New article:
http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/04/29/994672
Snipped:
Cumberland child abuse reports surge
A 46 percent jump in child-abuse reports last month has Cumberland County officials worried that their depleted ranks of social workers won't be able to protect vulnerable youths.
***More at Link***
Snipped regarding the part about Shaniya:
Social Services officials are still smarting from last fall's public outcry over the death of Shaniya Davis. The 5-year-old girl's body was found in woods near Sanford in November. Her grandmother said her daughter was investigated by the department.
The State Bureau of Investigation was asked to determine if department officials cooperated fully with the police investigation of Shaniya's death.
The results of the SBI investigation - and whether Social Services employees were disciplined as a result - haven't been disclosed. The personnel action may never be revealed because of the state's secrecy laws surrounding discipline of government employees.
As abuse reports soar, Social Services officials said Wednesday that 15 percent of their children-services jobs are unfilled.
"We're somewhat behind the eight ball," Assistant Director Shirley Harris told the county Social Services Board. "But we realize this is a critical area where we cannot allow these vacancies to continue."
***and this ***
The Shaniya Davis case may still be weighing on the Social Services Board.
"You have one of the most critical areas, as far as public opinion," board Chairman Chester G. Oehme told Skeens. "That's what worries me."
"It only takes one case," said another board member, Marvin Rouse. "That one case gets us killed."