179 deaths: Colorado child welfare system overhauled

By Bea Karnes, News First 5

Posted : Mar 12, 2010 6:36 AM

A measure that would increase oversight of Colorado's child welfare system is advancing through the Legislature, following a scathing federal report that found the state was doing too little to ensure the safety of children in its care.

The Senate Health & Human Services Committee on Thursday approved the bill by Democratic Sen. Linda Newell of Littleton. The measure sets up the child protection ombudsman office as an independent office in the state Department of Human Services.

Newell says 179 children in state custody lost their lives because of abuse and neglect from 2000 to 2007, two-thirds of them under 4 years old. She told the committee that a central independent office is imperative because children are dying due to a lack of "meaningful accountability."

There's no state money to fund the proposed office this year, so Newell hopes to get donations for it, if the bill passes.

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