DCS withholds files on child deaths

[Police Moderator]

DCS withholds files on child deaths
Public can't scrutinize what agency did, or didn't do, to protect children who died

Dec 2, 2012

There is little known about the 31 Tennessee children who died in the first six months of this year after the Department of Children’s Services got involved in their cases.

The dead included 23 babies, four toddlers, one 5-year-old and three teenagers.

They died after suffering broken bones, drug exposure, asphyxia and drowning. One 2-year-old boy died in a Lincoln County home fire. A Lauderdale County newborn was drowned in a toilet. Some deaths remain unexplained.

The Department of Children’s Services continues to withhold details about the children’s lives and deaths and what steps the state’s $650 million child protection agency took — or did not take — to protect them.

Read more: tennessean

[Police Moderator]

Follow up:

DCS refuses The Tennessean's request for records on child fatalities
Newspaper, other media seek details
Dec 19, 2012
Written by Anita Wadhwani and Tony Gonzalez

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services refused to provide The Tennessean with complete records regarding child deaths on Tuesday — the day the newspaper set as a deadline for the department to make the files public.

The newspaper repeatedly has asked for an accounting of how 31 children, who had been reported to the state’s child protection agency, died in the first six months of this year.

In the past three months, the newspaper has made multiple requests for records that would show what the $650 million child welfare agency did — or did not do — to protect those children. On Nov. 28, the newspaper’s attorney again asked for the records.

On Monday, the state’s largest newspapers and television stations were among media outlets to join The Tennessean’s formal request.

Read more: tennessean

[Warkitty]

Anyone that reads this, does nothing and still claims to be "pro life" can go suck an egg. I'm writing the Governor today. DCS falls under our State government. There should be a bright and glaring light shone on this.

[LimitedRecourse]

Really? So they should all have just been aborted and that would have solved the problem?

[Warkitty]

You miss the point. You can ignore the lack of attention paid to these children so long as no woman ever has an option to not have them? What, then the unwanted kids go into DCS where they can be killed later without any complaint, hue or cry? Nice option there.

[LimitedRecourse]

I don't miss your point at all. You missed with faulty logic. Expecting women (and men) to act responsibly in their daily lives is not asking too much. For adults to choose murder as a viable option for their carelessness and irresponsible behavior (especially the murder of innocent children who had no say in the matter) is repugnant. To further suggest that people who don't believe murdering babies is a good thing, should change their minds because other cruel and unfeeling people have mistreated children makes absolutely no sense. The people who don't want you murdering children certainly would also expect you to treat children lovingly and with the utmost care. Using child abuse to support murder is simply horrendous.

[ssmynkint]

You a priori determination that a fetus is the equivalent of a born child reflects your opinions and beliefs, but is not a fact. To use that as a basis of agrument is fallacious except in a system that agrees w your determination. WK's logic is only faulty in YOUR belief system.

[Justin Thyme]

Dec 20, 2012 9:48:56 GMT -5 LimitedRecourse said:

Really? So they should all have just been aborted and that would have solved the problem?

No, they shouldn't have been aborted, but those people protesting abortion should be protesting the system that allowed these born children to die every bit and more so than they are protesting abortion.

[TNBear]

Hear, hear, J.T. LR is being (I hope) deliberately obtuse.