Just some snips from this in-depth news article that Nursebeeme posted:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...500c6e-b43e-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html
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"City records show that D.C. agencies had contact with Relisha and her family beginning in 2007, when the girl was 1 or 2. The records show instances of physical abuse, filthy living conditions and a lack of food. But social workers did not remove Relisha and her siblings from the home, city records show."
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"At the same time, officials at Relishas school struggled to figure out why she had missed nearly six weeks of class and were confused by excuses provided by her relatives, who said Relisha was safely in the care of a Dr. Tatum. Even after police got involved, Relishas 27-year-old mother, Shamika Young, assured reporters that Relisha was in a safe place.
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Records read to The Washington Post show that social workers sustained three complaints against the Young household in 2007, 2010 and 2013 although the addresses were not provided. Also, agents with child and family services could have made dozens of other visits that didnt rise to the level of verified complaints.
In July 2007, workers with the Child and Family Service Agency reported finding inadequate food and supervision for Relisha and her newborn brother and that Relisha had an injury that could have been caused by abuse. The records do not indicate that police were called or any of the children were removed.
In April 2010, the agency sustained a complaint that one of Youngs boys was neglected when doctors appointments were missed after a surgery, and that children were living in environmentally unsafe conditions. Records show that the home was full of cigarette butts and covered with trash, and that small children were allowed to bathe by themselves, without supervision.
A report from November 2013, when the family lived at the homeless shelter at D.C. General, shows that a social worker noted that one of Youngs boys had been physically abused by being thrown to the ground, cutting open his lip, and slapped in the face. Records say the mother was verbally abusive on a regular basis and would leave [the children] alone often.
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Much more at link.