S.C. Kids Let Down

How much abuse, neglect escapes agency's notice?

State social workers were too slow to rescue children in five counties from abuse and neglect, according to a Legislative Audit Council report made public last week. The findings imply that children in the other 41 S.C. counties are similarly unlikely to get timely state relief from abuse and neglect.

Clearly, something is wrong at the Cabinet agency responsible for protecting S.C. children trapped in dysfunctional families. This was the second indication in less than a week that all is not well at the Department of Social Services. An earlier investigation by The State newspaper in Columbia showed that the agency has fallen far behind federal requirements for collecting child support payments from noncustodial parents - a gaping hole in the welfare system.

The agency's director, Kim Aydlette, cites state budget cuts between 2001 and 2004 as a major source of the agency's problems. Indeed, the audit report cited short staffing in the DSS, which also leads to overwork by the social workers who remain on payroll, as a principal reason the agency fails so many S.C. youngsters.

But the blame for this shortcoming should be laid at the feet of Gov. Mark Sanford and S.C. legislators, who balanced a succession of budgets on the backs of children at risk.

Moreover, the audit report also uncovered agency problems that stem more from poor administration. Auditors found, for instance, that the agency didn't keep its registry of adults convicted of sexual or physical abuse of children up to date.

The blame for that goes to Aydlette and, by extension, Sanford. It is he who should specify - soon - what measures the agency will take to give fragile S.C. children the abuse and neglect protection they deserve.