Incident Report: Child Fatality in Turlock, California and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Incident Summary

• Date and Time: Saturday, approximately 3:30 p.m.
• Location: 4500 block of Fireside Drive, Turlock, California.
• Event: A two-year-old female child was discovered unresponsive in a residential swimming pool. The child was under the supervision of her mother, Kelle Brassart, 40, at the time of the incident.
• Outcome: Despite the administration of CPR by responding officers and further life-saving measures at a local hospital, the child was pronounced deceased.

Investigation and Official Response

• Responding Agency: Turlock Police Department.
• Subject: Kelle Brassart was arrested and booked on charges of murder and child neglect resulting in death.
• Preliminary Findings:
  • Detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that alcohol or drug use may have been a contributing factor to the incident.
  • Records indicate that the subject had multiple prior contacts and referrals with child protective services.
• Current Status: The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Analysis through the Lens of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This local incident highlights critical challenges directly addressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those concerning child welfare, public health, and institutional efficacy.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   This case represents a severe failure to achieve key targets within SDG 3. The preventable death of a child directly contravenes Target 3.2, which aims to end preventable deaths of children under five years of age. Furthermore, the suspected involvement of substance abuse points to a lapse in fulfilling Target 3.5, which calls for strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including the harmful use of alcohol. The tragedy underscores the critical need for accessible and effective community health systems that support parental well-being and substance abuse treatment to protect vulnerable children.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   The circumstances of the child’s death fall within the scope of SDG 16, specifically Target 16.2: to end abuse, neglect, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children. Fatal neglect is an extreme form of violence against a child. The report that the mother had prior contact with child protective services raises significant questions about the effectiveness of the institutions (Target 16.6) designed to protect vulnerable individuals. This history suggests potential systemic weaknesses in providing the necessary intervention and support to prevent such an outcome, emphasizing the need for robust and responsive child welfare systems.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • This goal is directly relevant as the article reports the death of a 2-year-old child. The core of SDG 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, which includes preventing avoidable deaths, especially among children. The mention that “alcohol or drugs may have contributed to the event” also connects to the goal’s focus on addressing substance abuse.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is connected through its aim to end abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children. The article details a case of fatal child neglect, with the mother being arrested for “murder and child neglect resulting in death.” The involvement of the Turlock Police Department and the mention of “prior contacts and referrals with child protective services” highlight the roles of justice and institutional mechanisms designed to protect children, which are central to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
   • The article’s central event is the drowning of a 2-year-old girl, which is a preventable death. This directly aligns with the ambition of Target 3.2 to eliminate such tragedies.
2. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • The investigation found “evidence that alcohol or drugs may have contributed to the event.” This suggests that the mother’s potential substance abuse was a factor in the neglect, linking the incident to the need for stronger prevention and treatment measures as outlined in Target 3.5.
3. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The mother was arrested for “child neglect resulting in death.” Fatal neglect is an extreme form of child abuse and violence. The article’s focus on this crime directly corresponds with the objective of Target 16.2. The history with “child protective services” further underscores the relevance of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Under-5 mortality rate (Indicator 3.2.1)
   • The death of the 2-year-old child is a specific data point that contributes to the overall under-5 mortality rate. Each such incident reported is a measure of the failure to prevent child deaths.
2. Deaths due to violence against children (related to Indicator 16.2.1)
   • The article describes a death resulting from child neglect, for which the mother was arrested for murder. This specific case serves as a qualitative and quantitative indicator of violence against children. Tracking the number of such deaths is a direct way to measure progress (or lack thereof) towards Target 16.2.
3. Incidents of child neglect reported to authorities
   • The article implies this indicator by mentioning that the mother “had multiple prior contacts and referrals with child protective services.” The number of referrals and contacts with such agencies is an indicator of the prevalence of child welfare issues within a community and the effectiveness of the institutional response.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kmph.com