Groups aim to cut child neglect

CEDAR RAPIDS - Local child welfare agencies and non-profit groups want to reduce child neglect in Linn County by 15 percent over three years.

“It truly is the one area the community can step in and really do something about,” said Dave Loy, director of the Partnership for Safe Families.

The goal was adopted April 20 at a “summit meeting” of those working in abuse prevention and treatment. The group will spend the next three months or so developing a strategy to reach it.

“We sort out, ‘What are the things that would have the biggest impact?'” said Chris Carman, director of the Linn County Child Development Center. “This isn't so much about going out and hiring some more staff. It's more about sitting down and finding out what's working” elsewhere.

Marc Baty, Cedar Rapids area director for the state Department of Human Services, said he and his staff will work closely with the advocates.

“It's very hard work that needs to be focused and in the context of a performance-based, results accountable framework to ensure that both scarce resources are invested in efficient and effective strategies and, consequently, children and their families experience improved outcomes,” Baty wrote in an email.

Carman said a 20-year decline in physical and sexual abuse was due in part to a public consensus for zero tolerance. But defining “neglect” can be subjective. Single incidents - a small child wandering away from home, say - may be easily explained but become a concern if repeated.

“It's more of the pattern of life for a family,” Carman said.

Neglect, defined by the state as “denial of critical care,” makes up 80 percent of child abuse cases in the state. Most victims are younger than 6.

The group's goal would mean a reduction of about 135 neglect cases from the 916 reports deemed to be founded in Linn County last year. There were 116 cases of physical injury to a child in 2011 and 43 sexual abuse cases.

To join the effort, contact Loy at (319) 286-0773 or dloy@psfcr.com