Is it child abuse or neglect?
Department of Children and Family Services Building in Springfield. Capitol News Illinois
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is charged with investigating abuse and neglect. But a new report, The State Took His Kids Three Times. And Three Times It Gave Them Back, raises questions about the second part of that mission and the way charges of “neglect” can tear families apart, mostly for being poor. The story is a joint investigation by The Southern Illinoisan and ProPublica.
GUEST:
Molly Parker
The Southern Illinoisan
The first part of this story is really an indictment of our broader social infrastructure/safety net. We can't expect CPS to wave a magic wand—that expectation is what's gotten us here in the first place—so shouldn't be surprised when investigations recur. https://t.co/kBQS4PjsqW
— Kelley Fong (@kelley_fong) April 26, 2022
I have been working with child welfare in multiple states. I'm so glad to see the conversation changing to a deeper understanding that poverty and neglect are different issues. Neglect is typically related to untreated mental health.@donnabeegle https://t.co/giLSXKvKqV
— Dr. Donna M. Beegle (@donnabeegle) April 25, 2022