Child abuse: More funding, not more oversight

Trey Smith

Child abuse is a pervasive problem not only in Oregon but across the nation.  Statistics and case studies clearly show that children, who grow up in abusive environments, are more prone to have difficulties adjusting to adulthood and/or will become abusers themselves.

As reported in the Oregonian on Monday, several bills aimed at strengthening the state's investigation and handling of reports of child abuse and neglect are making their way through the legislature.  One particular bill -- HB 2010 -- would create a Child Protection Unit in the Department of Justice which would provide oversight to the work of the Department of Human Services.

According to the article, "Child Welfare Patch Proposed",

This flurry of activity reflects growing concern about a rise in child abuse and neglect in the state. Reports of child abuse and neglect have increased steadily over the past decade and are up 61 percent since 1994. According to a recent report by the nonprofit advocacy group Children First for Oregon, one in 100 children in the state is a confirmed victim of child abuse.

While I certainly applaud legislators for attempting to try to deal with this complex issue, the creation of another layer of oversight will NOT provide the kinds of results people desire.  No, the primary issue is funding!

As is all too typical of the mainstream media, the Oregonian didn't bother to bring up the funding issue until the very END of the article -- most readers never get that far! 

DHS caseworkers and others close to the system argue that it is not a lack of oversight but a lack of resources that is the key problem.

"There's certainly a lot of room for improvement and a lot of it has to do with resources. We're going to get the system we invest in," said Mark McKechnie, a social worker with the nonprofit Juvenile Rights Project, which represents children in Multnomah County courts.

But appeals for more resources run head-on into state budget constraints. At a recent public hearing in Oregon City, Dalto asked a DHS caseworker, "Where do you see these children falling through the cracks?"

"Not having caseworkers with the time and resources they need," Julie LaChapelle replied.

"There is not going to be more resources," interjected Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, a subcommittee member. "Your answer may be 100 percent, 1,000 percent right, but that's not going to happen."

From my perspective, the key problem with the creation of a new Child Protection Unit is that it attacks the situation at the wrong end of the process.  Reviewing cases that have already been handled won't insure the safety of the specific children involved. 

While it is certainly true that new rules and procedures can be developed as the result of a case that "falls through the cracks", the point made above by Ms. LaChapelle truly goes to the heart of the matter.

If both legislators and citizens genuinely want a social services system that heads off problems before they happen, the political will must exist to provide DHS with more money.  Greater financial resources will result in the hiring of more workers to handle ever-increasing caseloads.  It will allow these individuals to be better trained AND, most importantly, they will be less rushed and able to spend the time needed to insure the safety of children.

As Mark McKechnie stated above, Oregon's social service system is only as good as what we invest it.   

By Trey Smith April 27, 2005