A hearing at the Iowa State Capitol Monday follows the starvation and abuse deaths of two teenage girls, in two separate cases. Both were investigated by the Department of Human Services.
"We have a very aggressive agenda laid before us." Bobby Kaufmann, Co-Chair of the joint House and Senate Oversight Committee. "Not only are we looking into DHS with the recent tragedies in the deaths of those two girls, but also overall, looking at how child placements take place in this state."
Both of the girls who died were adopted from the Iowa foster system. The abuse was reported to DHS, and both cases were investigated, but the system failed to protect the girls.
"I expect that day one will be just the beginning." Kaufmann tells WHO Radio.
"I think we will see a lot questions that will arise, with the end goal being reformed legislation to help law enforcement, to help prosecutors, and to make sure children are not being placed in the homes of monsters." He says.
Kaufmann was interviewed by Simon Conway on Newsradio 1040 WHO.