Child Safety Advocates, Parents Discuss Recent Homicides

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Reporter: Jennifer Bocchieri
Email Address: jennifer.bocchieri@kake.com

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An informational meeting in downtown Wichita drew a larger crowd than expected Thursday. Among those in attendance were concerned parents, child welfare advocates, police detectives with the Exploited & Missing Children's Unit, and District Attorney Nola Foulston.

Around 60 people showed up to the meeting, aimed at helping curb child abuse in Kansas homes. Organizers had to stop the meeting at one point and move to a larger location to make room for what had become a standing-room only audience.

The meeting was spurred by a rash of child deaths attributed to abuse or neglect this year in Wichita. To date, six children under the age of 4 have died in the city, the most in a decade.

Organizers stressed the meeting was not about state systems, like SRS, which have come under fire lately as being flawed and inadequate.

Instead, organizers hoped those in attendance would realize the goal of preventing child abuse long before state agencies have to become involved.

"We're trying to address child maltreatment before it even starts," said Vicky Roper, director of Prevent Child Abuse Kansas at the Kansas Children's Service League. "We're not trying to address it after the fact. We want to stop it before there's even an issue."

Still, several parents and community leaders say there needs to be a focus on SRS and other state agencies that remove children from what authorities consider to be abusive or dangerous homes.

District Attorney Nola Foulston says the aim of stopping abuse before it starts is key to preventing tragedies like the six deaths prosecutors have worked this year.

"We can't be in everybody's home at every single time," Foulston said. "I think the most poignant thing in all of this is when you see a child murdered as a result of this abuse, it's the most disturbing feeling you can ever have."

Statistics show children under the age of four are the most vulnerable to abuse and neglect. The Kansas Children's Service League says such children account for 78% of child maltreatment fatalities.

Organizers of Thursday's meeting say the feedback they received will help them develop plans for how to protect children and strengthen families.

A number of support services are available to parents and families. You can find a list of numbers below.

--- FAMILY SUPPORT ---

Parent Helpline -- 24/7 statewide, anonymous, free service
KS Children's Service League: (800) 332-6378

United Way 211: 24/7 statewide resource & referral line

Teen Crisis Line: (316) 262-HOME

Parent Education Programs -- Learn different parenting methods & skills
KS Children's Service League: (877) 530-5275
Rainbows United: (316) 267-5437

Parent Support Groups
KS Children's Service League: (877) 530-5275
Three Trees: (316) 263-3335 (for grieving children and their families)
WSU Self-Help Network: (316) 978-3843

--- EARLY CARE & EDUCATION ---

Early Childhood Resource & Referral Line
Child Start: (316) 682-1853

--- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ---

Catholic Charities: (316) 263-6941
Center on Family Living: (316) 295-5638
Comcare 24-Hour Crisis Line: (316) 264-8317
Heartspring: (316) 634-8710
Kansas Children's Service League: (877) 530-5275
Prairie View: (316) 284-6400
Rainbows United: (316) 267-5437
Screen for Success: (316) 267-3535
Wichita Child Guidance Center: (316) 686-6671

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: was a concern citizen Location: ks on Oct 3, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I have had to deal with all the wrongfully statements from SRS and all there so called advocates."protective custody" means if a child is in an unsafe envoriment and a concern person thinks they are doing right to save a mother/child then they take from a safe home.Then they will try all LIES to adopt the child out ( the ones they no are not drug addicted).However, will give a child to a addicted parent and say rehab.or give to a parent that abuses the mother so that they can get money for there stay in the system.Meanwhile makes you go thru all these classes (which not a bad thing)and then turn around and place a child in a overcrowded abuser home.Now we see Nola Foulston wants to place a concern.I wonder if it from her policial stand point or is it just for show and after all this blah blah blah coming out of her mouth for her to get re-elected. I hope not due to we got a lot of children getting killed at the hands of the people they trust.

Posted by: bored at home- want to try out a foster home Location: wichita on Oct 3, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Prosecute people who make bogus reports and then the police will have fewer B.S. reports to investigate. That will give them plenty of time to save the kids who are in real danger. Also, save the space in "protective custody" for kids who are actually in danger! For each child that is going to be murdered NEXT year in Wichita by their drunk/high parents, there are probably 100 children in "protective custody" right now because they got hurt falling off a skateboard, or wore the same jeans to school 2 days in a row, or they had dirt under their fingernails, or all they had for breakfast was pop tarts, or they are "always bored" at home, or some other lame reason!

Posted by: Active advocate Location: Wichita on Oct 2, 2008 at 04:53 PM
There have been a number of people in Wichita stepping forward and screaming and yelling and trying to get the word out to the public, people don't listen unless it is a horrific scene. The sad issue is abuse in foster care and in the system is ignored and swept under the rug so we have a nice pretty picture. There have been marches, candlelight prayers, trips to Topeka, Talks with Legislators. Sedgwick County has a problem. You ask where have the family advocates been? We were here all the time, spending after work hours, and vacation time to work on this problem. Where is all the child savers when a child is abused in the system or a parents rights are terminated because of lies. Bring on an invesstigation we certainly need one... when a child is abused

Posted by: concerned Location: wichita on Oct 2, 2008 at 03:32 PM
The "KEY" is when a person calls to report child abuse or neglect..SRS NEEDS and SHOULD respond to the calls..they have NOT BEEN PERFORMING THEIR DUTY. Fact: I and others I have known have called SRS regarding neglect and abuse on a child or children, SRS NEVER went to the home!!!! Sad that it takes 6 children to die of abuse before Child Safety Advocates steps in...

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