Now in its 16th year, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation’s PANDA program is offering free training to education and medical professionals throughout the state to help practitioners better identify potential cases of child abuse. Provided by Forensic Dentist Lawrence Dobrin, DDS, the program is scheduled at schools and health facilities throughout April in recognition of April’s designation as Child Abuse Prevention month.

(CNN) — A Michigan man could face life in prison after he allegedly tortured and ultimately killed his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son last week for wetting his pants, prosecutors say.
Brandon Joshua-Frederick Hayes, 24, “systematically beat” Dominick Calhoun, 4, “pummeling [him] with fists and kicking him” on his arms, legs and genitalia, Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton told CNN.

Ten children have been murdered by their parent or guardian since January. Kelly said the significant jump was a cause for concern by the police department.

LOS ANGELES — Sex offender John Gardner Friday pleaded guilty to the murders of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. Gardner changed his plea to guilty during what was supposed to be a routine status hearing after hearing he would be charged with the murder of Dubois.

CHICAGO — A 32-year-old Wisconsin man was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the slayings of his wife, infant son and two nieces. James A. Larry, of Madison, Wis., was charged with killing his wife, Twanda Thompson, 19; his 7-month-old son, Jihad; his 3-year-old niece, Keleasha Larry; and his 16-year-old niece, Keyshai Fields, at a home in Chicago’s Marquette Park neighborhood.

EVERETT — An Everett woman told police she broke her 2-year-old son’s elbow and twice bit him because she was angry. A pediatrician told police the boy “is clearly a victim of child abuse,” according to a police affidavit filed Wednesday in Everett District Court.

MIDDLETOWN – The parents of a 3-year-old seen smoking marijuana from a glass pipe in a video obtained by police are expected to face a Middletown Superior Court judge today for pre-trial hearings.

Middletown police obtained the shocking video while executing a search-and-seizure warrant at the 152 Prospect St., home of suspected drug dealers Kristian Augeri, 23, and Thomas Way, 22 on Feb. 2.

The deaths of two Oklahoma children years apart are raising concerns because of a common link to a state agency.

Kelsey Briggs’ grandmother and Aja Johnson’s father met Wednesday to share their grief.”There’s no comparison to losing a child in your family,” said Kathie Briggs. “Four and a half years later, I still look at little girls’ clothes.”

A helpless 7-month-old Queens boy was beaten to death by his father, the latest in a rash of violence against small children in the borough, officials said Wednesday.

Xiah Greene died at Queens General Hospital Tuesday night after he was punched in the back by his dad Larry Greene, who flew into a rage when the child would not stop crying, police sources said.

LONG BEACH, CA–A foster son of a former state mental hospital director has testified that his foster father sexually abused him for years after befriending him at a children’s hospital.

The witness was the second person to testify against Claude Foulk during his preliminary hearing Tuesday in Long Beach Superior Court.

A national advocacy group says it’s filing a lawsuit in federal court in Boston seeking reform of the state’s foster care system because it is hurting, rather than helping, vulnerable children.

The group Children’s Rights says in its civil rights class action suit that the foster care system is “causing physical and psychological harm to the abused and neglected children it is mandated to protect.”

A Millcreek Township woman pulled a plastic shopping bag over a 12-year-old’s head and held it there until the girl collapsed, Millcreek police said Wednesday.

The grandfather of an infant found dead earlier this year has been indicted in connection with the baby’s death.

Funeral services were held Thursday for five-year-old Julian Soliz. Travis County deputies found the boy dead in the Wells Branch area Saturday morning after his caretaker reported him missing. Friends and family held a memorial Wednesday night. The prayer service at Mission Funeral Home in East Austin was especially hard for those close to Julian. […]