Earlier this month, Amir Demarion Harden, an 8-year-old boy from Burnsville, was shot and killed by his father. He was trying to wrestle the gun away from his father in order to protect his mother.
When she urged Amir and his four siblings to go to the neighbor’s house, he refused and said, “Mommy, I’m not leaving you here!”
Amir’s father had a history of abuse. In fact, he had just been in court that morning to answer charges that he choked Amir’s mother.
Sadly, Amir is one of several children who have died at the hands of their parents or caregivers in the past year. We aren’t certain how many deaths have occurred in recent months because the state doesn’t make that information public until years later. The latest report available is from 2021, when 28 children were determined to have been killed due to maltreatment.
Where is the transparency? Where is the justice?
Domestic violence is one of many markers for child abuse. And we recognize it’s a sensitive topic that must be handled delicately. However, domestic violence alone doesn’t appear to be a good enough reason for the child protection system to ensure children are safe, and that has us concerned.
The state’s mandated reporter guide offers puzzling advice for anyone who may know or suspect a child is living in a home where domestic violence occurs:
“In most cases, a child must be involved in or otherwise situated in a location that puts them at risk of injury during incidents of domestic violence. Children witnessing or exposure to domestic violence against a parent or caregiver is not by itself sufficient to report as child maltreatment.”
Those sentences seem at odds with each other, don’t they?
In our view, any child who is close enough to see or hear a family member being strangled or beaten is in danger and at risk of injury. Clearly, the child protection system is not prioritizing child safety in these situations.
Minnesota, we can do better for our children.
Thank you for drawing attention to the conflicting statement for children being at risk with domestic violence. The statement presents a mixed message that clearly leaves children unprotected and easy targets in volatile environments.
Children’s safety needs to be clearly defined and articulated. Our current language regarding child protection does not do that.