Montana House supports bill calling for child abuse prevention plan

[TexasTowelie]

HELENA — The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would require the state health department to work with other organizations to develop a plan to prevent child abuse and neglect in the face of an increase in the number of abuse cases and the number of children in foster care.

The House supported the bill 71-28 Monday after discussion over whether the agency should already have such a plan and whether lawmakers needed to direct the agency to do its job. House Bill 517 still faces a third-reading vote.

Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula, said her bill would require the department to work with state department heads, the Montana Children's Trust Fund board, the state advisory council for Child and Family Services, former members of the Protect Montana Kids Commission and representatives of tribal communities along with other state and local agencies that work to reduce or prevent child abuse.

The Protect Montana Kids Commission, appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock, studied the Division of Child and Family Services between December 2015 and May 2016 and made numerous recommendations to the Department of Public Health and Human Services to improve the division's work.

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/government-and-politics/house-supports-bill-calling-for-child-abuse-prevention-plan/article_172c3cc3-a3ee-56a5-97f0-800ed90c5d70.html

[sarah FAILIN]

1. Sounds like a good idea to me

But I may be prejudiced..

In my state, the health department will be the first mandatory reporters to come in contact with some new parents that recieve WIC. They used to give baby shots, but not sure if that is still done. If a health department employee saw bruises or other warning signs on a child, I would hope they would report. Not that all WIC recipients are going to hurt their babies, but you can never have too many people looking out for kids in all areas.

I knew a girl once that was a classmate of my child. She used to get on facebook and RANT about how angry she was at her baby for crying, having to have diaper changes and being sick. She was really a terrible mother. I reported her because I was truly afraid she was going to hurt the baby. I hope they helped her learn how to be a better mother.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Normally I would encourage people to mind their business,

but when the possibility of injury and/or abuse is present then it is important that someone steps in before a tragedy occurs.