New Jersey Report on Abuse in Foster Care System Released

This report refers to children known to the foster care system. Some children are kept in dangerous biological homes and some are abused in foster homes. It was compiled by the  Advocates for Children New Jersey.

“Babies and toddlers were far more likely to die from child abuse and spent longer periods of time in foster care than older children over the last five years, according to a report released today.”

“According to the report:

• Eighty percent, or 91 of 114 of the children who died from abuse and neglect from 2007 to 2011 were 3 or younger;

• Babies under 12 months old spent an average of 17 months in foster care — seven months longer than children from one to five years old;

• Preschool children (under 4 years old) comprised one-third of New Jersey’s 7,484 foster child population in June.”

“The advocacy group recommended more training of child welfare workers, as well as attorneys and judges involved with family court matters, on the needs of infants and toddlers. California considers a child’s age when determining the safety of a home, and New Jersey should, too, the report said.

It also said parents should be required to visit their children in foster care more than once a week, citing research that found increasing visits greatly improves the odds of a baby returning home or getting adopted by another family within a year.

The Advocates for Children also recommend changing state law to require the child welfare agency collect more information about babies, such as how often they are abused again after returning from foster care, and the frequency of caseworker and parent visits.”

Report: Babies, toddlers at highest risk of abuse in N.J. foster care system

[NJ.com 12/18/12 by Susan K. Livio]

The full 8-page report can be found here.

Training

Specific new training for caseworkers is discussed. One idea is “DCF should develop an infant toddler certificate program, similar to what is offered for staff specializing in adolescent casework. This certificate program should include training on infant-toddler development, trauma in very young children and engaging parents of very young children. Staff that complete this training should act as a resource for caseworkers and supervisors to assist in managing these sensitive cases. This, again, could be modeled after the system that has been established for adolescents.” [It is scary that this isn’t already in place!]

Another training idea: “Develop and offer training related to infants and toddlers to judges, attorneys representing the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, attorneys representing parents, law guardians and court volunteers.”

Child Abuse Hotline

The report also recommends that young age needs to be a factor when assessing a call on the hotline. We reported over a year ago about the common factors in abuse in this post. It is shocking that these now well-known factors have not been incorporated into how the child welfare system is being operated.

Biological Family Visitation

The recommendation is as follows: ” Require that infants and toddlers receive a minimum of three visits per week with parent(s)/siblings, unless safety is a concern.” They recommend that it takes place in a home-like setting and cite studies that show the positive effect of the visits and (finally?) recognize that “sudden and traumatic separation from parents can severely damage a young child’s emotional, physical and cognitive development.” [DUH!]

REFORM Puzzle Pieces