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Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism

Still Broken: DC’s Child Welfare System

This series focuses on particular areas that The DC Line found to be failing in DC's child welfare system, including investigations, the child fatality review process and foster care.
Spotlight funded
A close-up photo of an adult hand holding an infant's hand.
(Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash)

Is the District covering up infant homicides and letting their killers go unpunished? Facts revealed in Jonetta Rose Barras’ four-part investigative series point to failures that allow abuse and death of vulnerable children.

#1: Children at risk: 32 years and billions of dollars later, DC fails to protect thousands from abuse and neglect

#2: Children at risk: Abuse and neglect investigations are opened too late and closed too soon

#3: Children at risk: City’s child fatality reviews don’t prevent future deaths as intended

#4: Children at risk: Foster care in DC is no safe haven

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