Abuse And Neglect

The accusation is made, a charge so ugly to be unimaginable to many, of sexual abuse within a family. The accused vehemently denies the charge. There is no physical evidence.Will the truth ever be known?"The divergence in stories [about sexual abuse] is something that we're confronted with more and more," said David Wells, a Baltimore psychologist who treats a number of incest victims."It's not unusual for a family to be split down the middle," said Chris Courtois, a Washington therapist and author of "Healing the Incest Wound" (Norton Books, 1988)

Child abuse and neglect cases soared to record numbers in Anne Arundel County in the first five months of this year, straining child protective services almost to the breaking point and leading to stress-related illnesses among social workers.Social workers say the complaints dropped off some in June and July, but they don't expect the reprieve to last. Complaints of suspected child abuse and neglect typically decrease in the summer while school is out because a large number come from teachers and guidance counselors, said Pamela Smelser, supervisor of Child Protective Services (CPS)

If we truly care about those two little girls in the so-called "Home Alone 3" case out of suburban Chicago, we probably would return them to their natural parents as quickly as possible.True, the little girls' natural parents appear to have been unbelievably negligent. But too often the welfare of the child gets swept aside in our barbarous lust to punish negligent, or TC even abusive parents. And in our zeal, we end up substituting the abuse and neglect of the mother and father for the abuse and neglect of the system.

Finding too much in foster care study The Sun's editorial "Family ties" (July 16) derives a range of implications for foster care and group care policy based on a large study of children in Illinois. However, one very important point missed in the discussion of this large study is that the children in the study were ages 5 to 15 at the time of the family's investigation for child abuse and neglect and the child's admission into the study. If children were younger than 5, they were not included in the study - and kids in this young age group represent a substantial proportion of children who enter foster care in Baltimore.

Treatment must reach parents who are substance abusersThank you for Greg Garland's article "Drug abuser care program reaches few," (Nov. 28). Parental substance abuse is perhaps the most corrosive force in our society today, causing untold misery -- broken families, birth defects, mental retardation, school failure and delinquent behavior.Without intervention and treatment, the cycle of child abuse and neglect and substance abuse often repeats itself, generation after generation.Many parents addicted to cocaine, alcohol and heroin cannot and do not raise their children.

Abusing a child is the worst act an adult can commit.Erroneously labeling a parent a child abuser is one of the worst acts a state government agency can commit.Carroll County's Department of Social Services has received a black eye recently for mistakes that have been made in recording child abuse cases on its computerized data systern and keeping files on cases that should have been expunged. As a result two lawsuits have been flied recently against officials in the department, and DSS has been receiving a heavy dose of bad publicity.

WHY ARE more children dying from abuse? Why are more children in psychiatric distress than ever before? Conventional wisdom suggests that abuse increases when times are hard and decreases when the economy is strong. Yet while our economy surges, recent articles in The Sun report alarming increases in child abuse deaths and commitments of children to psychiatric hospitals. Both articles raise questions of possible links between welfare reform and an increase in child abuse. Our experience in Catholic Charities suggests that, indeed, a deadly connection exists between these two issues that occurs because of a reduction in the state's vigilance to investigate child abuse complaints while welfare reform progresses.

MONDAY SENATEBudget and Taxation: Budget hearings for Lottery Agency and juvenile services, 1 p.m., Room 100.HOUSE* Appropriations: HB734, St. Mary's College of Maryland; HB831, HB1437 University of Maryland System Board of Regents; HB844, distribution of revenues from uninsured driver penalties; HB987, contracts authority for Board of Community Colleges Trustees in Prince George's County; HB1022, light rail projects; HB1087, family practice rotations in...

Ten volunteers have become sworn Court Appointed Special Advocates this month for Maryland's abused and neglected children. The volunteers have completed 30 hours of classroom training coupled with at least two hours of court observation to qualify to work on behalf of the state's foster children to ensure their rights are protected as the state seeks to find them permanent homes. The new CASA volunteers are Doris Barnes, of Monkton; Peggy Nicholson and Lela M. Yorbor, both of Woodlawn; Natalie Snell, of Randallstown; Corryne Deliberto, of Rodgers Forge; Lyn Biller, Stacey Gallina and Jennifer Keeney, of Westminster; Anne Chiolo of Finksburg; and Russell Bailey of Gettysburg, Pa. Nicholson, a former analyst with the Social Security Administration, said she felt as though it was "my obligation to give back to the community that has been so good to me. " To Chiolo, a mother of two boys, the opportunity is rewarding.

Voices for Children, a Howard County advocacy program for abused and neglected children, will be the beneficiary of "A Vintage Affair," a gala wine-tasting event from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Oakland Manor, a restored 1815 estate home in Columbia.There will be more than four dozen wines, including champagne, from around the world -- Crate & Barrel is donating 336 wine glasses for the tasters. There will also be hors d'oeuvres and desserts from caterers and restaurants, including Bun Penny, the Classic Catering People, Morgan's Food and Spirits, and Rendezvous Catering.