DENVER – Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday launched a state campaign in an effort to raise awareness for a new hotline to report child abuse and neglect.
The toll-free number – 1-844-CO-4-KIDS – comes as state lawmakers wrangle over how many new child-protection caseworkers the state can afford.
Just before the news conference highlighting the hotline, the Senate gave initial approval to a measure that would move the Child Protection Ombudsman – which investigates complaints against child-protection services – out of the Department of Human Services and over to the independent Auditor’s Office.
Supporters of the bill pointed to a perceived conflict by having the oversight office housed in the same department that it is investigating. Widespread reports highlighted deficiencies within the state’s current system, including 175 child deaths as the result of abuse or neglect between 2007 and 2011.
“The Ombudsman office needs the freedom to do its work thoroughly and without fear of retribution,” said Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, sponsor of the legislation. “The well-being and lives of children are at stake.”
Some lawmakers, however, say moving the oversight office around actually would diminish protections.
“The problem with the Auditor’s Office is it’s overseen by a legislative committee. That opens us up to potentially politicizing decisions or having the perception that we’re doing that,” said Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville.
Hickenlooper also is uncertain about moving the office around. His office points out that a state audit did not find evidence that Human Services had “infringed upon the program’s independence.” The governor’s office also is concerned about violating legislative and executive separation of powers with the bill.
“Our concern is that you probably don’t want to have it in the Legislature because then you get management by committee, and that also is generally not as effective,” Hickenlooper said.
A study found that the state’s child-protection system is stressed, with a need for about 574 more caseworkers to meet demand. Lawmakers are debating adding funding for only 100 additional caseworkers as part of budget discussions. Hickenlooper requested 130 caseworkers.
Since launching Jan. 1, the hotline received 54,381 calls, resulting in 8,196 reports of child abuse and neglect.
Toni Miner, a recovering meth addict who now serves as an advocate for Jefferson County’s Child and Youth Leadership Commission, spoke at the news conference, suggesting that had the hotline been available 13 years ago when she was in the throes of addiction, she might have recovered sooner and been a better mom.
Her two adult daughters followed in her footsteps with addiction; Miner has taken in her oldest daughter’s children to raise as her own.
“It is our responsibility as people to take care of our kids and to protect our kids,” Miner said. “I know now that social services does not want to take my children. They want to give ... families the resources that they need to keep their kids safe and to keep them at home.”