UPDATE:
The LA Times continues its investigation into the tragic lack of communication between agencies supposed to be protecting children and the predictable results. This article details both the up-to-now unsuccessful efforts to combine databases and/or get agencies to consult with each other and some case studies as how lack of access to information already in the system somewhere resulted in child deaths. Kudos to The Times for continuing to keep this issue in the local news.
PREVIOUS POST: Records obtained by The LA Times through a California Public Records Act request provide the first comprehensive snapshot of child fatalities in Los Angeles County in 2008, and reveal a horrible record of preventable deaths similar to those discovered by newspaper investigative reports in other US cities. There were other abuse and neglect child deaths in 2008, but these cases involved kids who were "in the system" or had been investigated because of complaints which were judged by Department of Children and Family Services staff to be unsubstantiated.
[ There is no link to this article as it is no longer available at the LA Times website.] If there was ever an argument for going digital with medical and social service information - something which may finally be supported by larger governmental forces than just city and local councils - this could be it. Privacy and confidentiality are still huge issues, but surely once a child is in the system, reports should be available to all relevant agencies. Your thoughts?
PREVIOUS POST: Records obtained by The LA Times through a California Public Records Act request provide the first comprehensive snapshot of child fatalities in Los Angeles County in 2008, and reveal a horrible record of preventable deaths similar to those discovered by newspaper investigative reports in other US cities. There were other abuse and neglect child deaths in 2008, but these cases involved kids who were "in the system" or had been investigated because of complaints which were judged by Department of Children and Family Services staff to be unsubstantiated. [ There is no link to this article as it is no longer available at the LA Times website.]
If there was ever an argument for going digital with medical and social service information - something which may finally be supported by larger governmental forces than just city and local councils - this could be it. Privacy and confidentiality are still huge issues, but surely once a child is in the system, reports should be available to all relevant agencies. Your thoughts?