A Star Tribune examination found that child-protection authorities have failed to
respond to thousands of child-abuse reports while funneling thousands of others into
a program where the abuse is never investigated. The system's shortcomings have
had deadly results.
Special report: On 15 occasions, day-care workers and others told Pope County's child-protection agency they suspected Eric Dean was being hurt. But it was not enough.
The deaths of 56 children from maltreatment in Minnesota since 2005 should guide changes in child protection. But the system too often fails to learn from the past.
In a sweeping reversal, Minnesota child protection workers can now review previous child abuse reports when considering how to respond to a new one. Minnesota was likely the only state in the country that barred intake workers from reviewing past cases.