There are only 43 child investigators countrywide who are permitted to interview child victims of violent abuse or those who have witnessed horrific crimes, according to new statistics obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post Thursday.
That means some children have to wait more than four months before meeting with professionals who can assess their situation and advise on treatment or prosecution.
The figures, which were put together by the Social Workers Union, contradict reports from the Welfare and Social Services Ministry that there are currently 52 child investigators. These are specially trained social workers appointed by the ministry and the only ones permitted to interview children under 14 and those with disabilities thought to be victims of severe abuse and violence.
"Even though 52 child investigators can be hired, six positions have been vacated in recent months, and from next week three more will be open, but as yet no replacements have been appointed," commented union head Itzhak Perry.
"This means that from next month there will only be 43 child investigators to carry out more than 10,000 investigations into child abuse.
"As of today, more than 400 children are currently waiting to meet with an officer," he said, adding that in light of the three recent cases of pre-school children being murdered by their parents, there will likely be a sharp rise in the number of reports of violence and abuse against children.
Perry said that a year ago the union reached an agreement with the ministry to limit the number of new cases assigned to child investigators to 25 a month. Investigators can only meet with one child a day, due to the emotional intensity of the job.
"This means that the waiting list is just growing and growing," said Perry.
"Every investigation of a child that does not proceed immediately affects the validity of the case in terms of the child's memory of the crimes perpetrated against him or her," said Micah Hern, head of the Child Investigators Department in the union.
"In essence, we are continuing to not only hurt the child, but to allow a possible criminal to walk around free and continue hurting children."
Welfare and Social Services Ministry director general Nahum Itzkovitz said he wasn't sure of the exact figures regarding child investigators.
"I do know that we are planning to hire some replacements and looking to create an additional 15 positions," he said.
Regarding the lengthy wait faced by thousands of abused and distressed children, Itzkovitz said that part of the problem was the sanctions conducted by the Social Workers Union earlier this year, which he said were legitimate but have resulted in longer waiting periods.
With a reported rise in the number of children at risk from abuse and violence, Itzkovitz said that funds slated for a much-touted program addressing these issues were not touched in the draft budget for 2009.
However, he confirmed a recent announcement by the Finance Ministry that it would slash NIS 22 million from the 2008 Welfare and Social Services Ministry budget to fund benefits for Holocaust survivors.
"This cutback was one-sided; I and the minister [Isaac Herzog] protested the cut," he told the Post, adding that the funds will likely be reinstated next year and that the treasury had guaranteed the program for children at risk for at least the next five years.
Itzkovitz also said that an additional NIS 250m. had been promised next year for the Welfare and Social Services Ministry.
"Of course, we always need more," he said. "Every day we are confronted with another type of societal problem."
Herzog yesterday inaugurated two new centers in the North that will treat children and youth at risk.
The centers, which are in Shlomi and Acre and cost more than NIS 8m. to build, will not be supported by government monies but rather by several international non-profit organizations, including the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the Rashi Foundation, the British Jewish community and local authorities.
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