Pee Dee to educate themselves on child fatalities and signs of abuse in an effort to avoid further tragedy in this area.
http://www.scnow.com/news/article_90021188-c295-11e3-9b23-0017a43b2370.html

TX: 1,100 victims of child abuse confirmed in Bell County in 2013
Kileen Daily Herald – April 14, 2014
Kaiden was one of 1,100 victims of abuse or neglect confirmed in Bell County last year, when more than 470 children were taken from their homes, a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services news release said.
http://kdhnews.com/news/victims-of-child-abuse-confirmed-in-bell-county-in/article_d4c18b14-c385-11e3-91f1-001a4bcf6878.html

US: Many Babies are Missing Out on Bonding, Crucial to Success (Includes audio)
Public News Service – April 14, 2014
The bonds that children develop with their parents early on can be fundamental to their success in life, but the latest research finds many babies and toddlers are missing out, and that means problems.
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/38753-1

US: BIA Seeking Feedback on Indian Child Welfare Act Guidelines for State Courts
Native News – April 13, 2014
Listening Sessions to hear from tribal leaders and representatives on the re-examination and update of the BIA’s Indian Child Welfare Act Guidelines for State Courts [are presented].
http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/bia-seeking-feedback-indian-child-welfare-act-guidelines-state-courts/

US: Treatment of complex developmental trauma in children and youth
Science Daily – April 11, 2014
Developed at the Texas Christian University Institute of Child Development, TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) trains caregivers in building safe, nurturing environments and responding effectively to behavioral issues.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140411153652.htm

US: Foster kids with ADHD prescribed more antipsychotic drugs
Health Day News – April 10, 2014
Antipsychotic drugs are increasingly being prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teens in foster care, according to a new study.
http://www.babycenter.com/204_foster-kids-with-adhd-prescribed-more-antipsychotic-drugs_10393847.bc

US: Supreme Court Arguments in Indian Child Welfare Act ‘ICWA’ Case Set for April 16
National Law Review – April 01, 2014
The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for April 16 in the case of Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. The case involves important issues relating to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), including whether an Indian parent could object to an adoption of his child even though, under state law, he lacked parental standing and whether the ICWA applies when a child is not in an Indian home.
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/us-supreme-court-arguments-indian-child-welfare-act-icwa-case-set-april-16

INTERNATIONAL

Australia: Push for Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum to be adopted nationally
ABC News (Australia) – April 14, 2014
“The schools that have adopted it, I can honestly say that teachers have come up to us and actually said, ‘this needs to be compulsory – the kids are really interested, they learn, they absorb all of those safety messages and they feel more confident going forward and they are in a safer position to know what to do if ever they feel something’s not quite right’,” Education Minister Christopher Pyne said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-14/push-for-daniel-morcombe-child-safety-curriculum/5388526

China: Cluster of measles cases confirmed among adopted children from China
Healio Pediatrics – April 11, 2014
The two cases occurred in a boy (case A) and a girl (case B), aged 2 years with cerebral palsy. Both became ill before traveling to the United States and were symptomatic before travel.
http://www.healio.com/pediatrics/vaccine-preventable-diseases/news/online/%7B479bf8c1-d53b-4752-81c3-c2520ec2b9f6%7D/cluster-of-measles-cases-confirmed-among-adopted-children-from-china

Jamaica: Jamaicans still silent on child abuse
Jamaica Observer – April 13, 2014
Most Jamaicans are not reporting known or suspected cases of child abuse according to data released Saturday by the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) and UNICEF.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Jamaicans-still-silent-on-child-abuse

Malaysia: Eradicating child abuse
New Straights Times – April 13, 2014
Research has shown that abuse usually occurred within families that had a combination of “risk factors”, which included parents or guardians with work-related stress, financial and marital problems.
http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/editorial/eradicating-child-abuse-1.563990#ixzz2yo9HP6gk

South Korea: 80% of child abuse cases in Korea inflicted by parent (Includes video)
Arirang News – April 14, 2014
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of child abuse cases reported last year amounted to 68-hundred, up nearly 400 cases from a year earlier. But the actual figure is estimated to be far higher, considering those that go unreported.
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=160770

Vatican City: Pope asks forgiveness for ‘evil’ of child abuse by priests
Reuters – April 11, 2014
Pope Francis made his first public plea for forgiveness on Friday for the “evil” committed by priests who molested children, using some of his strongest words yet on the Roman Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/11/us-pope-abuse-idUKBREA3A0UR20140411