Every state has had its particularly infamous child abuse case. In New York, it was Elisa Izquierdo. In Georgia, it was Terrell Peterson. The professional and societal reaction to these monstrous events was to immediately put ‘the system’ under a microscope. What went wrong? Who’s to blame? The courts? Child Protective Services? What policies and procedures should be changed? Was there inadequate funding? Some critics were quick to inundate the public with catch phrase answers such as the need for “strategic multi-agency development” and “best practices.”

While no one is advocating that these questions should not be asked and answered, the more important focus is the underlying context in which the abuse is taking place – the breakdown of community. Government is not a substitute for community any more than it is a substitute for family. Nor can the government build community.