Indiana: Child Welfare Crazy Caseworkers Take Too Many Kids
Dawn Robertson of Honk for Kids has lots of work to do in her effort to save children from DCF injustice. Her state, Indiana, has been taking children from their homes far more often than other states. Child detentions in Indiana have risen ten percent while nationwide, detentions dropped four percent since 2004.
In 2007 Indiana’s Department of Child Services (DCS) removed 7712 children from their homes. That was 369 more than in the previous year.
The Associated Press article about the odd statistics quoted Ms. Robertson as saying, “There does not seem to be, with most judges, an independent and unbiased review of all the facts of the cases. It’s very one-sided. DCS’ word is considered gospel.”
The data on Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) child welfare overzealousness was compiled by the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform. That’s Richard Wexler’s organization. He pointed out there’s no evidence that children are safer in Indiana and said, “When you are seeing no increase in safety but a huge increase in removals, that means your system is getting worse.”
We who are fighting child welfare insanity in whatever state we’re in should get in the habit of reviewing national child abuse and neglect statistics, as Wexler has done. You’ll never know what there is to find unless you look.
Statistical information:
National Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics
Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities: Statistics and Interventions
Sources:
Report says state removing more kids from homes by Tim Evans, published on November 8, 2008 in the Indiana Star.
Report says state removing more kids from homes, an AP article published on November 8, 2008 in the Chicago Tribune.
