Hoosiers say DCS hotline is failing

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The stories were gripping, maddening, and heartbreaking. Hoosiers came from across the state Wednesday to tell lawmakers how they believe the state's child abuse and neglect hotline has failed children.

Each county used to have its own DCS hotline. Two years ago, DCS created a centralized hotline in Indianapolis to handle all the calls in the state. Legislators are now considering whether to go back to the old system, keep the new, or create something different.

The Department of Child Services summer study committee provides an opportunity for legislators study issues that will shape future legislation. Most of the 14 people who testified for almost four hours said that the hotline works poorly. Among them was Teresa Atchison, a grieving aunt. Her great niece died of a drug overdose; doctors discovered the baby had been given an adult dose OxyContin. Atchison believes DCS failed the child.

"If there is anything that comes from my great niece's death is that there will not be another child die needlessly," Atchison said tearfully. "I have waited 18 months to say this out loud to the legislators of the state of Indiana. Fix your system!"

That was the cry from almost all who testified in the echo of the Indiana house chamber. Hoosiers stood before legislators pleading with them to fix the state's child abuse and neglect hotline; a hotline they say is failing children.

Linda Hartley, a Fort Wayne child therapist says she has more than 20 years experience, but even she was ignored when she called the hotline. She told legislators what happened when she called to report that one of her clients, a 9-year old girl, confessed she was being sexually abused.

"They did not feel that I had enough investigative information," Hartley said.

She called again with concerns the child was being fondled.

"I shared that with the worker, and she said she had to have been penetrated. So it likely was not going to get investigated," Hartley recounted.

When a hotline worker believes the complaint isn't credible, it's called "screening out" a case. Former hotline supervisor, Amber Turrentine, testified it was done far too often.

"Another particular concern would be that on many occasions supervisors would screen out reports that should have been assigned," Turrentine told legislators.

She went on to say that problems that endangered children were rarely corrected because the hotline office was poorly run, and the workplace atmosphere was openly hostile.

But DCS ombudsman Susan Hoppe said that anyone who had a complaint about DCS could contact her office. Hoppe, a social worker, has two assistants who investigate cases and recommend changes to DCS. She told legislators her office received 516 inquiries and opened 120 cases last year.

More information about the DCS Ombudsman Bureau can be found online

But some legislators questioned whether Hoosiers know the office is available as a resource. Others questioned whether the staff of three is big enough to handle every complaint in the state. Still others noted that if DCS failed to implement the ombudsman's recommendations, the office has neither punitive nor enforcement power.