DAYTON — A state representative has drafted a bill to protect children like Hershall Creachbaum that will hold children’s service agencies accountable for children in their care.
Ohio State Representative Phil Plummer said that he wants those who are convicted of killing children and children with disabilities to face an increase in penalties.
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Creachbaum, a 7-year-old boy with developmental disabilities, was killed, and his remains were found in July.
The new bill, proposed by Plummer, will make sure no children will fall through the cracks and force agencies responsible for child welfare to communicate with each other.
Takoda Collins, a child who died in 2019, faced horrific abuse. Plummer introduced new legislation then to try to protect similar children and hoped that it wouldn’t be needed again.
Those changes that were made four years ago after Collin’s death still didn’t protect Creachbaum.
“There’s got to be consequences for people not doing their jobs,” said Plummer.
The counselor in charge of Creachbaum had called time and time again when she saw the injuries on him, and no one listened, said Plummer.
Plummer said the problem is that Clark and Montgomery County Children’s Services agencies didn’t communicate.
He said the new bill will tie case outcomes to state financing, so that the money will motivate people to do their job, and to make sure those involved do not hide behind regulations to withhold information.
“Counties can share any information, including HIPAA information. So every time I ask for something, you can’t get it because of HIPAA, well, we’re going to open that up,” said Plummer.
Front-line case workers carry huge workloads, said Plummer, but his bill will call for additional investigative training for them.
The new bill will also mandate that their managers share stats between counties, that police make the call to children’s services to domestic calls where children are present, and protect whistleblowers who bring alarming situations to light.
“This is just heartbreaking, and another thing, I’m going to increase is penalties for killing kids. Penalties for killing children with disabilities,” said Plummer.
The new legislation won’t go before a committee, the full house, the Senate, or the Governor’s signature until next year.
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