Comments for Press Release: We Can Do Better at http://www.everychildmatters.org , comment 0 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.everychildmatters.org Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:41:07 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.everychildmatters.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=763#pc_108 I think something NEEDS to be done on the National level. Way too many kids are victims and it's time it stops. Kids look to us adults to protect them and if we are failing them then something is bad wrong. Reading the article made me sad. I wish I could save them all. - Mary Ann Conley Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:48:54 +0100 http://www.everychildmatters.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=763#pc_101 I have worked as a child advocate for the past 17 years and one main area that needs reform is in the court systems holding the jurisdiction over such cases/issues. Too often judges and magistrates deciding the cases/issues have too little training, experience and appreciation for what is involved with such families and children and therefore the decisions often do more harm than good (the courts hearing the appelate cases equally lack such training, experience and appreciation). Because judges are elected officials (and thus truely politicians much more than they are public servants) they virtually report to no one and thus they are free to act without recourse. If the child protection agencies and/or law enforcement officials fail to adequately act as the necessary checks and balances to the court's decisions the children and families suffer. Currently there is not one authoritative body in Ohio whose only role is to protect, serve and advocate for children and families. Ohio statutes require its juvenile/family courts to appoint "a guardian ad litem to protect the interest of a child in any proceeding concerning an alledged abused or neglected child ... The guardian ad Litem so appointed shall not be an employee of any party in the proceeding" however too often the courts (judges/magistrates) making those appointments also directly or indirectly control the programs providing the guardians ad litem (sometimes known as CASA or similar names) thus there is arguably a relationship much too similar to employer/employee between the judges and the guardian ad litems . Without a truely independent guardian ad litem who is by state statute commanded to "perform whatever functions are necessary to protect the best interest of the child, including but not limited to, investigation, mediation, monitoring court proceedings and monitoring the services provided by the public children services agency..." If the guardian ad litem is in any way beholden to the judge they are not independent and if the guardians ad litem are not independent they are not serving the children and families' needs but instead the needs of the judges. If true reform is ever going to occur there needs to be an authoritative body specifically established to oversee the court systems and professionals providing such necessary advocacy services to the abused and neglected children and their families. Someone or something needs to hold the judges and courts responsible for upholding the statutes already enacted to protect children. - kim nelson Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:29:18 +0100 http://www.everychildmatters.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=763#pc_98 Need more stress on tougher sentencing and separation of abuser from victims. - Jay Craig Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:56:51 +0100 http://www.everychildmatters.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=763#pc_94 The risk the public face is much the same as in the UK - overall rates of deaths from child abuse are much the same year on year yet when the vested interest bodies want to make high profile they do so not on the back of a real rise in child deaths but because they seek greater funding and greater ability to invade families lives. It was Hitler who first came up with the phrase in the best interests of the child and his theory was that if the Public accepted the abuses of the State as they deemed it to be for 'the best interests of the child' then they would accept any abuses in such name. Sad though child abuse is, the State actors are not acting to help reduce the problem but to further invade family life. Be aware of the agenda behind such notions that the State can solve these problems when it seems to us that the State increases the problems. www.familieslink.co.uk - Shaun O'Connell Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:19:10 +0100 http://www.everychildmatters.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=763#pc_93 I am heartbroken after reading these reports. I am terrified to think, that even though we have addressed the isse, I feel like it is not enough. I think strong legislation needs to be taken, and I am at a loss for what else to do right now. I wish I could do more. I wish I could save them all. :'( - Elena Gomez Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:37:45 +0100