Children’s Advocacy Institute/First Star
Only two states, Nevada and New Hampshire, received a grade of A in this report rating the child death and near-death disclosure laws and policies of the states. Most states received a C+; 10 states failed.
The federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires states to allow public disclosure of these incidents. The criteria for the grades included having a broad law in writing, as well as providing information that is easily accessible to the public.
The report calls for unlimited public review of records for child deaths and near-deaths. It does not address the fact that many states don’t even enforce the written laws and policies they already have on this issue. Free, 85 pages. www.firststar.org/documents/State_Secrecy_Report.pdf.
