Kentucky ranks 1st in fatal child abuse

Kentucky had the highest rate of child deaths fromneglect in Kentucky from 2001 to 2007.
abuse and neglect in the United States during 2007,"Reports such as this, though troubling, serve to
according to a report released Wednesday by aheighten the importance of investing in strengthening
national child advocacy group.families and protecting children from abuse and
Every Child Matters Education Fund, a non-profitneglect," said Wilson, the Kentucky Cabinet official.
group in Washington, D.C., reported that 41 KentuckyDespite the numbers, Petit said, children should be
children died from abuse and neglect in 2007 — ataken away from their families in only a small number
rate of 4.09 deaths per 100,000 Kentucky children.of cases. Rather, he said, state and federal
To help stem the tide of deaths, the group called onlawmakers should spend most available money on
state officials to make public specific informationefforts to build stronger families, such as
about each child's death, including whether he or shestrengthening nutrition assistance, preventing teen
had previous contact with state social workers.pregnancy, increasing health care coverage for
"If you want to stop children from dying, it would bechildren and providing money for home nurses to visit
in the best interest of Kentucky to open up thefirst-time, low-income mothers.
process," said Michael Petit, the group's president. "It'sPetit criticized the voting records of Kentucky's U.S.
not a question of affixing blame; it's a question ofsenators, Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell, on
learning."legislation that he said could help prevent child deaths.
Kentucky law permits the disclosure of details aboutAccording to the national child-advocacy group Vote
children who die from abuse or neglect but does notKids, Bunning did not vote for any of the legislation
appear to mandate release of the information.that the organization deemed as helpful to
Each year, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health andKentucky's children. McCon nell voted for two bills.
Family Services produces an annual report of deathsRepresentatives of both senators said the criticism
and near deaths caused by child abuse and neglect,was unfounded.
but it does not provide any specifics about each"It's unfortunate that this report by a D.C. special
child's case.interest group chose to ignore what Senator
"Our practice is to address confidentiality in theMcConnell has actually done for the children of
manner dictated by state statute and regulation," saidKentucky," said McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer.
Patricia R. Wilson, commissioner of the stateSteurer said McConnell supported a University of
Department for Community Based Services. "OpeningLouisville program to help detect and prevent child
such records is a complicated issue that would requireabuse, wrote legislation to increase funding for a
careful thought and deliberation in order to protectprogram that provides health insurance for
innocent family members."low-income children and advocates for the National
The Herald-Leader has filed an appeal in FranklinCenter for Missing and Exploited Children.
Circuit Court of the Cabinet's denial of a request forBunning's spokesman, Mike Reynard, noted that
records in the May death of 22-month-old KaydenBunning has nine children, 35 grandchildren and five
Branham, who died in Wayne County after drinkinggreat-grandchildren.
liquid drain cleaner that was allegedly being used to"Senator Bunning is a family man who votes his
manufacture methamphetamine.values and doesn't pay attention to the views of an
In addition to calling for changes in state law, theextremist organization that cares less about
report challenges Congress to modify federalimproving the lives of our nation's children and more
confidentiality laws. Such changes would allowabout pushing the agenda of Democrats in
policy-makers, the media and the public to understandWashington and the liberal elite of Hollywood,"
better what policies need to be improved in theReynard said in a statement.
aftermath of a child's death, he said.The group says it is non-partisan.
A photo of 10-year-old Michaela Watkins, the ClarkThe report shows that in 2004, the most recent
County girl who received 77 injuries at the hands ofdata available, $89 was spent per capita in Kentucky
her father and stepmother in 2007 before she died,on child welfare services, ranking it 16th among
represented Kentucky on the cover of the report,states.
"We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect DeathsChild advocates noted that the state's budget has
in America."faced repeated cuts since then.
Michaela had been monitored by social workers after"The most alarming aspect of this alarming report is
she was removed from her mother's home and sentthe numbers come before the most recent series of
to live with her father and stepmother, Patrick andbudget cuts," said Terry Brooks, executive director
Joy Watkins. The two were found guilty ofof Kentucky Youth Advocates, the state's leading
murdering Michaela, who had been scalded andchild-advocacy group.
beaten.Brooks said Cabinet officials have dealt well with
Nationally, as many as 50 percent of the children whomandated budget cuts, but programs that help save
died had previously been brought to the attention oflives and money continue to shrink.
authorities. State data has shown similar results in"Belt-tightening may be good for Frankfort political
Kentucky.careers," he said. "It is a bad idea for Kentucky's kids.
The report said 210 children died from abuse and