Archive for October 2024

Brenna Alexander (left)fills her backpack before her shift with granola bars, taxi vouchers and Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal medication. The UC San Francisco clinical social worker then goes to single-room occupancy hotels in the city, knocking on doors and slowly gaining the trust of residents, many with mental health conditions, so she can help them stay housed.

We are part of a new project, Lives Cut Short, that seeks to re-energize efforts to prevent maltreatment fatalities through improved data collection, timely notifications of child deaths and greater transparency. Unfortunately, efforts to make fatalities a significant part of the conversation are often met with resistance. This opposition is founded on several inaccurate perceptions — and a misguided belief that we can reduce stigma by keeping conversations about child safety behind closed doors. Above: Drs. Emily Putnam-Hornstein, left, and Sarah Font