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Child Abuse Hotline: "Please Call Back"

Social workers are apologizing, today, for deleting more than 200 unheard voicemail messages on a child abuse hotline. 

If teachers, doctors or neighbors suspect child abuse, they can call a special hotline to report anonymously, and an agency known as Child Protective Services is supposed to investigate, but for six months last year in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County, that didn’t happen. 

The person who was supposed to monitor the line left the agency, and case workers were told they should take turns doing the job.  In fact, no one stepped up to assume the new responsibilities, and the Staunton News Leader reported more than 200 calls were simply erased.  The director the office, Elizabeth Middleton said she was not told about the action for weeks, but no wrong doing was intended.  Middleton has since announced she’s leaving for a similar job in Orange County. 

This week, Shenandoah Social Services officially apologized, promised changes had been made to assure that all calls in the future are investigated and asked anyone who left a voicemail between April 18th and October 29th of 2014 to please call back.

 

Sandy Hausman is Radio IQ's Charlottesville Bureau Chief
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