Daniels will talk to child protection workers

INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mitch Daniels is addressing Indiana’s child protection workers following a week of attacks from critics in the state Legislature.

Daniels plans to talk to hundreds of state case workers Friday morning. His speech comes just hours after lawmakers created a new committee to study problems at the Department of Child Services.

House and Senate Democrats have argued repeatedly over the last week that the state ignored obvious signs of abuse that led to children across the state to die. However, DCS has cited massive improvements since 2005 including a drop by more than 50 percent in child deaths from abuse and neglect.

Democrats argue that budget cuts over the last few years and a new centralized call system have led to more children remaining in dangerous homes.