A Silence of Mockingbirds Is a True Story of Child Abuse

This new book tells the story of the murder of a three year old child and if anyone deserves to have the truth told, it is this child.

Senate committee tackles rural child welfare

Child Protective Services officials got an earful on Wednesday at a Senate hearing on improving the caseworker retention and turnover rates in rural communities. And they got a minor scolding from Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, who assumed they would come armed with more data and possible solutions than they did.

Study of ‘meth babies’ finds behavior problems

The first study to look at methamphetamine’s potential lasting effects on children whose mothers used it in pregnancy finds these kids at higher risk for behavior problems than other children.

The behavior differences anxiety, depression, moodiness weren’t huge, but lead researcher Linda LaGasse called them ”very worrisome.”

The business of foster care

Businesses and organizations across the nation are providing financial, housing, educational and other support to America's most vulnerable children.

Former DPD child abuse commander wins FBI community service award

In 1988, he formed the Child Exploitation Squad to investigate non-familial sexual abuse with the assistance of a state grant from the Criminal Justice Division of the Texas Governor's Office. In 1980, he initiated the annual Crimes against Children ...

Man sentenced to hundreds of years in jail for child sex abuse

A Hays County jury is sending a convicted child abuser to jail. The jury sentenced 36-year-old Tony Martinez to serve 99 years for each one of the 11 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child against him.

Migrant kids' case manager tried for alleged abuse

A former case manager at a shelter for children caught illegally crossing the border alone had sexually abused six teenagers while he was supervising calls they made to relatives in Central America, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Child Services investigator faces abuse charge

The Associated Press DALLAS — An investigator for Texas Child Protective Services has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child. Nicholas Santos is being held in Dallas County Jail on $25000 bond. Authorities say the charge is not related ...

Should Clergy Report Confessions of Abuse?

In Virginia, for example, the confession box is sacrosanct and a priest is not compelled to report a child abuser. In Texas, meanwhile, the clergy is offered no such privilege . Under the Texas Family Code, all professionals who suspect abuse or ...

Child abuse suspect won't be forced to decrypt hard drive: US appeals court rules it would violate his 5th Amendment rights

A federal appeals court has ruled it improper to compel a child pornography suspect to decrypt his hard drive because such an act would violate his Fifth Amendment rights.

The ruling (PDF) by the Atlanta-based US 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of an unnamed suspect from Florida (known in court papers as "John Doe") goes against US legal thinking in previous cases where courts held a person ought to be obliged to turn over encryption codes or passwords in a criminal investigation.

Train teachers to spot sexual abusers, experts say

Many school teachers across the nation are trained to pick up on clues of child abuse and neglect, but most are not trained to spot the signs of classroom pedophiles, leaving a gray area that could help teacher molesters operate undetected on campuses.

'Crack Babies': Black Children Defy Stereotypes, Face Bias

While roughly equal proportions of whites and blacks use drugs, the old stereotype of so-called "crack babies" as black and poor continues to influence which infants are identified and treated as substance-exposed.

New effort aims to stem sex abuse early

Children's Advocacy Center's pilot program provides therapy to young children exhibiting inappropriate sexual behavior

Child Abuse Costs Victims $200,000 Over A Lifetime, Report Finds

In a newly released report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the average cost to someone who experiences maltreatment as a child -- defined as physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse or neglect -- is $210,012 over the course of a lifetime.

Student with Autism Mistreated, Abused with Spray Bottle

A disturbing story has emerged from Deer Park, Texas, where a teacher has been accused of verbally mocking, taunting and in some cases, abusing children with autism and other special needs. Allegations surfaced back in December at a Deer Park ISD ...

Ex-Penn State coach abused boys ages 8 to 17, prosecutors say

A court filing Thursday by prosecutors in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case said his alleged victims ranged in age from 8 to 17, and that crimes involving eight of the boys occurred on the Penn State University campus.

Princeton Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Child

By Brian Bearden, TSB Contributor Town Square Buzz has learned that Rigoberto Benito, 46, of Princeton, Texas, was sentenced by a Collin County jury to 55 years in prison for continuous sexual abuse of a child and 5 years for indecency with a child ...

Texas Teacher Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Kindergarteners

WACO, Texas - A former Central Texas kindergarten teacher from Mexico has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexual abuse of students. A plea agreement reached Thursday night in Waco means 41-year-old Fernando Antonio Campos of Monterrey, ...

Texas Children's Hospital to Provide Simulation Training to Houston Fire Departmenr

By Texas Children's Hospital HOUSTON, Feb. 29, 2012 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Simulation Center at Texas Children's Hospital has begun providing Pediatric Simulation Training for Emergency Pre-hospital Providers (Pedi-STEPPs) to members of the Houston Fire Department (HFD) EMS.

Man Tied To Local Religious Group Sentenced In Child Sex Abuse Case

WACO (March 1, 2012)-- A man who admitted he had ties to a well-known Central Texas religious community pleaded guilty Thursday to continuous sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to state prison.

Number of child deaths linked to abuse/neglect up in Jefferson County

The agency says the number of child deaths is up locally and across the state. The report looks at child deaths due to abuse and neglect. Last year in Jefferson County, 6 children died from abuse or neglect. That's double the number from 2010.

Paper Towel Choking Case Back in Appeals Court

Lawyers for Rosa Jimenez and Travis County prosecutors this week filed briefs arguing for and against trial court findings made in 2010 that urge the Court of Criminal Appeals to grant Jimenez a new trial. Jimenez was convicted and sentenced to 99 years in prison for the death of toddler Bryan Gutierrez; prosecutors say Jimenez shoved a wad of paper towels down the boy's throat while babysitting him in 2003, a choking that eventually caused his death.

Pioneering a Way to Distinguish Blood Disorders From Child Abuse

... changes that are also misdiagnosed as child abuse." Laposata was one of a number of doctors and other experts to offer testimony during the appeals process of Ernie Lopez, a Texas man convicted in 2003 of sexually assaulting 6-month-old Isis Vas.

Abuse cases put Los Angeles Schools under fire

The accusations have raised fundamental questions for administrators: How does the sprawling district interact with local law enforcement agencies? Once school officials know about accusations of misconduct, when and how should parents be told? And how does the district track teachers who have been accused of wrongdoing but not convicted?

Some doctors slow to diagnose abuse

Alissa’s mother and her estate are plaintiffs in a lawsuit in LaGrange Circuit Court against the foster parents and DCS, claiming that DCS case managers were negligent in watching out for Alissa’s well-being. The state police records state the birth mother had repeatedly contacted case managers in the weeks before the toddler’s death, expressing her worries about Alissa’s health and that her visitations with the girl were frequently canceled.

Lori Brown: Forensic interviewer keys on helping the helpless in child abuse case

Brown is a forensic interviewer who works with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement in several circuits in North Georgia, interviewing children who have been victimized by abuse, especially children with developmental disabilities.

Abuse of these children is underreported, according to Brown.

Educators charged with failing to report assault

State law requires that teachers, doctors, nurses or day-care workers must make a verbal report to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of receiving information about child abuse.

2011 Annual Report and Data Book Available

The 2011 Annual Report/Data Book is an overview of the department’s programs, services, performance, and accomplishments, and a comprehensive statistical resource of DFPS services. This report and data book cover the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1, 2010 through Aug. 31, 2011.

For battered immigrant women, fear of deportation becomes abusers’ weapon, but 2 laws can overcome that

In the past decade, several new laws have allowed abused foreign-born women, including those who entered the United States illegally and those whose immigration status depends on their spouse, to obtain legal residency on their own.

Catholic Charities CEO resigns months after sex scandal at children's shelter

The organization confirmed the departure of Bonna Kol in a statement but did not respond to questions about whether her resignation was connected to the fallout from a sexual abuse scandal at St. Michael's Home for Children.

School Linked to Abuse Claims Will Replace Entire Faculty

Speaking to hundreds of parents at a meeting called to address the crisis at Miramonte, Superintendent John Deasy announced the school would be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and when students returned on Thursday, an entirely new corps of teachers and staff members would have been hired to greet them. All current teachers, administrators and staff members will be moved to a school still under construction for the rest of the school year, where they will be interviewed by school officials and, if necessary, the police.

Abuse’s big toll on littlest victims: Physical injuries most frequent among poorest, new study finds

The study was designed to capture information on severe child abuse, which can’t be seen in broad national studies on child abuse, said Dr. John Leventhal, professor of pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine and medical director of the child abuse and child abuse prevention programs at Yale-New Haven Yale Hospital.

Child abuse experts calls for U.S. campaign

"There is a national campaign to prevent SIDS," said Dr. John Leventhal of Yale University, who led the new study. "We need a national campaign related to child abuse where every parent is reminded that kids can get injured."

Protecting children from being sexual abuse victims and offenders

We’ve gone way beyond warning our kids about “stranger danger,” recognizing that 90 percent of sexual abuse victims know the offender. What is less recognized is that 36 percent of the time sexual offenses against kids are committed by other children, according to the December 2009 Juvenile Justice Bulletin.

Parents Test Boundaries Of Neglect

Posing the question at all — is it O.K. to leave a young child alone? — might seem vaguely insane, but the law is surprisingly opaque on the issue.

Child abuse price tag for U.S. is $124 billion, CDC reports

The findings reveal the financial burden of child abuse is just as high or higher than that of costly health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes.

For men and boys, a silver lining amid sex abuse scandals

Advocates and therapists for survivors of male sex abuse say the recent scandals at Penn State and elsewhere may help men who were abused as children, and boys being abused today, step out of the shadows and get the support they deserve.

Uncertainty for Immigrant Children in Foster Care

More than 5,000 children of immigrants are languishing in state foster care nationwide because their parents were living in the United States illegally and were detained or deported by federal immigration authorities.

Second exam important in child sex-abuse cases

However, that "does not in any way" mean the child wasn't sexually abused, said Dr. Nancy D. Kellogg, one of the researchers on the study and a child abuse expert at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Judge Tosses Conviction Of Texas Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Infant

Right away, doctors and nurses suspected child abuse. At Lopez's trial, in 2003, one nurse testified that it was the worst case of child abuse she'd ever seen. The NPR, Frontline and ProPublica investigation found nearly two dozen cases in the United ...

After Penn State, states reconsider sex abuse laws

Thirty-eight legislatures are back in session this month, most for the first time since retired assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was charged in November with child sex abuse and two school officials were charged with failing to properly report abuse allegations. At least 12 states are considering mandatory reporting legislation this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and more are expected to craft bills as their sessions get into full swing.

Socioeconomic status more influential than race in determination of child abuse

When presented with scenarios that could possibly but not obviously indicate child abuse, 2,109 physicians from across the United States who participated in the study were most likely to suspect maltreatment rather than accident for white children from families with low socioeconomic status than for black children with low socioeconomic status or for either black or white children of high socioeconomic status.

CPS funding cuts are affecting child death rate, panel says

In a 20-year-period, fewer children were killed by abuse and neglect in Sacramento County when programs aimed at troubled families were funded, according to a report presented to the Board of Supervisors.

NC Division of Social Services awarded grant to improve child welfare

The North Carolina Division of Social Services (NCDSS) has been awarded grant funding for Project Broadcast: Disseminating Trauma-Informed Practices to Children in the North Carolina Child Welfare System. This project provides the state $640,000 each year for five years (through September 2016). Its aim is to help provide children with services and practices to address the trauma caused by past abuse or neglect before that mistreatment leads to mental health problems or chronic disorders later in the child’s life.

U.S. Army: Sex Crimes By Soldiers Up 97 Percent in Five Years

The rise in violent sex crimes was accompanied by a similar but not as pronounced rise in child abuse and domestic violence crimes involving Army personnel. Child abuse cases rose 43 percent since 2006, while domestic abuse increased more than 30 percent. Alcohol-related offenses, meanwhile, rose by 54 percent.

Innocence lost: Sexual abuse, neglect have lasting impact on children

Last year, intake operators answered 748277 calls from across Texas involving allegations of abuse for people of all ages. The youngest of the children does not remember the abuse but had already started to show signs of inner conflict when Myers began...

Psychologists question mandatory reporter law

Mental health providers have questioned for years whether child abuse reporting laws apply to adult patients who talk about their childhood problems in therapy. Now the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists wants the attorney general's office to weigh in on the issue.

Report Describes Trends in Deaths of Abused and Neglected Children

Released to commemorate the sixth anniversary of a well-known fatality, a report illustrates, the public advocate says, that “the dots are not being connected” in a city agency. The public advocate’s analysis tallies all reports of abuse or neglect, regardless of whether they were substantiated. It also counts reports that date back to previous generations.

Long-term Study Lauds Role of Early Education

Poor children who get high-quality day care as early as infancy reap long-lasting benefits, including a better chance at a college degree and steady employment, according to a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill study that followed participants from birth to age 30.

The Shaky Science of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Prosecuters have charged parents and caretakers with shaking infants to death. But how valid is that diagnosis, and how reliable is the evidence behind it?

Interim Charges on Criminal Justice released

Lieutenant Governor released the interim legislative charges for the Criminal Justice Committee.

Child-on-child sex abuse poses complex challenges

Recent high-profile cases of child sex abuse have roused national revulsion against the adults who perpetrated them. Rarely mentioned is the sobering statistic that more than one-third of the sexual abuse of America's children is committed by other minors.

A Poverty Solution That Starts with a Hug

PERHAPS the most widespread peril children face isn’t guns, swimming pools or speeding cars. Rather, scientists are suggesting that it may be “toxic stress” early in life, or even before birth.

DePelchin Children's Center Expands Footprint Beyond Houston; Combines with Caring Family Network

DePelchin Children's Center announces that it will combine with Caring Family Network (CFN), an Austin-based foster care and adoption agency with locations throughout Central Texas including Austin, Brownwood, Kerrville, Lubbock and San Antonio.

Comprehensive evaluations of newly adopted children crucial

The unique health needs of newly adopted children make it crucial that physicians perform a comprehensive evaluation, including gathering any available medical history and conducting age-appropriate tests, a developmental assessment and complete physical examination, says an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report in the January Pediatrics.

US: US Redefines Rape; Adds Men, Others As Victims

The new definition will increase the number of people counted as rape victims in FBI statistics, but it will not change federal or state laws or alter charges or prosecutions. It's an important shift because lawmakers and policymakers use crime statistics to allocate money and other resources for prevention and victim assistance. The White House said the change was not motivated by the recent Penn State child sex-abuse scandal. Indeed, the expanded definition has been long awaited as many states and research groups made similar changes in their definitions of rape over recent decades.

First trials expected in March for suspects in series of sex assaults on Texas

Most of the men face charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, while four face a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Child welfare agencies across country revamping foster parent role

For decades, it was common for officials around the country to approve foster parents by room and board criteria.

Child abuse reports down from previous year

While child abuse is on the increase in many metro areas across the U.S., the numbers in Rusk County are down in multiple categories.

Government Group Creates Child Abuse Bill

Together, they created a bill that would make a change in the number of fatalities that result from child abuse and neglect. The bill would also make changes to the child welfare system.

Whites adopting blacks: Love not enough

Racism and discrimination remain a reality for many black children adopted by white parents and this may affect their mental health, U.S. researchers say. Darron T. Smith of Wichita State University and Cardell Jacobson of Brigham Young University, who wrote the book "White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption," said black children growing up in mostly white communities encounter racial marginalization.

Texas trooper charged with destroying cell photos while sexually abusing child

A Texas state trooper has been indicted on felony charges of sexually abusing a teenage relative and then destroying cell phone pictures he had snapped during the abuse.

Spriggs Names CEO of Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates

"My passion for the wellbeing of children makes the opportunity to serve as CEO of Texas CASA a perfect fit for me. I look forward to continuing the CASA community's efforts to provide a CASA volunteer for every child that needs one.

Senators ask whether all adults should be required to report child abuse

Casey has introduced legislation that would require states to expand mandatory reporting requirements to include all adults to qualify for federal funding for child-abuse prevention and treatment.

Down the hatch

The Texas Attorney General's Office says a drugmaker lied in order to push an antipsychotic on foster children. So why are kids as young as three still taking the drug?

Child Maltreatment 2010 Report Shows Decrease in Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released its annual report on child abuse and neglect. Child Maltreatment 2010 marks the 21st issuance of the report and, for the fourth consecutive year, shows a steady decline in the number of victims who suffered maltreatment.
"We are heartened to see maltreatment on the decline, but even one child being a victim of abuse and neglect is too many," said George Sheldon, acting assistant secretary for children and families. "The report reminds us of the continuing need for investment in prevention efforts and the importance of coordination between federal, state and local agencies."

Few penalties for keeping child abuse secret

Laws that could punish doctors, teachers and other adults for keeping silent when they suspect a child has been abused have gone largely unenforced over the past decade.

Child abuse, neglect decline in U.S.

Fears that persisting economic woes would increase child abuse in the U.S. have proved unfounded, according to the latest federal data.

The Twice-Victimized of Sexual Assault

Nearly every woman I know can recall one or more instances in which she was sexually assaulted, harassed, threatened, inappropriately touched or even raped. Yet few told anyone about it at the time, or reported it to the police.

Ellie Gertz, adopted then relinquished, tore families apart

FASD is one of the leading causes of developmental disabilities and many doctors are not well-trained in diagnosis and few resources exist to help these children.

Suspected Child Abuse: Mandated Reporting or Moral Obligation?

As the Director of National Children's Alliance, the national association and accrediting body for 739 Children's Advocacy Centers across the country, I hear accounts of 260,000 victims of child sexual abuse each year. Each one is a personal tragedy for the victim, but mostly a private grief for the family. Why, then, has the Penn State sexual abuse debacle involving former Coach Sandusky created such justifiable public outrage and anguish? Is it because of the fame of the football program and the lionization of its leaders? Or, is it because given the rarity of public disclosure of the graphic and sordid nature of the victimization, we find the actual accounts painful to hear and shocking?

Penn State case brings other victims forward

"It's a collective empowerment for victims," says Jeff Herman, a Miami attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases. "Many feel isolated and alone. Then they see all this press and all of a sudden, they see victims standing up and taking on institutions."

Texas law on reporting child abuse tougher than Pennsylvania's

Texas has far more stringent requirements for reporting suspected child abuse than most states, in contrast to Pennsylvania, where scandal has erupted over whether Penn State officials did enough to stop alleged abuse by a former football coach.

Despite scandal, US makes headway vs. sex abuse

NEW YORK — Amid the furor over the Penn State sex abuse scandal, it's an easily overshadowed fact: The United States has made huge strides over the past 20 years in reducing the prevalence of child sex abuse.

New report pegs Texas as leading the industrialized world in child abuse

A new documentary by the BBC provides a sobering look at child abuse in the United States. "America's Child Death Shame" highlights the escalating rates of abuse and in particular points to Texas as leading industrialized nations when it comes to child abuse cases. Texas last year had nearly 10% of all child homicide cases. In the US, about 2500 children were killed.

Dallas Children's Health Report: Child Abuse Prominent

DALLAS, TX (KERA) - A new report about children's health in Dallas County shows nearly one third live in poverty and child abuse and neglect cases increased 39% over the past decade. KERA's BJ Austin says authors of the report hope the "numbers" will be a call to action.

Obama: Kids Stuck in Foster Care Due to Deportation a “Real Problem

In a briefing with Latino journalists last week, President Obama directly acknowledged that his administration’s immigration enforcement practices break up families and exclude parents from decisions about the custody of their children. His comments affirmed the central findings of a yearlong investigation by the Applied Research Center, which publishes Colorlines.com, released earlier this month. The investigation concludes that there are at least 5,100 children currently in foster care who are stuck there because their parents were detained or deported by immigration officials.

Child abuse at 'institutions of trust' common

The Penn State allegations may seem unthinkable: revered assistant coach and prominent community activist Jerry Sandusky preying on eight children. But such abuses of trust play out in the USA over and over again.

Child abuse: We’re making the problem worse

The alleged Penn State sex abuse scandal may provide a powerful lesson about institutional corruption — but it’s also a good time for some self-examination. The general consensus among experts who treat sex offenders is that America has taken the wrong approach to dealing with child molesters. In fact, some say that we’re only making the problem worse.