Report on a Child Fatality in Turlock, California: An SDG Perspective

Incident Summary

A report has been compiled regarding a fatal incident in Turlock, California, which has significant implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The key details are as follows:

• Event: Drowning of a 2-year-old child, Daniellé Pires, in a residential swimming pool.
• Date: Friday afternoon, as reported by the Turlock Police Department.
• Location: A private residence on Fireside Drive, Turlock.
• Subject: The child’s mother, Kelle Brassart, 40, has been arrested on charges of murder and child neglect resulting in death.
• Contributing Factors: Investigators have cited evidence suggesting that alcohol and drug use by the caregiver may have been a factor.
• Institutional Context: The subject reportedly has a prior history with Child Protective Services in other jurisdictions.

Analysis in Relation to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This case represents a critical failure to achieve key targets within SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

1. Child Mortality (Target 3.2): The death of this child is a preventable tragedy that directly contravenes the global goal to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The incident highlights the vulnerability of children in unsafe and unsupervised environments.
2. Substance Abuse (Target 3.5): The alleged involvement of alcohol and drugs points to a breakdown in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. This case underscores the urgent need for accessible and effective support systems for caregivers struggling with addiction to protect the health and well-being of their dependents.

Analysis in Relation to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The circumstances surrounding the child’s death also relate directly to SDG 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

• Violence Against Children (Target 16.2): Child neglect resulting in death is an extreme form of abuse and violence against children. This incident is a stark reminder of the need to strengthen measures to end all forms of violence against children, as mandated by this target.
• Effective Institutions: The arrest of the suspect demonstrates the function of justice institutions. However, the subject’s prior history with Child Protective Services raises critical questions about the efficacy of institutional frameworks designed to protect vulnerable children and prevent such outcomes. This highlights a potential gap in institutional capacity or inter-agency coordination, which is a core focus of SDG 16.

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which reports on the death of a 2-year-old child. The incident directly relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being, particularly in the context of preventing avoidable child mortality. Furthermore, the mention of alcohol and drugs as potential factors in the mother’s neglect connects to the goal’s focus on substance abuse prevention and treatment.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article highlights issues of violence against children, specifically child neglect resulting in death. This connects to SDG 16’s aim to end abuse and violence against children. The response of the Turlock Police Department, the arrest of the mother, and the reference to Child Protective Services all point to the role of justice and child protection institutions in addressing such tragedies.

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” The article’s subject, the drowning of a 2-year-old girl due to neglect, is a clear example of a preventable death of a child under five.
• Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.” The investigation’s finding that “alcohol and drugs may have played a role” in the mother’s conduct directly links the incident to this target, highlighting the consequences of substance abuse.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The mother was arrested on charges of “child neglect resulting in death.” This form of severe neglect is a form of violence and abuse against a child, making this target highly relevant.

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Indicator for Target 3.2: The death of the “2-year-old daughter” is a specific data point that contributes to the under-5 mortality rate, a key indicator for this target. The cause of death (drowning due to neglect) specifies the preventable nature of the mortality.
• Indicator for Target 3.5: The article implies an indicator by mentioning “evidence suggesting that alcohol and drugs may have played a role.” This points to the number or proportion of child deaths or neglect cases where parental substance abuse is a contributing factor.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Indicator for Target 16.2: The article provides two implied indicators. First, the specific charge of “child neglect resulting in death” represents a measured instance of fatal violence against a child. Second, the mention of the mother’s “previous history with Child Protective Services in other counties” serves as an indicator of recurring risk and the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of institutional interventions to protect children.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com