In the past five weeks, four children in Queens have died at the hands of caregivers. Although the city Administration for Children’s Services said the number of child abuse cases has remained stable over the last seven years, there is reason for concern.
In the latest tragedy, Larry Greene was arrested and reportedly confessed to beating his 7-month-old son, Xiah, to death in St. Albans, according ot Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. He watched the child while the boy’s 17-year-old mother attended school. The police found his knuckle marks on the child’s chest, the DA said. The father at first said he was trying to “toughen” the boy up and later admitted he was jealous the child loved his mother more than him, Brown said.
Sandra Hagan, executive director of the Child Center of New York in Jamaica, said the crumbling economy and increasing number of illegal immigrants living in cramped quarters have created a “perfect storm” leading to child abuse.
Unlike most violent crimes, it seems unlikely law enforcement and harsher penalties will reduce the amount of child abuse and prevent the next tragedy. Law enforcement sources said in most cases the caregiver or parent just snaps. In most cases the child dies from what is called shaken-baby syndrome.
These crimes, they said, are nearly impossible to predict or prevent. The likelihood of these tragedies happening is increased when the caregiver was also the victim of child abuse.
In such cases, police involvement comes too late. The burden falls on educators and social workers to address this growing problem. Young parents and caregivers need better education on how to deal with the stress involved in caring for a child. Parents, especially those with limited income, need guidance in selecting a caregiver for their child.
And social workers need to get involved early on when it becomes clear a parent — especially a single parent with more than one child — is overwhelmed.
