One of the nation’s leading advocates for kids says Iowans “need to pull together” after the January beating death of a Spirit Lake toddler. Shay Bilchik (bill’-chick), the executive director of the Child Welfare League of America, spoke Wednesday at a day-long seminar in Des Moines. Bilchik says hard questions are being asked about the Shelby Duis (doo’-iss) case, and how state officials responded to reports of abuse before the child died. Bilchik says the best way for Iowans to stop abuse is to get involved in the lives of the kids in your community. Bilchik says unfortunately, there isn’t enough staff in child welfare agencies to deal with reports of abuse. Shelby Duis’ mother and her mother’s boyfriend are charged with the toddler’s death and will stand trial separately.
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