Dr. Emily M. Douglas, associate professor in the School of Social Work, testified before the National Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities.
She spoke before the 12-member commission in Burlington, Vt., a stop on what commissioners referred to as a “listening tour.” Their mission is to develop a national strategy and recommendations for reducing fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect.
Specifically, the commission is tasked with raising visibility and building awareness about the problem, reviewing data and best practices to determine what is and is not working, helping to identify solutions, and reporting on findings and making recommendations to drive future policy.
Professor Douglas spoke about the intersection of the child welfare profession with fatal child maltreatment: How much do workers know about risk factors for fatalities? Who are the workers who experience a fatality? What might be some of the reasons that workers miss warning signs leading up to a fatality.
The commissioners were appointed by President Barack Obama and House and Senate leadership. Legislation mandates that the commission submit a report to the president and Congress within two years (with the potential to extend the deadline by an additional year). The report will detail specific recommendations for strategies to better track and eliminate child abuse and neglect fatalities.
