Child Welfare
Two top officials of the Florida Department of Children and Families have left their posts in the wake of the beating and torture death of a 10-year-old girl, allegedly by her adoptive parents. The head of the department’s hotline, which failed to note the urgency of abuse reports made about the girl and her twin brother, and the assistant secretary have both left, though officials did not explain the circumstances. The department has new leadership that came in with the new governor. Carol Marbin Miller, David Ovalle and Jaweed Kaleem of the Miami Herald continue their extensive reporting on the case.
Education
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s editorial board has joined the anti-for-profit colleges team, pointing out even though civil rights groups are split on the matter, the gainful employment rule should be enforced.
The Tennessean’s Lea Ann Overstreet profiles a Nashville after-school program focused on improving students’ reading levels.
Jody Levin-Epstein, deputy director of CLASP, writes an opinion column in the Huffington Post calling on worker training and education to fix the economy as opposed to slashing these programs like the House budget would.
Juvenile Justice
The Associated Press reports that Attorney General Eric Holder criticized the use of “scared straight” programs and said the country’s juvenile systems need to move more toward prevention and intervention in an address Monday to the National Association of Counties.
More on New York State’s secure juvenile facilities, also from the Associated Press, this time videos that allegedly show juveniles in the facilities assaulting one another and correctional officers. The tapes were disclosed by Eileen Carpenter, who recently retired from the Commission of Corrections, who noted the actions were in full view of the cameras and said she feared what might transpire off camera.
