County investigates thousands of child abuse reports
annually
12/26/15
By http://www.journal-news.com/staff/lauren-pack/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer
BUTLER COUNTY —
Every year millions of reports of
child abuse are made in the United States, involving more than 6 million
children. The U.S. has one of the worst records among industrialized nations in
child abuse deaths, losing an average of four to seven children per day to
child abuse and neglect.
About 6.3 million children are
referred to state agencies each year because of abuse.
The numbers can be startling and
part of an ongoing challenge for those tasked with protecting children in
Butler County While the most horrific cases that result in the death of a child
grab headlines, county Children Services officials say the agency opened
thousands of investigations this year with the majority having more positive
results.
So far this year, Butler County
Children Services has seen seven cases where a child had to be taken to the
hospital due to abuse, according to Bill Morrison, the agency’s director.
Two incidents this year ended with
the death of babies, most recently 2-year-old Madison Twp. toddler, Kinsley
Kinner. In 2012, the county saw a five-year high of 30 child abuse cases that
required a trip to the hospital. Morrison said the parents are almost always
involved and often the mom’s boyfriend is the culprit.
“I wouldn’t say it is a prevalent
problem, but one is too many,” he said. “You hate to see it any time it occurs.
I don’t have any reason to believe…Butler County is any different statistically
from any other counties around the state.”
Kinsley’s mother, Rebekah Kinner,
who is pregnant with a son due in February, is charged with involuntary
manslaughter because sheriff’s detectives say she watched her boyfriend,
Bradley Young, beat the toddler and did nothing to intervene. Young is charged
with murder for the alleged fatal beating.
Earlier this year, Phillip J.
Cunningham, 27, of Hamilton, was charged with murder after he allegedly dropped
his 2-month-old daughter and shook her, according to Hamilton police. The baby
later died from her injuries, which included intracranial bleeding, skull
fractures and “serious brain injuries,” police said.
Cunningham, who remains housed in
the county Jail is scheduled to appear in Butler County Common Pleas Court on
Jan. 21.
Through November, Butler County
Children Services has opened 2,553 cases this year based on an allegation of a
child in need, which includes anything from physical abuse to emotional
maltreatment to homelessness and neglect. For the intakes investigated, there
were out of home placement in 191, which includes foster care and relative
placements.
“Some of the most difficult case are
those involving infants and toddlers, because they can’t talk, or defend
themselves,” Morrison said.
He said when Children Services opens
a cause involving a young child, they are also challenged with finding out who
may be inflicting the harm, which can be difficult if many people and family
members have access to the child.
Depending on the circumstances of
the situation, such as if a crime has been committed and the police are
involved, the child can be removed from the home. But often the child is placed
with the other parent, a safe family member or friend of the family.
“We have a some wonderful foster
families, but think about it: If you are a child, four of five years old, and
you are taken from your home and given to people you have never met before,
that is a class A, 911 event for that child,” Morrison said. “We know growing
up in foster care causes a lot of childhood problems.”
Case workers assigned to a case are
required by law to check and speak with the child and parents, depending on the
situation, with regularity.
The case and a disposition of the
validity of the allegations must be completed in 45 days.
On the “front end” of a case,
according to Julie Gilbert, a children services supervisor who spent many years
as a case worker, they are trying to determine if there has been any physical
abuse. That means something other than marks on the buttocks from corporal
punishment. And also if the child has been exposed to violent acts, drug abuse,
mental illness or if they simply have no food or shelter.
“We meet with the child victim and
at least one person caring for them,” she said. Follow up is done every five
days with the worker attempting to visually see the child, Gilbert said.
Morrison said the agency works
within the system and the structure they have to keep children safe, but the
bottom line is the agency is not about breaking up families, when counseling
and other services can make life better for all.
“We are future thinking for the
child and the family,” Morrison said. “But the reality is, we don’t have the
ability to predict human nature.”
Morrison said the agency was not
involved with Rebekah Kinner as a parent prior to her daughter’s death, and
they don’t have jurisdiction over any unborn children.
“But we will be watching (once the
child is born),” Morrison said.
If a person should suspect a child
is being abused or neglected, they can call Butler County Children Services on
its 24-hour hotline: 513- 868-0888. Callers can remain anonymous.
Officials said, however, if someone
sees a child being harmed, and they believe it is an emergency, they should
call 911.
Butler County Children Services
investigations through November 2015
Emotional maltreatment — 40
Medical neglect — 71
Neglect — 778
Stranger danger — 10
Physical abuse — 1109
Sexual abuse — 278
Dependency — 101
Family in need of Services
(homelessness, lack of food) — 166
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