Support families; protect children

Vermont families, especially families in poverty, face enormous challenges. Untreated substance abuse, homelessness, lack of affordable housing and day care, lack of job training and economic opportunity, and mental health challenges leave many children “on the margin of care.”

The vast majority of these children are not at risk of physical abuse, but live in challenged families where the risk is child neglect.

Recent research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides powerful evidence that children “on the margin of care” have better long-term outcomes if they are left in their families rather than removed from them.

Identifying and removing children who are being physically abused is critical. While removing children whose care is considered “neglectful” may be well-intended, the evidence shows that it is often more harmful than helpful to the long-term interests of the children (and wastes precious public resources.)

Vermont already removes children from their families at a much higher rate than any of our neighboring states. Four out of five of these children are removed for “neglect,” not “physical abuse.” We must remember what we are removing them to.

An effective solution must involve better identification of children at risk of abuse as distinguished from neglect.

There is no silver bullet, but one evidence-based solution is to increase engagement with families in a sincere effort to keep them intact. Families who trust that people are trying to help them stay together rather than break them up are more likely to be candid about their circumstances — which may also help identify children who may be at risk of abuse. Creating this kind of trust is best addressed not by DCF workers in isolation and with powers to remove the children, but by family advocacy and integration of other community-based public and private services that meet the needs of the families.

Vermont will only become a better place for children if we help families be successful so children can safely live at home. There is a growing cadre of community-based approaches that are showing positive outcomes. Experience has shown that removing legal barriers, creating trusting engagements with parents, and old-fashioned social work make a successful formula to reduce the risk of neglect.

Let the recent deaths be a call to action; however let us act effectively, not counterproductively.

Robert Luce is a trial lawyer at Downs Rachlin Martin and adviser to Vermont Parent Representation Center Inc. Comment on this column at stowetoday.com; email letters to news@stowereporter.com.