Today in Georgia we’ve gotten a brief respite from the August heat, but there’s no respite from the news. Here’s the latest from the world of child welfare:
A federal lawsuit has been filed against Indiana’s Department of Child Services, alleging the agency is failing to keep children safe. Much like other suits filed over the years by Marcia Lowry Robinson, this one accuses the State of failing to protect children in care and of violating the rights of disabled children. The Indy Star reports that the allegations mirror an earlier suit against the State that was dismissed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals last year.
A report filed by monitors in the Kansas case over foster children sleeping in offices indicates the problem continues, according to media reports. The monitor’s report indicates areas of improvement as well and highlights efforts to improve mental health care for children.
A Catholic couple whom Massachusetts Department of Children and Families denied an application to become foster parents on the basis they would not be sufficiently “supportive” of a transgender child has sued, claiming the state is discriminating against them for their religious beliefs.
In Texas, there’s a new head of the child protection investigation division of DFPS. The agency saw a 40% turnover in its investigative staff during 2022 fiscal year.
Naomi Schaefer Riley reports on the “abolish child welfare” movement.
Check out this op-ed that some guy (ok, me) wrote about how protecting children requires NGOs to create the right organizational culture.
Looks like South Carolina’s Department of Social Services is making progress toward exiting the child welfare litigation that has had the state under a federal consent order for the past seven years.
A human rights group has sued to force the Biden Administration to halt imports of cocoa from West Africa harvested by child labor and destined for use by prominent US candy makers. A Hershey spokesperson told the AP that the company “does not tolerate child labor within our supply chain.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers held hearings about the benefits of Child Advocacy Centers in responding to child abuse.
After having up to 90 children in its care without placements in recent months, Georgia DFCS reported at an August legislative committee hearing that the agency has only a handful of children placed in hotels.
Here’s an interesting article about laws limiting child protective agencies from taking action against parents who prefer prayer over medical treatment for their ill children.
A new Texas law mandates that child custody evaluators record their sessions with children.
Finally, someone has diagnosed the source of all my problems.
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