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Lorne Liechty (left) and Justin Holland
ROCKWALL – District 33 Texas House candidates Lorne Liechty and Justin Holland say, if elected, they will work to help solve the state’s child abuse epidemic and CPS (Child Protective Services) problems.
Each responding to the question posed recently by The Rockwall News about what each will do for “born” children, considering each has loudly proclaimed they will protect “unborn” children, if elected.
Third candidate John Keating of Frisco once again did not respond to questions from The Rockwall News.
Texas has one of the highest child neglect/abuse rates in the nation, according to several sources, and an average of 230 children die each year in the Lone Star State while in CPS or foster care after being removed from their homes for alleged neglect and/or abuse.
“Child neglect and abuse are serious issues that need to be addressed,” wrote Liechty in an email. “Each of us must do what we can to eliminate any such abuse, and eliminate it from our society. There is no acceptable level of child abuse!”
“When elected as State Representative,” he continued, “I will work to ensure that Texas Child Protective Services is properly staffed and funded to deal with the many claims of child abuse which are reported in Texas each year. Additional caseworkers must be hired in order to bring the caseloads to more manageable levels, and all CPS staff members must be well trained.”
Additionally, we should work to get abused and maltreated children out of the system in in order that they will become productive members of our society, without passing along the problem of child abuse to future generations.”
Justin Holland detailed in an email how costly child abuse is to the state, explained that prevention programs should be used and applauded State Rep. Cindy Burkett for all she has done to solve thye child abuse epidemic in Texas.
“Child abuse and neglect affects over 250,000 children in Texas every year, and most of those cases go unreported,” he wrote. “It is a widespread epidemic that needs to be addressed by the Legislature.”
“Each child abuse case costs, according to TexProtects, a conservative average of $34,815 per victimized child, and with 66,398 investigated cases in 2013, the state is spending approximately $2.3 billion in direct child abuse costs alone.”
“However, preventative programs cost on average $1,000-$4,000 per family per year. Preventative programs like, Healthy Families, work with at risk families and children to ensure the safety and protection of children in this kind of home. These programs provide a solution that will save taxpayer dollars and has the power to stop child abuse and neglect before it starts.”
Representative Cindy Burkett, who sits on the board of the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation, has authored and co-authored child abuse reform legislation. Proposed legislation creating a safety checklist for at risk youth has reached committee, and HB 418 that was signed into law, places victims of child trafficking in foster homes. I applaud these efforts and intend to continue the fight against child abuse once elected.”
“Emphasizing the importance of prevention programs in high risk cases is essential to saving the lives of innocent children across Texas. We must fight to protect all innocent life, that includes the lives of the unborn, the mentally, intellectually and physically disabled – and victims of child abuse and neglect.”
The post House candidates Liechty, Holland will help solve Texas child abuse epidemic, CPS problems appeared first on The Rockwall News.
