A family is gagged - pass it on!
Yesterday, I had the honor of being one of the speakers at a public forum in Omaha organized by the Family Advocacy Movement, a grassroots group organized by families affected by Nebraska's "Safe Haven" debacle last year, and families with similar issues.
"Every year, thousands of families are forced to surrender their children to states - often admitting to phony neglect charges - because it's the only way to get mental health care for those children."
ReplyDeletehttp://nccpr.blogspot.com/2009/10/family-is-gagged-pass-it-on.html
I came upon this story out of Nebraska this morning by the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform and was equally disheartened, disgusted and fired up for action.
Failure to properly recognize and support the needs of persons with developmental disabilities are rampant and continue across the Nation despite promise for reform. : (
The reason why I have fought - and continue to fight so hard in memory of Samantha - is to combat against injustice towards families and children who are oppressed by archaic outlook and law. That is Samantha's legacy; change in Legislation in the Province of Alberta, Canada derived from personal circumstances that I hope will prove to be a precedent in other jurisdictions:
In loving memory of Samantha Lauren Martin
June 4, 1993 - December 3, 2006
http://www.child.alberta.ca/home/527.cfm
Section 2-3, Manual Amendments: Policy and Procedures in Family Centred Supports and Services:
The FSCD (Family Services for Children with Disabilities Act) was amended to clarify that children with disabilities and their families must be regarded distinctly from those individuals in need of protective practise:
"The Family Support for Children with Disabilities Program to have separate legislation from that of child protection services."
(\ -- /)
( \()/ )
( / \ ) TAKE THIS LITTLE ANGEL ^j^
(/\/\) AND KEEP HER CLOSE TO YOU
/ \ SHE IS SENT AS A GUARDIAN
(____) TO PROTECT ALL THINGS TRUE
"Samantha's Syndrome"
http://www.tetrasomy18p.ca/
Article by NCCPR :
Sunday, October 4, 2009
UPDATED OCTOBER 7: A family is gagged - pass it on!
Posted by NATIONAL COALITION FOR CHILD PROTECTION REFORM at 5:12 PM