News: 10/23/2024 Louisiana Task Force on Child Sexual Abuse Investigation Processes met about the handling of child abuse cases by Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services. According to Nolan McKendry’s report in The Center Square, Task force expresses concerns over handling of child abuse cases, “The hearing featured testimony from Kathleen Stewart Richey, a former juvenile court judge in East Baton Rouge now in charge of the newly established State Child Ombudsman program. Richey revealed that her office has already received about 250 complaints, 10% of which involve child sexual abuse.”
The Louisiana Child Ombudsman pointed to insufficient training and communication difficulties as critical opportunities to improve DCFS’s handling of cases.
The Louisiana State Senate’s Task Force on Child Sexual Assault Investigation Processes meeting agenda and video of the meeting are available on the Louisiana Legislature’s website.