The greatest civil rights crisis in NH history

The greatest civil rights crisis in NH history

Why hasn’t the state stepped up to address its massive child protection failures?

As you assess the public debate regarding New Hampshire’s failure to protect children in abuse and neglect settings, you should be aware of a series of facts that no news report has conveyed to you at this point in a systematic fashion.

This massive civil rights crisis involving children who are victims of state abuse and neglect is one of the most egregiously underreported and misunderstood public occurrences in recent times:

• RSA 169-C is a state law. It requires that “each child” subject to abuse and neglect “shall receive, preferably in his own home, the care, emotional security, guidance and control that will promote the child’s best interest.” This is a legal mandate. The law also provides that New Hampshire “take such action as may be necessary to prevent the abuse and neglect of children.” This too is a legal mandate.

Is Mandatory Reporting of Child Maltreatment in the Best Interests of the Child?

All 50 states in the United States, as well as all contiguous territories have statutes identifying persons who are required to report suspected child maltreatment to an appropriate agency (eg, child protective services [CPS], a law enforcement agency, or a state's toll-free child abuse reporting hotline).

Report Shows 1/3 of Foster Kids Are Improperly Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs

A September 17th NBC News article discussed a report that showed 1/3 of foster children were prescribed psychiatric drugs without treatment plans or follow up. The report was released by the inspector general’s office of the Department of Health and Human Services. The drugs in question include medications intended to treat ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.