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Kentucky had the highest rate of child deaths from abuse and neglect in the United States during 2007, according to a report released Wednesday by a group National Child Advocacy.
Every Child Matters Education Fund, a nonprofit group in Washington, DC, reported that 41 children died of Kentucky, abuse and neglect in 2007 – a rate of 4.09 deaths per 100,000 Kentucky children.
To help stem the tide of deaths, the group called on officials the state to disclose specific information about each child's death, including whether he or she had previous contact with social workers State.
"If you want to prevent children from dying, it would be in the best interest of Kentucky to open the process," said Michael Petit, the group's president. "It's not a matter of placing blame, it is a matter of learning".
Kentucky law permits disclosure details of children who die from abuse or neglect but does not appear that the mandate of the release of information.
Each year the Kentucky Cabinet Health and Family Services publishes an annual report of deaths and casualties caused by close of Child Abuse and Neglect, but offers no details about the case of each child.
"Our practice is to deal with confidentiality in a manner determined by state statute and regulation," said Patricia R. Wilson, commissioner of the Department of State for Community Based Services. "Records of this opening is a complicated issue that requires careful reflection and deliberation in order to protect innocent family members.
The Herald-Leader, has filed an appeal in Franklin Circuit Court's denial of Staff records request May in the death of 22-month-old Kayden Branham, who died in Wayne County after drinking the liquid drain cleaner that was allegedly being used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Besides calling for changes in state law, the report challenges Congress to amend federal privacy laws. These changes would enable policy makers, the media and the public to better understand what policies should be improved in the post death of a child, he said.
A photo of 10-year-old Michaela Watkins, the girl Clark County, which received 77 wounds on the hands of his father and stepmother in 2007 before dying, Kentucky represented on the cover of the report, "we can do better: Child Abuse and Neglect deaths in America."
Michaela had been supervised by social workers after he was plucked from her mother and sent to live with his father and stepmother, Patrick and Joy Watkins. The two were declared guilty of murdering Michelle, who was scalded and beaten.
Nationally, as many as 50 percent of the children who died had been invited attention of the authorities. State Data has shown similar results in Kentucky.
The report said 210 children died from abuse and neglect in Kentucky from 2001 to 2007.
"Reports of this kind, although troubling, serve to heighten the importance of investing in strengthening families and protecting of children from abuse and neglect, "said Wilson, the official in Kentucky.
Despite the numbers, Petit said, children should be separated their families in only a small number of cases. Rather, he said, state and federal lawmakers should spend the money available in most efforts to build stronger families, and strengthening nutrition assistance, prevention of adolescent pregnancy increased health care coverage for children and provide money for nursing home to visit for the first time low income mothers.
Petit criticized the voting records of Kentucky U.S. Senators, Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell, the legislation that he said could help prevent child deaths. According to the group of national child Kids Vote promotion, Bunning did not vote for any legislation that the organization sees as an aid to children in Kentucky. McCone nell voted for two projects of law.
Representatives of both senators said the criticism was unfounded.
"It is regrettable that this report of a special interest group chose DC ignore what Senator McConnell has actually done for children in Kentucky, "said McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer.
Steurer McConnell said support University of Louisville program to help detect and prevent child abuse, wrote the legislation to increase funding for a program that provides insurance health for low-income children and advocates for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard said Bunning has nine children, 35 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
"Senator Bunning is a family man who vote their values and ignores the views of an organization extremist who is less concerned with improving the lives of the children of our nation and more than push the agenda of the Democrats in Washington and the liberal elite of Hollywood "Reynard said in a statement.
The group says it is nonpartisan.
The report shows that in 2004 the most recent data available, was spent $ 89 per capita in Kentucky in the child welfare services, which places it 16th among the states.
Child advocates said State budget cuts has faced several times since then.
"The most alarming aspect of this report is alarming the number coming soon the most recent round of budget cuts, "said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, leaders of the state's advocacy group.
Brooks said Cabinet officials have been good to the budget cuts mandated, but programs that help save lives and money continues to decline.
"Tightening the belt can be good for political careers in Frankfort," he said. "It's a bad idea for kids of Kentucky."
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