Ultimately, according to the document, “the caseworker had never pushed for a lot of information, as it was hoped to just get a foot in the door and establish a trust level.”
Any gained trust proved pointless because the family left the state shortly after R.R. gave birth.
Pfau, who called DSHS’ apparent strategy “really shocking,” said officials should have discovered the abuse without having to be immediately and explicitly told about it.
“When they get a report like this, there are a number of things they’re supposed to do to isolate the child, make them feel comfortable, try to get them to report. Kids don’t tell unless you do those things,” he said. “You don’t basically just wash your hands and not do anything.”
Pfau said R.R. gave birth in Boise, Idaho, to another child by her mother’s boyfriend 10 months later.
After that, Pfau said, the abuse continued as the family moved around Washington, Idaho and Utah.
Pfau said R.R. was first allowed to use the Internet when she was 27 years old. She left the family and filed the lawsuit after receiving encouragement from a friend she met in an online chat room, he said.
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