In the News
OH: Local demand jumps for foster care
WLWT August 18, 2010
In WarrenCounty, police said increasing heroin use is helping to drive a 41 percent increase in demand for foster care, in particular for newborns through age 6.
www.wlwt.com/news/24678170/detail.html
AZ: Sierra Vista woman arrested for child abuse and neglect
KGUN9 August 18, 2010
This is the first time someone has been charged with "Neglect", in CochiseCounty, since a new law took effect. This new law allows for prosecution of a mother, carrying a child in-utero, who uses illegal drugs during pregnancy, which may cause harm to the child.
www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13004302
Mother Posts Photo of Baby With Bong On Facebook
CBS News August 17, 2010
Nineteen-year-old Rachel Stieringer turned herself in to Clay County Sheriff's deputies and has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after she took a picture of her baby "smoking" out of a bong and posted it on Facebook.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20013878-504083.html
PA: Family Support Alliance Trained More Than 7,500 'Mandated Reporters' to Recognize and Report Child Abuse in 2009-2010
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News August 17, 2010
The nonprofit Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the top organization in Pennsylvania for training "mandated reporters" to recognize and report child abuse and neglect, provided training to 7,540 individuals during its recently ended 2009-2010 program year.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100817/pl_usnw/DC51546_1;_ylc=X3oDMTEwYTRyaGoyBF9TAzIwMjM4Mjc1MjQEZW1haWxJZAMxMjgyMDU0NTUz
US: Whole-Body MRI May Help Detect Suspected Child Abuse
HealthCanal.com August 17, 2010
The study, performed at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, included 21 infants who underwent whole-body MRI for the evaluation of suspected child abuse.
www.healthcanal.com/child-health/10082-Whole-Body-MRI-May-Help-Detect-Suspected-Child-Abuse.html
Kids' defenders discuss crimes against children - and we should, too
Dallas Morning News Aug. 13, 2010
But the fact is that that Dallas puts on the nation's premier meeting for professional child-abuse investigators, prosecutors and clinical experts. http://dailyme.com/story/2010081300003035/dallas-morning-news-jacquielynn-floyd-column-.html
Polygamist sect leader Jeffs to be extradited to Texas
CNN August 12, 2010
There is no word on when Jeffs might be taken to Texas. Jeffs was indicted in Texas in 2008 on a felony charge of sexual assault of a child. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/12/texas.polygamist.extradition/
Texas program fostering child abuse awareness kicks off in Plano
Dallas Morning News August 11, 2010
It will produce public service announcements centered on the courage required to face child abuse, both for the victims and those reporting suspected abuse. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/plano/stories/DN-abusecampaign_11met.ART.State.Edition1.355765e.html
Dell Children's hospital granted - $312K
Austin Business Journal
August 11, 2010
Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas received a $312,000 grant from the Department of State Health Services to expand its regional program aimed at the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse.
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/08/09/daily41.html
Addiction program for offenders too valuable to lose, proponents say
Dallas Morning News
August 9, 2010
A nationally acclaimed program that has helped even the hardest-core addicts to sober up and stop committing crimes is vulnerable to state budget cuts.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-inmateaddicts_09tex.ART.State.Edition1.356e187.html
MO: Doctor fights child abuse allegations
KSDK August 12, 2010
A doctor who practices in High Ridge in Jefferson County is on Missouri's Child Abuse and Neglect Registry, because in 2006 child abuse investigators said he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl. He says being on the child abuse registry violates his rights.
www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=211667
US: Abuse allegations against USA coaches rock the swim world
USA Today August 12, 2010
The latest came Wednesday, when 28-year-old Jancy Thompson appeared at a news conference announcing she has filed a lawsuit alleging her former coach at a Northern California swim club committed a range of offenses, from unlawful sexual touching and harassment to molestation and sexual abuse, over a five-year period beginning when she was 15.
www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2010-08-11-allegations-rock-swim-world_N.htm
WA: Rent vouchers much cheaper than foster care, living on street
The Olympian August 13, 2010
There was a buzz of excitement in the air at the Thurston County Housing Authority last week with word that the authority has received a major grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to keep families united under one roof.
www.theolympian.com/2010/08/13/1334768/rent-vouchers-much-cheaper-than.html
TX: Program fostering child abuse awareness kicks off in Plano
Dallas Morning News August 10, 2010
"One With Courage" is the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Texas. It will produce public service announcements centered on the courage required to face child abuse, both for the victims and those reporting suspected abuse.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/081110dnmetabusecampaign.257dd9e.html
TX: Former foster kids struggle to get records
The Texas Tribune August 6, 2010
Child welfare advocates say young adults who age out of foster care are routinely denied their records: The state either ignores their requests, tells them they can’t be found or says compiling the paperwork will take anywhere from months to years.
www.texastribune.org/texas-state-agencies/child-protective-services/former-foster-kids-struggle-to-get-records/
AZ: Ariz. pastors indicted for not reporting sex abuse
Associated Press August 5, 2010
Two Phoenix pastors have been indicted for not reporting that a girl told them her father was sexually abusing her and her sister.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/05/AR2010080506958.html
Attorney General Holder Announces Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction
5 Aug 2010
Attorney General Eric Holder has announced the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction. The strategy provides a comprehensive assessment of the dangers facing children from child pornography, online enticement, child sex tourism, commercial sexual exploitation, and sexual exploitation in Indian Country. It also offers a blueprint to strengthen the fight against such crimes.
http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2010/ag-speech-100802.html
WI: Trauma informed care helps caregivers deal with difficult behavior
WUWM July 30, 2010
The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare is searching for ways to reduce the number of times foster kids are moved from home to home. Nearly 25 percent of kids here are shuttled to four or more homes, often because foster families are not equipped to deal with the child’s needs. There is hope, however, that a relatively new program will give caregivers the tools they need to understand why kids may act out, and what to do.
www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=6593
US: Child welfare experts urge Congress to expand Title IV-E waivers
Youth Today July 29, 2010
The federal government should expand a flexible funding program that helps states and counties reform their child welfare systems and keep more children out of foster care, a panel of experts told a congressional committee Thursday.
www.youthtoday.org/publication/article.cfm?article_id=4188
TX: All4One: News 4 WOAI child-abuse awareness campaign
WOAI July 27, 2010
SAN ANTONIO - It's the first of its kind for the city of San Antonio: a child-abuse awareness campaign specifically geared towards kids in school. ...
www.woai.com/news/local/story/All4One-News-4-WOAI-child-abuse-awareness-campaign/4nDY1Yis-0uMv1g4UGOJqg.cspx
TX: Abusive mothers improve parenting after in-home training, emotional support of therapists
Science Daily July 27, 2010
A new study has found that mothers in families in which there is a history of child abuse and neglect were able to reduce how much they cursed at, yelled at, slapped, spanked, hit or rejected their children after a series of home visits from therapists who taught them parenting skills.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100727121936.htm
DC: Laws on child sex abuse in schools
Washington Post July 24, 2010
All states have child abuse legislation, but some make it a distinct crime with harsher penalties if educators or others in a position of authority abuse ...
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/24/AR2010072400242.html
TX: A different approach to child-abuse prevention worth a look
San Antonio Express July 20, 2010
Sakai, a longtime advocate for abused children, views a budding proposal that would require Bexar County parents who are on CPS' radar to learn about the physiological impact of child abuse and neglect.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/a_different_approach_to_child-abuse_prevention_worth_a_look_98801669.html
DE: Delaware's children: On their own after foster care
The News Journal July 14, 2010
With the number of teenagers aging out of the system nearly doubling in the past decade, Delaware is about to make big changes to help them line up a home, a job, an education and the little things that new adults need to go out on their own.
www.delawareonline.com/article/20100714/NEWS02/7140346/On-their-own-after-foster-care
TX: Leader knows foster care from the inside
Statesman.com July 13, 2010
Texas officials think she's the first former foster child to lead the council, which advises the state agency on issues ranging from protecting children and elderly or disabled adults to rules for day cares.
www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/leader-knows-foster-care-from-the-inside-801071.html?sms_ss=email
TX: Children's shelter adds transitional living space for foster kids
American-Statesman July 13, 2010
Under state law, when foster children turn 18, they have to strike out on their own hopefully to find jobs or enroll in college or job-training programs. But the reality, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, is that up to 50 percent of youths who "age out" of foster care become homeless within 18 months of leaving the system.
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/childrens-shelter-adds-transitional-living-space-for-foster-799257.html
PA: DHS says housing, other assistance available for foster kids until age 21
The Philadelphia Daily News July 13, 2010
A program for teens in foster care—called "Subsidized Independent Living"—provides housing assistance until age 21. That is the program Owens, the counselor, said she had been told by DHS staffers that Rodriguez was not eligible for because he is older than 18.
www.philly.com/philly/news/20100713_DHS_says_housing__other_assistance_available_for_foster_kids_until_age_21.html
CT: School abuse cases poorly handled
Journal Inquirer July 12, 2010
By Everton Bailey Jr. Associated Press The Connecticut public school system does a poor job handling alleged cases of student abuse and neglect by employees, according to a report the state attorney general and the state child advocate released last week.
www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2010/07/13/connecticut_and_region/doc4c3afb5d154e0076230731.txt
MN: Mom says Anoka County fought adoption for racial reasons
Minneapolis Star Tribune July 10, 2010
Melissa Becker did win custody of LaMya Mikulak-Rowe, eventually. But it nearly broke her, and she has filed a complaint with the federal Office of Civil Rights, alleging that the county cost her tens of thousands of dollars because they wanted to place LaMya with a black family.
www.startribune.com/local/north/98170704.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvDE7aL_V_BD77:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
TX: Human services help lines deserve congressional support
Fort Worth Star-Telegram July 10, 2010
What is 2-1-1? Just as 911 connects callers with emergency services, 2-1-1 connects people to vital human services from a range of nonprofit, government and faith-based agencies.
www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/11/2327347/mckinney-human-services-help-lines.html#ixzz0tTZ28b9C
UK: Facebook installs panic button for children
Sky News July 12, 2010
Young Facebook users will be able to report suspicious or inappropriate online behaviour with the launch of a new safety application.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Facebook-Panic-Button-Child-Exploitation-and-Online-Protection-CEOP-Application-Installed/Article/201007215663424?lpos=Technology_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15663424_Facebook_Panic_Button%3A_Child_Exploitation_and_Online_Protection_%28CEOP%29_Application_Installed_
NV: Carson City mom faces felony child abuse charges after ER finds meth in ...
Carson Now July 11, 2010
A Carson City woman who told authorities she had smoked methamphetamine and then fell asleep next to her infant daughter faces felony child abuse charges after the baby tested positive for the drug.
http://carsonnow.org/story/07/12/2010/carson-city-mom-faces-felony-child-abuse-charges-after-er-finds-meth-infants-system
CT: Study finds schools fail to report abuse, neglect
The Register Citizen July 11, 2010
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the state’s child advocate, Jeanne Milstein, say child abuse and neglect cases are slipping through the bureaucratic cracks at the state’s schools.
http://registercitizen.com/articles/2010/07/12/news/doc4c3a9058a33a4907272396.txt
IL: Berwyn schools, ex-principal owe $3.5 million in abuse case
Chicago Tribune July 9, 2010
Families say little was done to stop ex-band teacher, who touched girls inappropriately from 1998 to 2003
www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-berwyn-suit-verdict-20100709,0,4577271.story
CT: Conn. child abuse report cites ‘systematic failure’; New Haven among cases cited
New Haven Register July 9, 2010
A report released Thursday by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein calls for sweeping reform in the way allegations of abuse by school employees are reported, investigated and handled.
www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/07/09/news/new_haven/aa1_neabusereport070910.txt
TX: Child-abuse task force valiantly faces hurdles
San Antonio News June 29, 2010
… but observers say it's a first for the state to have a body of child or victim advocates—one that's not a government institution or think tank—assess how to improve child-abuse prevention efforts.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Child-abuse_task_force_valiantly_faces_hurdles_97363264.html?showFullArticle=y
TX: “Panel is given a dark view of foster care; many of the most troubled end up far from home, lawmakers are told”
Houston Chronicle July 1, 2010
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services commissioner, Anne Heiligenstein, told members of the Texas House Human Services Committee that at least 1,600 Texan foster children live in restrictive foster care centers (also called residential treatment centers), representing 10 percent of the State's foster care children. Most of these centers are located in Houston, hundreds of miles away from many of the children’s homes. The legislative committee is investigating the centers after allegations of abuse were brought to light by local media.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7088843.html
IL: Illinois will bolster child death investigations
St. Louis Post-Dispatch July 04, 2010
The Illinois program provides funding for cases involving deaths or critical injuries in 34 counties — mostly rural and sparsely populated — that make up about the southern third of the state
www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_922881b0-ee9a-52f8-90cf-8f00b8325f40.html?mode=story
TX: Texas program aims to help inmate moms, babies
Houston Chronicle July 5, 2010
A TDCJ mother and infant bonding initiative gives babies a wholesome start and inmates an incentive to reform.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7095143.html
FL: PHOTOS Step forward: Lee program gives former foster girls a place to live on their own
Naples Daily News July 5, 2010
Jerricka is one of the first former foster children to move into a transitional living house in Fort Myers purchased by Footsteps to the Future, a foster girls mentoring group.
www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/05/step-forward-lee-program-gives-former-foster-girls/
A neuroscientist uncovers a dark secret
National Public Radio June 29, 2010
They believe that brain patterns and genetic makeup are not enough to make anyone a psychopath. You need a third ingredient: abuse or violence in one's childhood.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127888976&ps=cprs
TX: GISD says employees are trained to recognize possible child abuse
KFOX El Paso June 28, 2010
The manual states that any employee who suspects child abuse must report it. It lists agencies to make a report to and has do's and don'ts on how to ...
www.kfoxtv.com/news/24074886/detail.html
US: Child abuse requires specialized treatment, reporting
American Medical News June 28, 2010
Physicians say they are reluctant to report because they "know the family well," "don't trust child protection workers in their state," or "don't want to ...
www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/06/28/prca0628.htm
AR: Shift to adult can be hard, Ark. foster kids say
Arkansas Online (subscription) June 27, 2010
“One thing I remember facing is that I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have a car,” Anthony said. “And I couldn’t get a car, because I was in foster care. I couldn’t get a license because I needed insurance—well, what foster parent is going to put you on their insurance?”
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/jun/27/shift-adult-can-be-hard-ark-foster-kids-say/
OR: Law will protect students from sexual misconduct by school staff
The Oregonian June 26, 2010
The new law defines sexual conduct—a previously hazy term—as being sexual in nature, aimed at a student and creating an "intimidating, hostile or offensive environment," that interferes with a student's performance. The law creates stringent policies for reporting and punishing sexual conduct.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/06/post_9.html
TX: Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Leonard Pitts stresses the importance of fatherhood at book fest
statesman.com June 26, 2010
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Leonard Pitts Jr. had a complicated relationship with his father. Now that he's a father of five himself, he says he has become particularly sensitized to the issue of fatherhood and fatherlessness in America.
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/pulitzer-prize-winning-journalist-leonard-pitts-stresses-the-771448.html
VT: Schools must add sex abuse ed to studies
Battleboro Reformer June 25, 2010
Under the state’s new sexual abuse response system, schools will have to teach sexual abuse prevention as part of their health curriculum and school employees will be required to receive training on how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse and know what to do if the warning signs are visible.
www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_15373135
MS: State education leaders react to rash of sex abuse claims against teachers
The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS) June 25, 2010
A recent rash of educators accused of having inappropriate contact with students is prompting state education leaders to take a second look at their policies and Mississippi laws.
www.clarionledger.com/article/20100624/NEWS/100624021/State-education-leaders-react-to-rash-of-sex-abuse-claims-against-teachers
CA: Innovative foster teen program opens in Ventura County
BusinessNews.com Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:42 PM PDT
Created for at-risk youths requiring intensive support and structure, MTFC teams foster parents with an Aspiranet program supervisor, individual and family therapists and a life skills coach to work collaboratively with troubled foster teens to reunite them with permanent families (birth, relative or foster) within six to nine months.
www.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=212815&type_news=past
CA: Grand Jury wants county to support foster youths till 21
Ventura County Star June 14, 2010
Ventura County officials should support a bill extending foster care payments up to age 21 and track the progress of young adults after they leave foster care, the Ventura County Grand Jury said in a report issued Monday.
www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/14/grand-jury-wants-county-to-support-foster-youths/
CA: Oxnard project to house, teach teens in foster care
Ventura County Star June 14, 2010
Aspiranet said running the program will cost about $17,000 a month, and it is being funded through the county and private money. If the model is successful, Aspiranet says it will consider opening similar homes throughout the county.
www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/14/oxnard-project-to-house-teach-teens-in-foster/
CT: Child abuse team reduces trauma to victims reporting the crime
Danbury News Times June 14, 2010
"Prior to having this system in place, abused children would have to tell their stories to five or six different people," said Donna Meyer, forensic interviewer for the local Multidisciplinary Investigations Team. "The system, with its best intentions, was actually traumatizing kids more than the actual abuse."
www.newstimes.com/news/article/Child-abuse-team-reduces-trauma-to-victims-523705.php
CT: Middletown's Creative Arts for Developing Minds
Hartford Business June 14, 2010
Creative Arts offers integrated programs combining music, art and movement to foster care and adoptive children. There is significant research documenting ...
www.hartfordbusiness.com/news13560.html
CA: Fundraiser planned for Ventura house for women who leave foster care
Ventura County Star June 12, 2010
A group of Ventura County foster care advocates and McGrath’s daughter have come together to open Alice’s House, a home designed to be a safe refuge for women who are too old for the foster care system, but aren’t yet ready to live on their own.
www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jun/12/nxxfcalicehouse13/
OH: At 18, foster care is over, and it's bon voyage, little girl: Connie Schultz
Cleveland Plain Dealer June 12, 2010
Each year, an estimated 100 girls in Cuyahoga County alone age out of foster care.
www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2010/06/at_18_foster_care_is_over_and.html
NV: School district under investigation for late reporting of child abuse
Lahontan Valley News June 11, 2010
The Fallon Police Department served the Churchill County School District with a search and seizure warrant in late May to remove evidence for an investigation of the district's failure to report alleged child abuse and neglect at Numa Elementary School within 24 hours.
www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20100611/NEWS/100619947/1055&ParentProfile=1045
TN: Former teacher claims she was fired for reporting abuse
The Tennessean June 9, 2010
A former assistant teacher of special-needs children is accusing the school system of firing her as a result of her reporting abuse of special-needs students.
www.tennessean.com/article/20100608/GALLATIN01/100608054/Former-teacher-claims-she-was-fired-for-reporting-abuse
MI: Court gets it right on parents in prison
Detroit Free Press June 11, 2010
Connecting with their children helps incarcerated parents as well. The Michigan Department of Corrections rightly regards maintaining family ties as a key ...
www.freep.com/article/20100611/OPINION01/6110325/1322/Court-gets-it-right-on-parents-in-prison
TX: CPS’ safety net for children has huge holes
San Antonio Express-News June 8, 2010
“Our safety net in Texas is a minimal safety net,” Specia said. There's no fiscal appetite to give children or their custodial caregivers the legal safeguards that could conceivably mean everyone involved needs a lawyer, with the state picking up much of the cost, he said.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/without_legal_teeth_cps_safety_plans_have_huge_hole_95831674.html
NY: The Animal Cruelty Syndrome
New York Times June 7, 2010
In addition to a growing sensitivity to the rights of animals, another significant reason for the increased attention to animal cruelty is a mounting body of evidence about the link between such acts and serious crimes of more narrowly human concern, including illegal firearms possession, drug trafficking, gambling, spousal and child abuse, rape and homicide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13dogfighting-t.html?ref=magazine
TX: Report: Abuse found at treatment centers for kids
Houston Chronicle June 6, 2010
More than 250 incidents of confirmed abuse and mistreatment, including beatings and sexual abuse allegations, have occurred in the last two years at residential treatment centers that care for some of the most troubled or disabled children in Texas, two news organizations in Texas are reporting.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7039031.html
OK: New university program will train future Oklahoma child welfare caseworkers
NewsOK June 5, 2010
Oklahoma City University will soon become one of only a handful of schools nationally to train child welfare caseworkers. Beginning this fall, the school will offer a minor in child advocacy studies. OCU psychology professor Melissa Hakman said that the program is centered on “trying to educate and train people to respond to child mistreatment in a competent and ethical way.”
TX: Texas program gives kids a say in picking foster home
Star-Telegram, April 24, 2010
Nelson Children's Center is one of two residential treatment centers in the state participating in a pilot program with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services called "Child's Choice" that allows foster children to state their preferences and spend time with their prospective foster family weeks before they are released.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/24/2140250/texas-program-gives-kids-a-say.html#ixzz0mbkhdQb1
KY: Chances good that jailed moms in Kentucky lose custody of kids
Courier Press, April 26, 2010
Mothers who receive a jail or prison sentence in Kentucky stand a good chance of losing custody of a child, according to a new university study. Suzanne Allen, one of the University of Kentucky report’s authors, said the women are victims of “inflexible and punitive criminal justice and child welfare policies.”
Pediatricians urged to watch for abused caregivers
MedPage Today, April 26, 2010
One of the most effective ways to prevent child abuse may be for pediatricians to identify domestic violence against a child's caregiver, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
www.medpagetoday.com/EmergencyMedicine/DomesticViolence/19742
AAP report: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-0451v1
Witnessing abuse affects brain
St Louis Today, April 26, 2010
People who have witnessed domestic violence between their parents in childhood are likely to have a significantly smaller visual cortex later in life, according to research by Kumamoto University and Harvard University. The visual cortex of the brain processes information from the eyes.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/F42C15574E1D079B862577110002A0B0?OpenDocument
KY: Bill to stem child abuse passes Kentucky legislature
Courier-Journal April 14, 2010
A bill designed to train health care workers, child protection officials, day care employees and many others who work with children on how to better recognize signs of child abuse received final legislative passage on Wednesday.
www.courier-journal.com/article/20100414/NEWS01/4140433/Bill+to+stem+child+abuse+passes+Kentucky+legislature
AK: Foster care should extend beyond 18
Anchorage Daily News April 13, 2010
Far too many children in foster care come from parents who were once themselves foster kids. Others end up in the revolving door of the criminal justice ...
www.adn.com/2010/04/13/1224624/foster-care-should-extend-beyond.html
NJ: Majority of NJ foster kids have not completed life skills course for option to leave system
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com April 12, 2010
Two-thirds of New Jersey’s oldest foster children haven’t completed a "life skills" course that would help them to live independently and qualify for financial assistance, according to a report released yesterday.
www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/two-thirds_of_nj_foster_kids_h.html
WA: New program helps alumni of foster care champion school and personal life
The Daily of the University of Washington April 9, 2010
Today the UW launches its Champions Program, designed to help students like Harmon, which will serve as a support system for youth and alumni of foster care.
http://dailyuw.com/2010/4/9/new-program-helps-alumni-foster-care-champion-scho/
TX: Reports of child abuse in San Antonio reaching record highs
KENS 5 April 7, 2010
Bexar County has an immense child abuse problem. Case loads are growing, which means finding homes for many of those children. Local agencies are in desperate need of more foster parents.
www.kens5.com/news/local/-The-number-of-abused-children-in-San-Antonio-is-reaching-a-record-high-number-90178747.html
US: Report: Foster kids face tough times after age 18
National Public Radio April 7, 2010
A major report out Wednesday says that many former foster kids have a tough time out on their own. When they age out of the system, they're more likely than their peers to end up in jail, homeless or pregnant. They're also less likely to have a job or go to college.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125594259
US: Study finds more woes following foster care
New York Times April 6, 2010
Problems like unemployment, crime and poverty follow many young people after they “age out” of the foster care program. Also at:
www.news-press.com/article/20100407/NEWS01/100406101/1002/Foster-kids--future-tough and at: www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/04/07/education-a-struggle-for-many-foster-children.html
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/us/07foster.html
FL: Stipends could be cut for “aged out” foster children
Sun-Sentinel April 5, 2010
About half a dozen "aged out" foster children gathered Monday at an independent living support center in Fort Lauderdale to discuss the harsh reality of transitioning from ward of the state to self-sufficiency during a recession.
www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-foster-care-ageout-20100405,0,4817327.story
TX: Family drug court a worthy investment
Express-News Editorial Board April 4, 2010
Since its inception nine years ago, the family drug court has become an integral part of the Bexar County judicial system. http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/Family_drug_court_a_worthy_investment.html?showFullArticle=y
Parents efforts to education children about sexual abuse inadequate, study finds
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Press Release April 1, 2010
Despite evidence to the contrary, parents who talk to their children about sexual abuse incorrectly identify strangers as the most likely source of abuse, according to a team of researchers led by Esther Deblinger, PhD, co-director of the CARES (Child Abuse Research Education and Services) Institute at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey(UMDNJ)-School of Osteopathic Medicine. Their findings appear in the current edition of Child Maltreatment. By focusing their warnings on ‘stranger danger,’ Deblinger and her team say parents may be neglecting critical information that would help their children recognize, avert and disclose sexual abuse.
US: Study: Many doctors don't report child abuse suspicions
nwi.com April 2, 2010
More than 25 percent of doctors who believed a child's injuries were abuse-related failed to report their concerns to child protective services, a recent study found.
http://nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_c03ca4a8-97cf-5126-86b0-e5a629d4d359.html
US: New federal report shows drop in child abuse rates
ABC News April 1, 2010
The rate of child maltreatment in the U.S. dipped in 2008 to its lowest level since 1990, but the number of abuse-related child fatalities continued to rise, according to new federal figures.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=10263346
Report available at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm08/index.htm
AL: NCAC hosts annual National Symposium on Child Abuse
The Huntsville Times March 22, 2010
International guests are in Huntsville this week to look at the city's National Children's Advocacy Center as a model for their own countries.
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/03/ncac_hosts_annual_national_sym.html
NY: Animal abuse as clue to additional cruelties
New York Times March 17, 2010
Responding to growing evidence that people who abuse animals often go on to attack humans, states are increasing the penalties for animal cruelty and developing better methods for tracking convicted offenders.
www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/us/18animal.html
IA: CASA volunteers: Unsung heroes of the courtroom
Newspapers of Fayette County Mar 17, 2010
WEST UNION - When a neglect or abuse case of an adolescent comes before the juvenile court system in Fayette County, there is one person that has only the child on their mind.
http://newspapersoffayettecounty.com/articles/2010/03/17/news/doc4b9682d8ac6b4735845717.txt
WA: What kids in poverty really need
Seattle Times March 15, 2010
Mark Courtney, whose organization conducted a study of the system, told me the depth of poverty has been a surprise even to people who regularly deal with child welfare.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2011347484_jdl15.html?prmid=related_stories_section
Report available at www.partnersforourchildren.org/pocweb/userfiles/PFOC_ParentSurvey_report.pdf
IA: Substance abuse doesn't cause domestic violence, it just ramps up the severity level
Press-Citizen March 14, 2010
"One of the myths out there is that substance abuse somehow causes domestic violence," Doser said. "Drugs and alcohol merely increase the lethality level of domestic violence. They don't cause domestic violence; they just ramp up the severity."
www.press-citizen.com/article/20100314/OPINION03/3140302/Substance-abuse-doesn-t-cause-domestic-violence-it-just-ramps-up-the-severity-level
PA: PFSA Calls on Senate Committee to Back Legislation to Require Training for Spotting Child Abuse in Schools
PR Newswire, March 11
Angela Liddle, executive director of the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA), today told the state Senate Aging and Youth Committee in prepared testimony that legislation is necessary to require "mandated reporters" employed by schools to undergo training on how to recognize and report child abuse.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pfsa-calls-on-senate-committee-to-back-legislation-to-require-training-for-spotting-child-abuse-in-schools-87335067.html
WA: State to get tougher on child sex trafficking
The Columbian, March 10, 2010
A bill that would impose tougher penalties on child sex traffickers and customers of child prostitutes and help their young victims rebuild their lives has passed the Legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk.
www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/10/state-gets-tough-on-child-sex-trafficking/
OJJDP Announces FY 2010 Child Protection Funding Opportunities
March 10, 2010
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has announced the following fiscal year (FY) 2010 funding opportunities related to child protection:
- AMBER Alert National Training and Technical Assistance Program
- ICAC Program - Law Enforcement Strategies for Protecting Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation
- Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force: Minnesota
- Research on Technology-Facilitated Crimes Against Children
Resources:
To obtain further information about the above and other current OJJDP solicitations, including eligibility criteria and application deadlines, visit ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/funding/FundingList.asp.
Children's Program Cut Has Costly Outcome
Hartford Courant, March 9, 2010
Connecticut must make substantial budget reductions and some of these cuts will cause inconvenience, difficulty and outright pain. But legislators should only approve budget cuts that make sense. Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposal to cut funding yet again for the Children's Trust Fund makes no sense - moral, political or fiscal.
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-super-harkness-children-abus.artmar09,0,7675939.story
Visit Courant.com at http://www.courant.com
US: Short-Term Cuts, Long Term Consequences for Kids
NPR March 3, 2010
Part 1: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124127356&ps=rs
Part 2: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124131201
US: Transracial adoption can provide a loving family and an identity struggle
ABC News March 3, 2010
Black children in white families try to find their place in society.
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/transracial-adoption-america-today/story?id=9914150
TX: Houston's Child Protective Services too often fails to protect victims
Houston Chronicle March 2, 2010
Almita Nicole Lockhart, was arrested last month, accused of allowing Halle to starve to death. But what is even more distressing is that Lockhart, who has nine other children, had been investigated by Texas Child Protective Services a total of nine times since 1993 and would have lost custody of her children on two of those occasions if CPS had adhered to its own procedures.
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/6894036.html
US: State budget cuts threaten child welfare programs
NPR March 2, 2010
States facing big deficits are cutting programs to prevent abuse and protect children. This comes at a time when many on the front lines say they're seeing a growing need.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124127356&ft=1&f=1003
US: CWLA releases national and state-by-state statistics providing a snapshot about the plight of America’s children
Business Wire March 2, 2010
The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization, released its “Nation’s Children 2010” report, a compilation of the latest statistics from a variety of state and national organizations that provide insights into the health and welfare of U.S. children. The report noted that of the nation’s 74 million children, nearly one-fifth are living in poverty, up more than 20 percent from the prior year. However, the report also contained good news, revealing a reduction in child abuse and neglect as well as a decrease in the number of children in foster care.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100302005788&newsLang=en
CA: Web-based system lets police, social workers share data on child abuse
Los Angeles Times, February 26, 2010
L.A. County's district attorney calls the implementation a 'giant leap forward' and says the system, designed to prevent cases from falling through the cracks, is the first of its kind in the U.S.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-child-abuse26-2010feb26,0,2108658.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+%7C+Local+News%29
IL: Medics learn child abuse reporting
Morton Times-News February 25
Emergency personnel, school administrators, social service and mental health personnel — basically any member of an organization from which a child receives assistance — must react with composure. They must take sides with the child who was allegedly abused. It is crucial for first responders to gather all the information and details all while managing the emotions of those involved.
http://www.mortontimesnews.com/homepage/x49439927/Medics-learn-child-abuse-reporting
TX: Sharp rise cited in Texas child abuse fatalities
San Antonio Express News February 25, 2010
A statewide increase in child abuse and neglect-related deaths resulted in 280 fatalities last fiscal year, a 31 percent increase compared to the previous fiscal year and the highest since the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services began keeping records in 1998.
www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/85293947.html
TX: New Texas task force will tackle human trafficking
Fort Worth Star Telegram February 23, 2010
A new state task force will take an aggressive stand against human traffickers, who have turned Texas into a hub for international and domestic forced labor and prostitution rings, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Tuesday in Dallas.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/23/1991925/new-texas-task-force-will-tackle.html
D.C.: Attorney General Holder Addresses Town Hall Meeting on Fatherhood and Youth Violence
Washington, D.C. ~ Thursday, February 18, 2010
"Of all the titles I've held in my life-lawyer, prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney, and, now, Attorney General-the one I'm most proud of is father," Attorney General Eric Holder declared in his remarks to the recent Town Hall Meeting on Fatherhood and Youth Violence, sponsored by the Alliance of Concerned Men.
"Here in Washington, too many of our children are in need and living in pain. Too many kids have given up on themselves and given in to a life of violence and crime," the Attorney General noted, citing the numbers: "2,500 active gang members, 5,000 loose affiliates, 156 juveniles crammed into a detention center meant to house no more than 88 youth offenders, hundreds of robberies, dozens of murders."
"The plain truth is that youth violence is far too common. There's no single cause and no simple solution. But we know one important contributor is the absence of a responsible, loving father," he observed, adding, "This must end. Any man who can create a child must also help, in a meaningful way, to raise that child."
Resources:
To read Attorney General Holder's full remarks, visit www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2010/ag-speech-1002181.html.
OU: Tulsa pediatrics educator behind new child-abuse subspecialty
Tulsa World February 17, 2010
A new child-abuse subspecialty for pediatricians will help weed out false child-abuse allegations against parents and will provide more solid legal proof when such abuse has taken place, two University of Oklahoma physicians say.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100217_11_0_Anewch651793&rss_lnk=298,297
CT: Change, Concerns for Juvenile Court; Pilot Program Begins
Hartford Courant February 16, 2010
Juvenile court proceedings can be some of the most emotionally charged cases in the court system, with dockets full of horrific stories of child abuse and neglect.
In Connecticut, those stories historically have been kept secret.
But a judicial branch pilot program beginning today in Middletown will give the public its first glimpse into the plight of children forced into this legal world, a move that will put Connecticut on a list with about 20 other states moving toward opening up juvenile court proceedings.
NH: Many Prostituted Juveniles Treated as Offenders, Not Victims
Newswise February 15, 2010
A new national study finds that nearly a third of the prostituted juveniles taken into custody by police are treated more as criminal offenders than as victims of the pimps and customers who sexually abuse them. Study authors say this reflects controversy and confusion nationwide among criminal justice authorities about how to handle this problem.
NY: Pass the Squishy
New York Times February 7, 2010
OF all the supplies at Haven Academy, a charter school in the South Bronx, none matter as much as the squishy. Like any elementary school, Haven has pencils, books and desks. But it is the squishy — a colorful rubber ball with dozens of tentacles that can withstand the strength of any young student — that daily absorbs a fit of anger or a mess of tears.
Every school has trouble with tantrums, but at Haven Academy, devising tactics to recover from them is a central part of the mission. Opened in the fall of 2008 by the New York Foundling, a 140-year-old foster care agency, Haven is the first school in the city designed to serve children from broken families. A third of its students are in foster care, and another third are under the watch of the Administration for Children’s Services (the remainder come from the surrounding Mott Haven neighborhood, one of the poorest in the country).
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/education/07foster.html
TX: Hearing on human services budget cuts draws a crowd of 300 people
Austin American Statesman February 11, 2010
More than 300 people turned out on a rainy afternoon to hear how Texas’ health and human services agencies might cut their budgets. Representatives from several health and human services departments were on hand to hear from the public before they present budget-cutting options to Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/02/11/_more_than_300_people.html?cxntfid=blogs_postcards
KY: Panel backs bill to help detect child abuse
Courier-Journal February 7, 2010
FRANKFORT - A bill that advocates said could save lives by helping doctors, nurses, day care workers and others better recognize signs of child abuse won unanimous approval from a House committee Thursday. www.courier-journal.com/article/20100204/NEWS01/2040340/Panel-backs-bill-to-help-detect-child-abuse
WA: Seattle donors step up to save program aimed at rescuing teen prostitutes
The Seattle Times February 11, 2010
Five months ago, a two-year pilot-program to help teen prostitutes escape the streets was all but dead, the victim of cuts to the county budget. But community donors — who wrote checks for $5 to $150,000 — have saved the city program, which is now set to launch in early April and will make Seattle one of only four cities in the country to offer dedicated services to juvenile prostitutes. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011039448_teenprostitutes11m.html
HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Senate Confirmation of Ellen Murray as Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources and Bryan Samuels as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Contact: HHS Press Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that, last night, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Ellen Murray as Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources and Bryan Samuels as Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Ellen Murray brings over ten years of experience as Staff Director for the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies since 1999," said Secretary Sebelius. "She has extensive knowledge of the HHS budget, and will be a tremendous asset to our Department."
"Bryan Samuels has devoted his career to working on behalf of children, youth and families. His distinguished career in public service has been guided by his personal experience growing up in a residential school for disadvantaged children," said Secretary Sebelius. "He is committed to making a difference in the lives of at-risk children, and will be an outstanding leader at the Administration for Children and Families."
"I am delighted that the Senate has confirmed these two talented and committed leaders. I also want to commend the hardworking staff of both the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources for their tireless work on behalf of the American people during these past months."
CA: L.A. County will no longer strive to reunite families
Los Angeles Times February 5, 2010
Los Angeles County has suspended a long-standing effort to reduce the number of children in foster homes because keeping more of the children with their birth families could be unsafe, the county's top child-welfare official said.
www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-foster-care5-2010feb05,0,201241.story
US: Early foster care boosts quality of institutionalized children's ties to caregivers
Eurekalert February 5, 2010
The study is based on data from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, the first randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care. It was carried out by researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine, the University of Maryland, Harvard Medical School/Children's Hospital Boston, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/sfri-efc012910.php
Article abstract: www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123275000/abstract
FL: Children's advocates hope to rescue underage Super Bowl sex slaves
Miami Herald February 4, 2010
Two dozen volunteers from around the country gathered inside a Miami conference room earlier this week to prepare for the Super Bowl. They're not here for the game, though, but to spend several days fanning out through the city to rescue underage girls who have been trafficked to South Florida as sex workers.
www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1463592.html
US: National Children’s Alliance announces over $10 million in federal grant awards
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 PRNewswire-USNewswire
On January 13th, 2010, National Children's Alliance (NCA), under agreement with the United States Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), announced grant awards over $10 million distributed among 539 Child Advocacy Centers and Multi-Disciplinary Teams across the country.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-childrens-alliance-announces-over-10-million-in-federal-grant-awards-83378607.html
APNewsBreak: US study shows drop in child abuse
ABC News February 2, 2010
A massive new federal study documents an unprecedented and dramatic decrease in incidents of serious child abuse, especially sexual abuse. Experts hailed the findings as proof that crackdowns and public awareness campaigns had made headway.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=9730224
Report at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/natl_incid/index.html
Report finds black male babies least likely to be adopted – Here's why!
Eurweb.com February 2, 2010
A study by the Center for Economic Policy Research (study) has found that when it comes to adopting children in America, there is a noticeable bias in favor of girls and a significant bias against Black boys.
www.eurweb.com/index.php/archives/6073/comment-page-1
Report at www.cepr.org/pubs/new-dps/dplist.asp?dpno=7647
UT: Addressing interracial adoption issues important
Deseret News February 1, 2010
"So many adoptees are struggling with what it means to be black," says University of Utah Ph.D. candidate Darron Smith, who is completing a dissertation on transracial adoptions in Utah and who, with BYU sociology professor Cardell Jacobson, interviewed dozens of black adults who were adopted as children by white families.
www.deseretnews.com/article/700006219/Addressing-interracial-adoption-issues-important.html
MI: Using training and lovability, Amos the dog calms kids in court
Detroit Free Press Jan. 31, 2010
A 2-year-old lab mix, Amos is Michigan's first court therapy dog, a pooch trained to comfort traumatized and anxious children who are victims or witnesses in cases of domestic and sexual assault. In the weeks ahead, he will be called upon when kids are summoned to court, befriend them, and perhaps sit with them when they testify.
http://www.freep.com/article/20100131/NEWS03/1310426/1202/RSS
VA: JLARC faults study of sexual abuse of juvenile offenders
Richmond Times Dispatch January 30, 2010
The General Assembly's watchdog agency yesterday challenged a federal study on sexual abuse in juvenile correctional centers in Virginia and across the country.
www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/JUVE30_20100129-212201/321159/
TX: Children’s Zone: Can Harlem Come to Austin?
The Austin Chronicle January 29, 2010
During his 2008 presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama applauded the Harlem Children's Zone in New York for using governmental, educational, and nonprofit groups in a coordinated program to break the cycle of childhood poverty. His election pledge was to create 20 Promise Neighborhoods that could apply the lessons of Harlem across the nation. Now public agencies and nonprofit groups in Travis County are competing to become part of this grand experiment. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A943505
US: CWLA reveals top 5 child welfare challenges and opportunities for 2010
Business Wire January 27, 2010
Kicking off the year, the Child Welfare League of America announced its top challenges and opportunities for 2010, during its “Children 2010: Leading a New Era” National Conference. CWLA’s Top 5 list captures events and trends are shaping the future for foster children this year.
http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100127005959&newsLang=en
HAITI: Haiti halts departures of orphans
Wall Street Journal January 26, 2010
The Haitian government has halted the departure of all orphans from the earthquake-ravaged country until it can guarantee that only legitimate adoptions are being approved, according to U.S. government officials.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703906204575027631235977538.html
US: SSI Changes Rule to Benefit Disabled Youth Leaving Foster Care
The Social Security Administration has issued new rules that directly apply to disabled youth leaving foster care. Effective immediately, a disabled youth eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may file an SSI application up to 90 days before federal foster care payments are expected to end. This is an exception to the general rule of accepting an SSI application in the month before the month of eligibility. This policy will aid disabled youth in foster care to make the transition to adult life by helping to ensure that they have income and health benefits in place. View the policy using the link below.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/public/reference.nsf/...
TX: Texas wins big with its CPS reform; Child Protective Services
Policy & Practice December 1, 2009
Child Protective Services Director Joyce James and her leadership team realized that adding thousands of new front-line staff required adding hundreds of new front-line supervisors and mid-level managers to manage the new arrivals. The team also realized that while, over the years, it had invested in training for front-line supervisors, it had not invested similarly in training and tools for mid-level managers.
www.thefreelibrary.com/Texas+wins+big+with+its+CPS+reform.-a0215117805
DOJ Appoints National Coordinator for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction
On January 13, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued the following press release:
The Department of Justice has appointed Francey Hakes to serve as the National Coordinator for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction. The position, working out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, was created by Congress in the Protect Our Children Act of 2008.
"I am thrilled to announce Francey in this important position at the Department of Justice," said Deputy Attorney General Ogden. "The national coordinator will play a crucial role in combating child exploitation around the country, and I am certain that Francey will do an outstanding job."
The national coordinator is charged with formulating and implementing a national strategy to combat child exploitation, and with submitting the strategy and relevant reports to Congress. This effort has been underway at the Justice Department since the legislation was enacted. As the national coordinator, Hakes will serve as the department's liaison with all federal agencies regarding the development and implementation of the national strategy, work to ensure proper coordination among agencies involved in child exploitation prevention and interdiction, and communicate with Congress on issues relating to the national strategy.
Hakes is currently an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. She joined the U.S. Attorney's office in 2002, after having served as an Assistant District Attorney in Georgia for six years. Over the last 13 years, Hakes has focused on child exploitation offenses, and has worked with international, federal, state and local law enforcement as well as victim’s groups to prosecute offenders and protect children. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/January/10-ag-027.html
US: Sexual abuse of youths in detention
Washington Post January 11, 2010
About 2,700 minors report sexual contact—ranging from inappropriate touching to rape—by the adult employees charged with keeping order in the facilities. Yet, as The Post's Carrie Johnson reported, the Justice Department is delaying reforms that would help protect such children while it awaits a cost-benefit analysis.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/10/AR2010011002264.html?sub=AR
TX: CPS sees unexpected jump in child abuse, neglect reports
Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel January 10, 2010
Following state and regional trends, Nacogdoches saw a significant increase in the number of investigations and removals of abused and/or neglected children from homes by Child Protective Services in 2009, according to Lisa King, Nacogdoches County Child Welfare Board chairwoman.
www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2010/01/10/misc_CPS_011010.html?imw=Y
TX: Immigration nightmare: Adopted and deported
Abilene Reporter-News January 9, 2010
“Your Texas adoption will establish that you are the parent, but not that the child is a citizen,” she said. “The adoption decree does not establish citizenship (but only) the legal parent-child relationship.”
www.reporternews.com/news/2010/jan/09/adopted-and-deported/