ROCKINGHAM – Now in its 27th year of gathering and sharing statistics on child abuse, the Child Treatment 2016 annual report was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services last week.
According to the report, which includes data from across the nation, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in 2016 (the most recent year for which statistics are currently available). That is more than four children every day; a heartbeat of hopes and dreams ending abruptly every 8 hours somewhere across the country.
Seventy percent of the children who died as a result of abuse were under three years of age. Additionally, most of the children were killed by their own caregivers. Seventy-eight percent of the child deaths were at the hands of parents who acted alone, together or with another person.
Recent high-profile cases, such as that of David and Louise Turpin in California, who have been charged with abuse and holding their 13 children captive, have brought to light the importance of reporting things that don’t appear right. There were neighbors and family in that case who suspected something was not right, and yet, remained silent for years.
North Carolina law, according to sources at the Richmond County Department of Social Services, requires any person who has cause to suspect a child is being abused or neglected to report their concerns to a county child welfare agency. In North Carolina, a person who makes a report of suspected child abuse, neglect or dependency is immune from civil or criminal liability, if the report was made in good faith.
The child welfare process begins with Child Protective Services (CPS) completing an intake that includes screening to determine what further action may be required.
“Careful, detailed and thorough work at intake lays the foundation for making informed decisions throughout the life of the case,” explained Bunny Critcher, Adult and Children’s Services Program Manager in Richmond County.
Some of the reasons children are removed from their homes include child abandonment, serious injury, sexual abuse, inadequate health care to address serious illness that could result in death, disfigurement or substantial impairment of bodily functions and the parent, guardian, or custodian is either unable or unwilling to provide or consent to treatment.
Additionally, child removal may be ordered for a safety threat when a prior safety agreement or plan was executed, but the parent did not adhere to the plan, and where there are no reasonable means by which to otherwise ensure the protection of the child.
Average caseload statistics for the 22 Child Welfare case workers in Richmond County for 2017 include 70 reports per month, and 59 CPS assessments completed. Child Protective Services in-home visits were listed at 28 per month, and foster care services being 21 per month on average.
Richmond County has a “Guardian Ad Litem” program. This program is designed to appoint guardians for infants, young children and the unborn for the purposes of court actions in which the child needs an advocate. There is currently one coordinator and 18 Guardian Ad Litem volunteers.
Richmond County DSS continues to look for ways to improve services to families. Several projects are designed to try and improve outcomes for the families of Richmond County. One such project is Treatment Outcome Package (TOP). The program is in partnership with Kids Insight and the Duke Endowment.
This project assesses the well-being of children in Richmond County’s legal custody and children in in-home services cases. This program aims to allow the agency to more accurately assess children well-being needs, and to track progress over time of both the child and the providers that work with the child. Richmond County is currently working with Montgomery, Scotland, Hoke and Harnett counties to expand this project.
Across North Carolina there are more than 11,000 children in foster care. In Richmond County alone, there are currently 21 children in protective custody. County child welfare agencies are always in need of foster homes in the event that placement of a child is needed.
“Anyone interested opening their hearts and homes and becoming a foster parent can inquire by calling (910) 997-8449,” said Critcher.
