Details about this story

• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
• Date: October 15, 2006
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Ken Dilanian , John Sullivan
• Topics: Local Government , Safety
• Data Types: Local Data
• Description/Excerpt: Three years after a string of blunders by DHS were widely blamed for failing to prevent the torture-murder of toddler Porchia Bennett, an Inquirer investigation has found that young children are still regularly abused to death after coming to the attention of DHS. Although 3-year-old Porchia's death prompted the department to solicit expert advice on how to improve its investigative procedures, agency officials have failed to act on most of those recommendations. From 2003 through 2005, at least 20 children died of abuse or neglect after coming to the attention of DHS, including 10 just last year, according to department records. Those numbers were coaxed out of the agency after four weeks of repeated requests.