Billings Gazette

By Bruce Lesley

Montana has important work to do on child abuse and neglect (“Let’s strengthen Montana’s child safety net,” Jan. 4). But progress requires action in Washington, too.

The biggest federal child abuse and neglect funding source is restricted to offsetting states’ foster care costs. That shrinking funding stream covers less than half of foster children today, and it’s projected to drop 45 percent by 2024. States tap other social services funding to cover the shortfall, but that just shifts resources from one set of kids to another…

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