Opinion: N.J. child abuse report terminology may mean life-or-death difference

Opinion: N.J. child abuse report terminology may mean life-or-death difference

It has been said that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. The purpose and intention of bill S1570 is to clarify and correct New Jersey law and its implementation by the Department of Children and Families. Sadly, recent history has shown us that child protection professionals’ possible misunderstanding of the use of the term “unfounded” in child abuse investigative reports may have resulted in failure to protect some abused and neglected children from continued risk of maltreatment and even death.