Current Kids At Risk News | INVISIBLE CHILDREN

Apr72018

International Visitor Leadership Program & Guardian ad Litems

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child ProtectionBy Mike Tikkanen April 7, 2018

On Wednesday I was part of a team invited to address judges, lawyers, professors and other officials from developing nations about child abuse, child trauma and specifically, the CASA guardian ad litem program that was of most of interest to them on their visit to Minneapolis. I have great hope that these smart, committed professionals succeeded on their extensive U.S. journey learning about the many moving parts of justice, child rights, courts, domestic violence, child protection systems, child advocacy, foster care/adoption and children’s mental health.

It was an honor to speak with these people and uplifting to know that the CASA guardian ad Litem program is identified all over the world as a powerful voice for children and that any nation can create this program to save vulnerable children.

Details

Apr62018

Child Protection & Volunteer Guardians ad Litems

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child ProtectionBy Mike Tikkanen April 6, 2018

It hurt me to see no mention of Minnesota’s hundreds of volunteer CASA guardians ad litem in Susan Miles’ Child Protection article in Friday’s Star Tribune.

I’m all for paying people for hard work and especially those working with troubled children and families.

Volunteer guardians come from the heart of the community, they do their work solely of concern for abused children & take fewer cases than paid guardians.

Fewer cases means they can be more involved with the child and family. Paid guardians need to handle 25 sometime 30 cases – most volunteer CASA guardians only take a few.

State Ward children have commented many times to me that I was different because I was the only person from the County not being paid to be with them. This meant something to them.

Details

Apr62018

Tolerating Child Death in Minnesota (thank you Safe Passage for Children of MN)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Reporting and News - MN SpecificBy Mike Tikkanen April 6, 2018

This short powerful article from Safe Passage for Children of MN identifies the how and why two girls could be beaten with bats, starved, raped and chained over 12-15 years in the same house and over 50 police calls to the home never resulted in an investigation. The neighbors knew, the police knew, the county knew – but nothing was done.

It’s how Eric Dean the 4 year old was tortured to death while 14 reports of abuse by mandated reporters were ignored. The single visit to the home by child protection workers did not interview the child. If they had, they would have seen the bite marks on his face and head, broken arm and other scars.

We need state wide guidelines to maltreatment reports, statewide coordination of child protection activities and standards for child protection with a focus on keeping children safe.

Details

Apr52018

Child Well Being & Abandonment March 2018 (III)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and DeathsBy Mike Tikkanen April 5, 2018

Opinion | Home visits a key to trauma-informed care for kids
The Commercial Appeal
As evidence of the impact of childhood trauma continues to permeate child-serving institutions, teachers, social workers, pediatricians and caregivers are changing the way they interact with children who have been subjected to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Of the many techniques and …

Details

Apr22018

Child Well Being State By State March 2018 (II)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Reporting and News - US BasedBy Mike Tikkanen April 2, 2018

AZ: Fixing Our Foster Care Crisis
Arizona Daily Star – March 27, 2018
After peaking with nearly 19,000 children in foster care in 2016, Arizona set out to keep more families together and pull fewer kids from their homes. Some changes are taking hold, and the number of kids in out-of-home care is trending downward.
http://tucson.com/fixing-arizona-s-foster-care-crisis/article_10fe027e-31f5-11e8-b4b8-ef0126c7b046.html

Details

Apr12018

Child Well Being & Trauma March 2018 (part I)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and DeathsBy Mike Tikkanen April 1, 2018

Perris Couple Accused of Torturing Children Return to Court
NBC Southern California
David Allen Turpin, 56, and Louise Ann Turpin, 49, are charged with 12 counts each of torture and false imprisonment, as well as nine counts of child abuse and seven counts of cruelty to a dependent adult. David Turpin is additionally charged with one count of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, …
Flag as irrelevant

Details

Mar272018

Sad Stories Part VIII Feb 1-13 (child protection – find your state here)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Reporting and News - US BasedBy Mike Tikkanen March 27, 2018

KARA (Kids At Risk Action) tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. KARA’s reporting is only sampling of what should be reported – the great majority of child trauma & abuse is never known.

American states are struggling to find answers for ending adverse childhood experiences and saving at risk children by reversing the explosive growth of child abuse and neglect. Today, many state ward children are the 4th and 5th generation of abused children raising their own families without parenting skills and with serious drug, alcohol and mental health issues.

37% of children overall and 57% of Black children are reported to child protection services in America by the time they turn 18.

(American Journal of Public Health 1.17)

12 million children a year are reported to child protection services each year and in many states, 1/3 of foster children are required to take psychotropic medicines

Details

Mar252018

Sad Stories Part VII Feb 13-28 (child protection – find your state here)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Reporting and News - US BasedBy Mike Tikkanen March 25, 2018

37% of children overall and 57% of Black children are reported to child protection services in America by the time they turn 18.

(American Journal of Public Health 1.17)

12 million children a year are reported to child protection services each year and in many states, 1/3 of foster children are required to take psychotropic medicines

Details

Mar252018

You’re Six and On Your Own in the Court System (not having an advocate leaves abused children even more vulnerable)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Children's RightsBy Mike Tikkanen March 25, 2018

The fear and aloneness in the eyes of the child sitting next to me in court as the judge decides where she will live after being taken away from the only home she has ever known is palpable.

Here, in a roomful of adults she has never seen before about to determine what will become of her family, where she will live and what school she will go to are too monstrous for words.

How would you as a six year old respond? Remember, coping skills for these events don’t exist is six year olds.

It’s always been terror and trauma for these kids. Torture, trauma and abuse in the home. Terror and trauma of the unknown as the institution takes over every aspect of her life.

Details

Mar222018

Sad Stories Feb 2018 Part VI (foster care stories and statistics)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Abuse and DeathsBy Mike Tikkanen March 22, 2018

37% of children overall and 57% of Black children are reported to child protection services in America by the time they turn 18.

(American Journal of Public Health 1.17)

12 million children a year are reported to child protection services each year and in many states, 1/3 of foster children are required to take psychotropic medicines

Details