How could this have happened?

[CLTKing]

The police department is partially responsible for not doing much when the family member's contacted them last year.

[brokensky]

I think if you will read the article carefully, family members did what they knew how to do and the officials to whom they reported the possible abuse did what they could do within the limits of the law.

These cases, sadly, go on all over the country. Social Services and Child Welfare departments have as their first mandate to protect children, yes . . . but they can only do so much as the mandates of the court (across this country) are to keep families together. So an investigation is done, and if the advocates cannot prove abuse . . . there is just not much anyone can do.

This is also true for domestic abuse.

Child Welfare advocates have very little authority. In additon, they have few resources to work with and limited spots for placement should a child be removed.

I would suspect that we will find in the coming months that the child welfare advocates in this case did nothing wrong and indeed, followed policy within their department. I also suspect that family members were seen as "exaggerating" and "overly reactive."

I, too, was sickened by this report. How I would love to have raised that little boy myself! But this story, as disgusting as it is - is just one of thousands that occur all over this country. Abuse may be suspected, but proving it is often very difficult.

[CVP]

This is so sad. A lot of parents are really ignorant and/or mentally ill and the offspring they produce barely have a chance. How could they? Sometimes I wish sterilization could be enforced on certain people, especially those living off the state. They don't need to keep having babies!! Which now brings to mind Nadia from CA with her eight new little bundles of joy.

[brokensky]

Unfortunately, even ignorant, hateful, irresponsible people have reproductive rights.