|
 In some cases, those flaws have led to deaths and criminal charges
against social workers.
"This is a system that years ago was dubbed a poor system for poor
people, and very often the resources are not there to do this very
difficult and very important work," said Dr. Howard Dubowitz, a
pediatrician who studies child protection policies at the University
of Maryland Medical Center.
"The notion that this is a system that is nicely equipped to fulfill
its mandate is often a dream that some of us are hanging onto."
Arizona officials promised prompt action after it was disclosed
Thursday that over the past four years, a team at the state Child
Protective Services agency tried to cope with the heavy workload by
overlooking thousands of complaints to the statewide child-abuse
hotline.
Under state law, all reports generated via the hotline must be
investigated.
So far, authorities re-examining the cases have identified at least
125 in which children were later alleged to have been abused. No
deaths have been connected to the lapses.
Clarence Carter, who as director of Arizona's Department of Economic
Security oversees CPS, called the situation "cause for grave alarm,"
and Gov. Jan Brewer has ordered an investigation.
Child-welfare advocates said the Arizona debacle is not an isolated
incident.
In North Carolina, a county social worker faces nearly four years in
prison after pleading guilty to trying to cover up her agency's role
after a child's death.
Prosecutors said that after the 2011 death of 15-month-old Aubrey
Kina-Marie Littlejohn, social worker Candice Lassiter ordered a
subordinate to falsify records to make it appear that the Swain
County Department of Social Services had done a thorough job
investigating allegations that the girl had been abused.
An Associated Press investigation found that police and social
workers were aware of reports that the child was being mistreated
but failed to act in time.
Florida's Department of Children and Families has long been plagued
by problems blamed on heavy caseloads, high staff turnover, lack of
accountability and inadequate funding. Last year, the agency overhauled its own abuse hotline, which
receives more than 400,000 calls a year, after problems were
discovered with how information was collected and passed on to
investigators, often without information about multiple calls on the
same cases.
[to top of second column] |
Lawmakers there are still grappling with how to fix the agency in
light of the recent deaths of nine children monitored by DCF.
In May, the Florida agency fired an investigator who authorities say
forged documents about substance treatment for a mother months
before her baby was left to die in a sweltering car.
The agency's chief abruptly resigned in July.
The Michigan Human Services Department came under federal oversight
in 2008 after it was accused of failing to protect children from
abuse and neglect.
A report last month by federal monitors found some improvements but
noted more still needed to be done.
In Arizona, CPS has long suffered from what defenders say is
understaffing and overwork.
The number of abuse and neglect reports requiring investigation has
risen 16 percent in the five years ending in March, according to the
agency, while the number of children in foster care or other
out-of-home oversight has surged from about 9,000 to nearly 15,000.
Meanwhile, the number of CPS workers has remained essentially flat,
with the agency struggling with 20 percent annual turnover.
The 1,000 caseworkers assigned to child-welfare investigations have
caseloads 77 percent above the standard, according to CPS. Carter is
asking for an additional 350 workers in the coming budget.
The debacle has led to a new round of criticism of CPS and demands
for Carter's resignation from some Democrats, but the governor, a
fellow Republican, is standing by him.
[Associated
Press; BOB CHRISTIE and
BRIAN SKOLOFF]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
