#13 Child Abuse Prevention 2004-2005

Meredith Bellson 18 posts Aug 17, 2007 11:50 AM

#13. Child Abuse Prevention 2004-2005 NOTE: POST A MESSAGE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS! WHEREAS, providing children with a secure and safe environment is one of the most basic responsibilities of parents and society, and security and safety are essential for children to grow and develop into healthy and happy adults; and WHEREAS, governmental agencies have an important role in ensuring children are safe and protected; and WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services receives over 30,000 reports of child maltreatment each year, with between 20 and 33 percent of the referrals resulting a finding that child maltreatment is “indicated” meaning evidence validates the report; and WHEREAS, the greatest proportion of indicated child maltreatment in Tennessee each year is neglect, constituting almost half the indicated cases, with sexual abuse second, physical abuse third, and “other” fourth; and WHEREAS, over 10,000 Tennessee children are in state custody at any point in time; and for 2003 the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth’s Children’s Program Outcome Review Team (CPORT) evaluation of the systems serving children in state custody reported 73 percent were adjudicated dependent/neglected/abused, 31 percent had allegedly been physically abused, and 25 percent had allegedly been sexually abused; and WHEREAS, based on CPORT results, although females (39 percent) are more likely to be sexually abused than males (16 percent), a substantial number of boys in state custody have allegedly been sexually abused; and also based on CPORT results of children who are adjudicated delinquent, 27 percent have allegedly been physically abused and 24 percent have allegedly been sexually abused; and WHEREAS, Tennessee’s first Children’s Advocacy Center opened in 1989, but today there are still only 25 centers across the state, each receiving $50,000 annually in state funds, leaving many abused children without access to this valuable resource in numerous areas of the state; and WHEREAS, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs utilizing volunteers to advocate for timely permanence for children in state custody have been established in 26 counties, but currently only 14 counties are receiving state funds of $15,000 each, and five additional counties are interested in developing CASA programs, but the lack of state support jeopardizes the continuation of CASA programs in 12 counties and inhibits their development in other counties; and WHEREAS, much child maltreatment, including neglect, physical and sexual abuse, is preventable by educational programs; and in an effort to address child maltreatment, the Tennessee General Assembly mandated efforts to provide child abuse prevention education, including: the 1985 Child Sexual Abuse Law Personal Safety Curriculum in all school systems in grades K-6; the Family Life Curriculum in high schools in almost all counties in Tennessee; and educational information regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome for all parents of newborns; and WHEREAS, the Select Committee on Children and Youth of the Tennessee General Assembly has established a Task Force to recommend child protective services (CPS) reforms to the legislature in 2005; and WHEREAS, the Child Protective Services Reform Task Force is considering a recommendation for an alternative response system to establish three tracks for responding to allegations of child maltreatment: 1) investigation for serious cases leading to prosecution when appropriate; 2) assessment and service provision for other cases; and 3) referral for community services for families in need of assistance but in circumstances not rising to the level of child maltreatment warranting state intervention through investigation or assessment; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that TCSW encourage child maltreatment prevention efforts, including full implementation of the Personal Safety Curriculum and the Family Life Curriculum in all Tennessee schools, and thorough education regarding the severe implications of shaking babies; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW encourage the provision of other appropriate efforts to provide child abuse prevention and early intervention; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW support child protective services reform to provide more appropriate intervention alternatives to address the range of child maltreatment in Tennessee.

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