New data: Child abuse deaths rise, notably in Texas

Feb. 07--Newly released federal figures show a sharp rise in child abuse fatalities in the U.S., with the bulk of the increase occurring in Texas where child-welfare agencies have been in disarray.

According to a report released this week by the Department of Health and Human Services, there were 1,700 fatalities resulting from child maltreatment reported in fiscal year 2016, compared to 1,589 the previous year -- a 7 percent increase.

Accounting for most of the increase were Texas, where fatalities jumped from 162 to 217.

Children's Advocacy Center of Johnson County Executive Director Tammy King said the most common cause of death related to abuse her staff has seen through the years has been shaken baby syndrome.

"The leading cause of death for all of our children, that is considered preventable, is unsafe sleep environment and/or co-sleeping deaths," she said. "Sometimes criminal elements are a factor in these cases. Parents may have been doing drugs and then they fall asleep with the child who is accidentally suffocated and/or neglect can sometimes play a role."

The CAC also facilitates the Child Fatality Review Team in Johnson County.

"That team is staffing six cases next week," King said. "I won't know details to know if any of these deaths were preventable until after the staffing. What I can say is that the majority of child fatalities related to abuse are very young children.

"Our younger children often cannot articulate that they need help or that they are hurt -- this makes them extremely vulnerable. The goal of the Child Fatality Review Team is to review deaths that are determined to be preventable and try to come up with ways to prevent other children from dying in that manner."

King said the 7 percent increase of child-abuse related deaths is alarming.

"Sadly, as our population continues to grow so will these cases," she said. "Child Fatality Review Teams across the state are working hard on prevention efforts. These are absolutely the toughest cases to be involved with because of the finality. Often, there are multiple secondary victims that are affected and many of the team members working these type of cases will suffer vicarious trauma. They are just incredibly tough."

In Texas, abuse-related fatalities have continued to rise despite high-level personnel changes at the child welfare agency, new legislative appropriations, and a federal judge, Janis Graham Jack, declaring in 2015 that the foster care system violated the constitutional rights of youngsters' placed in long-term foster care.

In January, the judge issued her final order in the case, saying the state's foster care system remained "broken." She also ordered improvements in regards to record keeping and the handling of foster care placements. Texas appealed the ruling.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Johnson County Executive Director Kathy McClure, on the other hand, said the state was never intended to assume the role of parents, and should not be expected to be role models while trying.

"From the governor's office to our local Johnson County Child Protective Services and the offices of every stakeholder along the way, answers to the tragedy of child abuse and fatalities is a top priority," she said. "The old African saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child' has never been more appropriate.

"School teachers and medical providers have long been reporters of children who might be at risk for abuse and neglect. With the rising numbers of mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, and medical neglect in our own neighborhoods all over Johnson County, it is more important than ever that responsible adults report questionable behaviors involving children. A large percentage of the children affected are not old enough to speak out for themselves -- many have physical and learning disabilities."

State Rep. DeWayne Burns, R-Cleburne, said the key is making sure that parents are stepping up to the plate and doing right by their kids.

"It's the fundamental building block of our society," he said. "However, when they don't the state has to come in and defend these defenseless children. That is a reason why it was an emergency item of the governor because we have such a problem. I was proud that our children were a priority last [legislative] session, and I think they should be a priority next session. The numbers show us that our work is far from over."

McClure said advocating for children is a role any responsible adult can assume, and Johnson County needs more people watching out for the safety of our little ones.

"Making a report to a hot line should not be viewed as 'calling in the bad guys,'" she said. "A better rationale would be to call in a 'protector' for a period of time while parents receive services and counseling to help them recognize their own personal problems and establish a safe and stable environment for their children."

Two years ago, a commission created by Congress concluded that the U.S. lacks coherent, effective strategies for reducing the number of children who die each year from abuse and neglect. Although the number of such deaths reported by HHS has hovered at around 1,500 to 1,600 annually in recent years, the commission -- citing gaps in how the data is compiled -- suggested the actual number may be as high as 3,000 a year.

The commission issued an update this week noting that states across the country were moving to implement some of its recommendations for preventing maltreatment deaths.

The new report released by HHS's Children's Bureau, formally known as the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, does not offer theories explaining the sharp rise in child fatalities, but it provides demographic data on the victims.

According to the report, 70 percent of the victims were younger than 3. Fatality rates were higher for boys than for girls, and higher for African-American children than for whites and Hispanics.

Parents -- acting alone, together or with other individuals -- were the perpetrators in 78 percent of the deaths.

Looking more broadly at national trends, the report estimated that 676,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2016, a 1 percent drop from 2015. Most of the cases involved neglect; about 18 percent involved physical abuse -- up slightly from 2015.

Information in this report came from the Associated Press.

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