Agency struggles under the difficulties in determining child abuse

The Monterey County Child Protective Services said it receives 2,600 referrals of child abuse and neglect each year. That agency and police will investigate but sometimes have a hard time finding signs of abuse or neglect.

“I’m completely shocked that anyone would murder an innocent life. There are two innocent lives that are lost,” said Elliott Robinson, Director of Monterey County Social and Employment Services.

Robinson is referring to the two childrenformally fromSalinaswho werefound dead in a storage locker in Redding, California, onFriday.

Child Protective Services works with law enforcement when they receive reports of child abuseorneglect.

“There’s a person who has concern about supervision of the child or children, concern about health, their clothing, issues like lice might be coming up. Issues of cleanliness that might be coming up,” said Robinson.

If needed, police or CPS remove the child from the unsafe situation. They aim to place the child with relatives, with foster care as an option.

Robinson said there are 300 Monterey County children in foster care right now. Troubled youth are placed in group housing.

Robinson said the agency has to be careful because what may seem like unsafe situation sometimes isn’t.

“You wouldn’t think living on the street or in a tent or makeshift shelter qualifies as appropriate housing. But in most cases, we find that the children are well cared for, that they’re doing their homework, that their clothes are clean,” said Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin.