The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "welfare abuse" ...
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Failed to Death: Protecting Colorado’s Children
In a joint investigation with the Denver Post, 9NEWS uncovered 72 of the 175 Colorado children who have died of child abuse over the past 5 years were known to the agency that is supposed to keep them safe--human services. The series revealed how those children were “Failed to Death” by each and every person they had ever known. Reporters fought for access to public documents, police reports, and court records, along with convincing key stakeholders to allow them unprecedented access to every step of the child welfare process. The reporters uncovered a system where accountability and transparency is nearly non-existent and caseworkers find it nearly impossible to assess which children will live and which will not. Since the series first aired, the Colorado Legislature has put a priority on fixing the child welfare system.
Tags: child welfare; FOIA
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House of Horrors
This series follows the devastating facts of the death of a 10-year-old girl and the abuse of her twin brother and how child welfare workers failed to notice the warning signs until it was too late.
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Children In Crisis
“Kentucky leads the nation in its rate of children who die from neglect or abuse”. Many people missed the warning signs of abuse and these include social workers, family members, health professionals, and day care workers. Another factor into the problem was budget cuts, which wear down a system meant to protect children.
Tags: kids; child welfare; authorities; maltreatment; violence; Health and Family Services; Child Protective Services; programs
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Failing the Children: Deadly Mistakes
"In May 2007, authorities found 7-year old Chandler Grafner starved to death in a closet. He showed signs of long-term abuse. His guardians, Jon Phillips and Sarah Berry, were convicted of murder. In covering the story, KMGH-TV investigative reporter John Ferrugia attempted to determine the extent of the the Denver Department of Human Services' involvement with the family... Ferrugia and the KMGH investigative team consistently obtained internal documents to expose a system fraught with incompetence, lack of oversight, poor management and ineffective training... In short, a system that left children at risk."
Tags: Department of Human Services; child welfare; child protective services; child abuse; neglect
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Bury Your Mistakes
In 2003, "a string of blunders by Philadelphia's child welfare system were blamed for failing to prevent the torture-murder of a toddler." In 2006, the Inquirer reported that "young children are still regularly abused to death under the supervision of the Department of Human Services." The department had failed to act on recommendations it had solicited after the 2003 incident, and "at least 25 children have died of abuse or neglect after their families had come to the attention of DHS, including 10 in 2005." Yet the reviews of these cases are secret, and as one expert said, this allows child welfare officials to "Bury Their Mistakes." Three cases were looked at for the Inquirer's investigation: two-year-old Alayiah Turmen, "pummled to death after she interrupted a video game," 11-week-old Marrieon Currie, "who was doused in hot water and thrown down stairs," and 2-year-old Bryanna Redmond, "who died froma punch that split her spine."
Tags: Department of Human Services; Alayiah Turman; Bryanna Redmond; Marrieon Currie; child abuse; child murder; child endangerment
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Failed by the System
In at least 30 cases since July 1, 1999, children in Oklahoma have died from abuse or neglect even though the state Department of Human Services had previous reports they were being abused. In many cases, there were numerous prior reports of abuse but the state failed to remove the children and they ended up dying. During that time, the state paid at least $1 million to settle lawsuits involving child welfare workers.
Tags: child abuse; child neglect; Department of Human Services; child welfare
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Killing Our Children
This heart-wrenching series of articles exposes how many perpetrators in child abuse that leads to death escape harsh punishment because of lack of evidence and unbelief on the part of juries that anyone could hurt a child. Abusers are often parents or guardians and are punished with probation or a few years in prison.
Tags: abuse; neglect; homicide; parent; caretaker; baby; infant; toddler; child; kid; shaken baby syndrome; criminal justice system; child welfare system; battered child syndrome; death; murder
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Tin Can Charities
News 12 investigates what happens to the money donated to one of the largest can-donation operations in New Jersey. It was found to have earned tens of thousands of dollars but have not spent a penny for those in need during the six years of operation. Another group fighting child abuse was found to have used donations (nearly 30 thousand a year) for personal use.
Tags: charity; donations; tin can donation operations; welfare organization; fundraiser
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Failure to Protect; Cries for Help
In this 16 month series, WTHR looks at the working of the child welfare system in Indiana. The reports showed how the sate was not protecting children it had placed in foster homes. In some cases children died due to being ill-treated or neglect in the foster homes. After this series was aired, the state government passed a law making prior death records of children in foster care public.
Tags: child abuse; foster homes; child neglect; death of children in foster care; Indiana FOI laws; FOI; public records; children; sexual abuse; sexual abuse of children
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Generation Meth
"Generation Meth tackled the skyrocketing use of meth among Utah women and exposed the state's inadequate response to this epidemic...The series examined how meth addiction burdens Utah's courts, prisons, police agencies and child welfare systems.
Tags: drug use; narcotics; methamphetamine; child welfare; child abuse; health and human services