TODAY: Committee Hears Bill to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect

Wednesday, March 10 2010

Sen. Newell Defends the Defenseless

DENVER—Today, the Senate Health and Human Services committee will hear Senator Linda Newell’s (D-Littleton) bill to reform Colorado’s child protection system. The bill (SB 171) will create an independent Child Protection Ombudsman, to provide oversight over the various county and state offices in Colorado’s child protection system.

The hearing will feature testimony from a surprise witness who has remained anonymous until now. She will come forward publicly for the first time to expose problems she experienced when she reported child abuse. Her reports went unheeded and the child she tried to save died. She will tell her story and demonstrate how an ombudsman would have saved this child’s life.

The committee will also hear testimony from Sen. Newell as well and many stakeholders in Colorado’s child protection system.

The office will be an outlet for citizens to report suspected child abuse and potential gaps or problems in the child protection system. The bill is one of 29 recommendations which came out of the Governors Child Welfare Action Committee.

Colorado will join 29 other states that have created a child protection ombudsman to provide oversight and accountability of their state’s child protection system.

           
WHAT:    Senate committee hearing for SB 171, Creation of the Child Protection Ombudsman
WHEN:    Thursday March 11th, 1:30 pm
WHERE:    Health and Human Services committee , Senate Committee Room 356
WHO:    Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton)