Texas child abuse fatalities up 11 percent in 2004

[rainbow4321]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8858N9G0.html


More than 200 Texas children died as a result of abuse or neglect in fiscal year 2004, up 11 percent from the previous year and double the number from a decade earlier, according to the state Department of Family and Protective Services.

Statewide, the 2004 abuse and neglect fatality rate works out to 3.3 for every 100,000 Texas children. That's roughly 65 percent higher than the latest national average of 1.98 per 100,000 children from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

"We don't have enough staff, we don't have enough investigations, we don't have enough foster homes, we don't have enough training and we don't have enough prevention," said Susan Craven, who heads the Austin-based advocacy group Texans Care for Children.

"It's disturbing to see the number of children dying from what we see as preventable child abuse," said Geoffrey Wooll, spokesman for the beleaguered agency. "The protection of children is a community interest." Family and Protective Services was overhauled last year after several high-profile child homicides that occurred after agency caseworkers had investigated for possible neglect or abuse at home, and decided the children were safe to remain with their parents

[drhilarius]

1. This really burns me the fuck up...

Where the hell are the "pro-life" folks now? Oh, I know, complaining that their taxes are too high, making sure CPS doesn't have the money it needs to protect children. This is why I'm pro quality of life. I have to stop writing, seeing as how I'm choking on my own rage....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Oh... it's not that bad, just wait until we can export our way of life to

the Iraqis and most of the rest of the ME.... we are sooooo full of shit... what with our moral high ground and all....

I was watching that Frontline thing on the Saudi Royals... and noted how their break from their traditional way of life led them to be able to be corrupted by the west and sell out their country's natural resources..... keeping the spoils primarily to themselves... if this were to happen here... perhaps something like taxation without representation.... we would have a problem... oh wait a minute, we did have a problem a couple hundred years ago....... more importantly, we DO HAVE A PROBLEM.... today.

[LWolf]

3. We can't spare the time or $$ or attention;

we're too busy pushing the prolife agenda and global hedgemony to get involved in a family's right to "discipline" as they see fit.

:eyes:

And here on DU, whether or not kids should be allowed in all restaurants is more compelling; I found this on the second page already after only a couple of responses.

[rainbow4321]

4. The kids aren't even safe in the state's custody

Not safe with their families, not safe with the state...these kids just can't seem to get a break.


http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D885AJKG0.html

(4th article down the page)


As lawmakers work to revamp Texas' foster care system, they also are reviewing the use of mind-altering drugs by foster children.

Psychotropic medications typically are prescribed to treat depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other conditions.

Some child advocates say that children are being too heavily medicated once they get in the foster care system. The children go into the system neurologically normal but leave neurologically damaged, one Austin psychologist said. The advocates are calling for strict rules on use of the drugs.

Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, agrees that some children probably are being prescribed too much medicine, but said access to medicine should not be restricted for those who need it. "I think we do overmedicate, but the place to stop that is not in the law. The place to stop that is in peer review where people who understand the medications and understand their uses look at how its being prescribed," said Janek, vice chair of the Senate committee reviewing the foster care system.

[ernstbass]

5. Where is that damn culture of life the chimp speaks of?