Why did a child die?

Once again, the public has legitimate questions about why a child has died, and once again the public agency that shared responsibility for that child's safety manages to hide behind a veil of secrecy.
Auntavia Atkins, 3, died Tuesday in Cleveland Metro Health Center, where she was taken after police were called to the Cortland home of her foster mother. The Cuyahoga County coroner ruled the death a homicide. A report said Auntavia had retinal hemorrhaging, chronic rectal bleeding, malnutrition, missing hair and burn marks on her body, which weighed only 23 pounds.
Her caregiver, Ethel Wilbert-Bethea, 40, has been charged with child endangering and an investigation is continuing.
Serious question
Meanwhile, Auntavia's family claims that they had complained to a Trumbull County Children Services Board caseworker about the family's inability to see the child and their suspicion that she was being mistreated. The family's allegation that a caseworker ignored their warnings is a serious one and merits a response.
"We are working with the county prosecutor's office and police, so we can't comment on the case at this time," says Bob Kubiak, CSB director.
When, we wonder, will the CSB provide answers? Once all the charges are filed, will the CSB respond with candor to the suggestion that a caseworker did less than should have been expected? Or will officials then hide behind the excuse that they can't discuss the case out of respect for the child's privacy?
It is time that the state legislature close the confidentiality loophole that allows public agencies to build a stone wall between them and the public when a child dies. If agencies such as the CSB are being unfairly accused of misfeasance, they should be leading the charge to change the law so that they can defend themselves at times such as these.