KASTEN TO PANEL INVESTIGATING ABUSE ND NEGLECT REPORTING

State Rep. Mary Kasten has been appointed to an interim committee of the Missouri House that will be seeking ways to revise state law to safeguard the child-abuse and neglect-investigation system.

"There is always that dilemma between interfering into people's lives and protecting children, who have no one else to protect them, from being abused by their caretakers," said Kasten, a Cape Girardeau Republican. "That is always a very thin line."

One of the areas the panel will look into is the declining trend of abuse cases that are substantiated. Some have contended that this may be an indication that there are children and families who need counseling or other services and are not receiving them.

Other issues to be reviewed are the length of time records are kept, the types of services that are needed, and the establishment of consistent standards for investigation of abuse complains throughout the state.

Kasten said one of the most controversial issues is over how long records should be kept of child abuse complaints. Another key concern is seeing that all child abuse cases are reported and fairly investigated in a way that both adults and children are protected, she said.

"We don't want children left without protection," said Kasten. "It's hard to prove child abuse anyway, so we have to be careful that children are protected. But, on the other hand, we have to be careful to not be accusing innocent people and must be able to respond to people who are making positive changes in their lives as far as keeping them on record."

Kasten said: "We need to see if the system is working as it ought to be working and proceeding in the right direction. If not, we need to see changes in this whole area."

The committee has its first three meetings scheduled for Oct. 17, 24, and 31 in Jefferson City. Representatives of the Department of Social Services will work with the committee.

"This will be another one of those tough issues," stressed Kasten. "When you are talking in terms of abused children it is always a heart-rendering committee to be on. The whole issue of child abuse and neglect is so sensitive that we have to see that the whole system is working properly."

Kasten said the committee hopes to insure a system is in place so that abused children are found and given proper protection.

The committee is chaired by Rep. Kaye Steinmetz, D-Florissant. Steinmetz, who also chairs the House Children, Youth and Families Committee, said, "We want to ensure that the system rightfully works to protect children while protecting the rights of the accused, and with the least amount of intrusion to all parties involved."

Also serving on the committee are Reps. Sue Shear, D-Clayton; Carol Mays, D-Independence; Dick Dorsey, D-Florissant; and Gene Lang, R-Warrensburg.