Wednesday, May 16, 2001
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Wednesday, May 16, 2001 |
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Fayette agencies pull together on monthly basis to battle child abuse, assist victims
By JOHN
MUNFORD
When considering which agencies handle child abuse cases, most people's minds immediately jump to the Department of Family and Children Services and local law enforcement divisions. But here in Fayette County, a variety of agencies cooperate in monthly meetings to track the most serious reported cases of child abuse. While DFCS, law enforcement and court agencies participate, others are involved to make sure the victims get the assistance and protection they need. Fayette County's Board of Education, Health Department, Mental Health Department and coroner's office also join in the monthly meetings to assist in managing serious child abuse cases. The Sheriff's Department and all local police departments participate in the meetings along with officials from the district attorney's office and the juvenile court system. The group recently announced its new protocol for handling the investigation and resolution of child abuse cases. The protocol outlines the responsibilities of each agency in handling child abuse cases from initiating the investigation to assisting victims to securing prosecution of offenders. The protocol hadn't been updated in several years, and the document helps each agency know its responsibilities in each case, said Debbie Barron of the Fayette County Magistrate Court. "We make sure the work is getting done," Barron said. "We don't want any children to fall through the cracks." The protocol is designed to help expedite prosecution when possible by encouraging cooperation between police and the court system. That can also help reduce the trauma experienced by victims when the abuse has to be recounted over and over again during the judicial process. Barron said the protocol also helps eliminate a duplication of services by clearly outlining the responsibilities of each agency. One new revision to the protocol is actually an addition to the list of agencies involved. The Fayette County Marshall's office is now participating in the monthly meetings "since they're out and about and might come upon similar problems" while enforcing county ordinances and other state laws, Barron said. "We do have some cases where the parents go beyond spanking," Barron said. "Those parents push it further than they should, and it's right here in our county." State law also requires the child abuse committee to review each and every child fatality recorded in Fayette County, regardless of the circumstances. Those reports must be forwarded to state officials to determine the child's cause of death in each case, Barron said. The agencies participating take their job very seriously, she added. "We have got a good group of people in Fayette County," Barron said. "... We have a good response from the agencies that get together and come to the meetings to discuss the cases."
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