Here in California government attention to and management of child homicides due to abuse and neglect is totally screwed up. Thus there are no organized policies or preventive interventions.
Each year there are between 120 and 200 child fatalities due to child maltreatment. No state official can tell you how many! There should be ZERO tolerance for these tragedies.
Front line responsibility is with county child death review teams (CDRTs) which under law are voluntary, unpaid and uncoordinated. At the state level responsibility is spread over the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Public Health, all of which have not coordinated nor focused attention nor had any initiative on this problem for over 10 years.
AB 2660 (see attached bill and analysis) as written will correct 90% of these deficiencies. It has passed the Assembly and the Senate Public Safety Committee without any opposition. On August 1 it will be heard by the Senate Finance Committee. Rumor has it that the Department of Social Services will be in opposition because it entails too much work and no specific budget.
Every Californian should immediately write a brief email of support to The Honorable Senator Anthony Portantino, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee today at https://sd25.senate.ca.gov/
A copy of my letter is attached as a template. Your small effort will have a big impact! Thanks.
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