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Monday, February 06, 2012
Ind. Gov't. - "For the Love of Children: Does boy's death point to larger problem?"
Virginia Black and Mary Kate Malone of the South Bend Tribune had a lengthy investigative story yesterday that may be part of a series, that begins:
A growing number of those involved in protecting Indiana’s children are alarmed at the quiet revamping of the state’s Department of Child Services — changes they say too often result in a reluctance to act appropriately on reports of abuse and neglect.Much more to the story ...A Tribune investigation in the wake of the highly publicized beating death of 10-year-old Tramelle Sturgis in November and the deaths this year of several other Indiana children suggests that centralization, funding cuts and the mandated confidentiality of Child Protective Services is worrying social workers, doctors, program providers and even juvenile court judges.
After reports that Indiana’s record of protecting children was among the worst in the country, Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005 appointed a new DCS director, creating a Cabinet-level position, and pledged more state money toward hiring more case managers in an effort to lower caseloads across the state.
Director James Payne, a former Marion County juvenile court judge for 20 years, has led the overhaul over the last few years, hiring and training 800 new case managers, instituting more consistent policies and creating more systems to review cases. He points to these changes as bringing Indiana’s policies more into line with those of other states.
But he has also led some sweeping changes that others who work in the system point to as serious missteps that are often failing children.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 6, 2012 10:03 AM
Posted to Indiana Government