Saturday, December 31, 2016

Federal Judge Reminds State to Take Foster Kids Out of Unsafe Homes

Last December, federal Judge Janis Jack ordered the state to guarantee all Texas foster children are living "free from an unreasonable risk of harm." Now, more than a year later, Jack says there are still thousands in harm's way.

More >> Federal Judge Reminds State to Take Foster Kids Out of Unsafe Homes

Friday, December 30, 2016

Police say foster mom called 911, was only adult home

Lincoln police aren't yet releasing the name of the baby in foster care who died Tuesday, but they did say the foster mother was the only other adult in the southwest Lincoln home when the baby stopped breathing.

More >> Police say foster mom called 911, was only adult home

State argues Texas foster kids get required supervision after judge calls for more

State officials said they are placing foster children in safe settings and, in most cases, complying with court orders to ensure round-the-clock supervision.

More >> State argues Texas foster kids get required supervision after judge calls for more

County agency accused of trying to disrupt client-attorney relationship in ongoing case

Luzerne County Children and Youth Services is involved in a “desperate attempt to obstruct and complicate” the relationship between the parents of a child who died after being placed in foster care and the attorney now suing the county on their behalf, according to documents filed in court Thursday.

More >> County agency accused of trying to disrupt client-attorney relationship in ongoing case

Teen Killed On Route 8 Was DCF Ward; 3rd Foster Child To Die in December

The state Office of the Child Advocate has begun an investigation into the death of 14-year-old Michael Shore, who was struck and killed by passing vehicles after he got out of a car driven by his foster mother on Route 8 in Naugatuck Dec. 22.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Allhands: What the fired CPS workers case is really about

Five fired Child Protective Services workers went to court, arguing that state law should've protected their jobs.

More >> Allhands: What the fired CPS workers case is really about

Judge: State in violation of CPS order for a year

A federal judge supervising the state's foster-care system has ordered child-protection officials to immediately comply with a year-old court order prohibiting foster children from being placed in group homes that lacked 24-hour supervision.

More >> Judge: State in violation of CPS order for a year

Former Child Protective Services worker admits to falsely reporting

During Norwich City court on Dec. 20, Tina Reilly a former Department of Social Services employee changed her plea of not guilty to guilty to one count of falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor.

More >> Former Child Protective Services worker admits to falsely reporting

Kentucky judge disciplined for threatening children with foster care if they didn't go on vacation with father

A Kentucky judge has been publicly reprimanded for forcing two children to go on vacation with their dad under the threat of being sent to foster care and without hearing from both sides.

More >> Kentucky judge disciplined for threatening children with foster care if they didn't go on vacation with father

Judge orders CPS officials to comply with order requiring 24-hour group home supervision

A federal judge supervising the state's troubled foster-care system has ordered child-protection officials to immediately comply with a year-old court order prohibiting foster children from being placed in group homes that lacked 24-hour supervision.

More >> Judge orders CPS officials to comply with order requiring 24-hour group home supervision

Court overturns Russian mother's conviction for false child abuse report

The Court of Criminal Appeal has overturned a Russian mother's conviction and 13-month suspended prison sentence which she had been handed in February on charges of falsely accusing her estranged husband of sexually abusing their child.

More >> Court overturns Russian mother's conviction for false child abuse report

Despite judge's orders, Fargo fathers still haven't seen girls kidnapped by mom

More than 850 days after Tricia Taylor of Fargo took off with her two daughters to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in far northwest South Dakota, the two fathers who have been granted custody in North Dakota courts have now been without their daughters for three Christmases and numerous birthdays.

More >> Despite judge's orders, Fargo fathers still haven't seen girls kidnapped by mom

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Keep Two-Year-Old Daughter in Prison or Give Up Parental Rights, Iran Tells Jailed Mother

The government of Iran has told an imprisoned dual British-Iranian citizen that she must care for her two-year-old daughter in the notorious Evin Prison or sign away her parental rights, The Telegraph reported Thursday.


More >> Keep Two-Year-Old Daughter in Prison or Give Up Parental Rights, Iran Tells Jailed Mother

Writer Complains That, Under Trump, More Babies Will be “Given Up for Adoption” Rather Than Aborted

For the last post of the day, let me put two items together, one very negative, one quite positive.

If you follow the news closely—especially that composed by the army of Donald Trump haters– you already know there is virtually nothing that cannot somehow be connected back to pro-life President-elect Trump. Nothing, that is, that the author doesn’t believe is a negative.

More >> Writer Complains That, Under Trump, More Babies Will be “Given Up for Adoption” Rather Than Aborted

Grandparents are 'third parties' in the eyes of the law

Why must a grandparent who wants a legal right to custody or visitation with grandchildren argue that the children's parents are unfit or there are some exceptional circumstances? a reader asks.

More >> Grandparents are 'third parties' in the eyes of the law

Settlement: State Has One Year to Improve Foster Care After Maltreatment

Mississippi's newly formed Department of Child Protection Services will have a year to revamp the state's foster-care system, due to the long-running "Olivia Y" lawsuit over maltreatment of children in State care.

More >> Settlement: State Has One Year to Improve Foster Care After Maltreatment

Authorities investigating after baby in foster care suffers brain injury

Police are investigating how a toddler in foster care suffered a brain injury and internal bleeding last week at home in west Lincoln.

More >> Authorities investigating after baby in foster care suffers brain injury

No room at the inn: Local nonprofit agency seeks expansion, no room for youth transitioning out of foster care

In a stucco house on the corner of Avenue R and 14th Street, a Christmas tree sparkled in the living room as 18-year-old Halie Ramber spoke about her future goals with Sandi Turner, founder and director of local nonprofit agency Sondra’s Song, by her side.

More >> No room at the inn: Local nonprofit agency seeks expansion, no room for youth transitioning out of foster care

What a youth court judge didn’t want the media to know

The situation at a house in the Bayside Park community was “of such an emergency nature,” according to the youth court, that Child Protection Services was ordered in September to forcibly enter the home to try to seize three children who lived there with their parents.

More >> What a youth court judge didn’t want the media to know

Six illegal orphanages closed down in B/A

The Department of Social Development in the Brong Ahafo Region has threatened to close down more children’s homes in the near feature.

More >> Six illegal orphanages closed down in B/A

Sharjah abuse hotline used by teachers to complain about rowdy pupils

A hotline set up to receive reports of abuse or ill treatment of children is being used by teachers to complain about rowdy pupils.

More >> Sharjah abuse hotline used by teachers to complain about rowdy pupils

Judge Tosses Lawsuit By Kansas Marijuana Activist Who Lost Custody Of Her Son

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a Garden City, Kansas, mother who lost custody of her son over her use of cannabis oil in an incident that drew national attention.

More >> Judge Tosses Lawsuit By Kansas Marijuana Activist Who Lost Custody Of Her Son

Norway handling child custody case as per its law: India told

Hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made it clear that it wants the Indo-Norwegian boy united with his natural parents, Indian Ambassador to Norway on Tuesday met with the head of the Consular Section in the Norwegian Foreign Ministry in the 'child custody case'.

More >> Child custody row: Norway says authorities dealing with complete sensitivity and awareness


Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Commentary: What is to blame for our failed Child Protection System?

Imagine a high-stress job with low-pay, long hours and where you were responsible for the lives of multiple children who live in potentially dangerous environments. Imagine doing this job without the proper education needed to adequately and swiftly make the observations and recommendations needed to ensure each child under your responsibility is safe. This is the reality for Child Protective Services caseworkers in Texas.

More >> Commentary: What is to blame for our failed Child Protection System?

What a youth court judge didn’t want the media to know

The situation at a house in the Bayside Park community was “of such an emergency nature,” according to the youth court, that Child Protection Services was ordered in September to forcibly enter the home to try to seize three children who lived there with their parents.

More >> What a youth court judge didn’t want the media to know

New bill would allow county board to oversee CPS

As lawmakers prepare for the 2017 legislative session, many are looking at the issue of Child Protective Services and The Department of Family and Protective Services efforts to overhaul the system.

More >> New bill would allow county board to oversee CPS

De Blasio’s despicable ‘fake news’ defense for deadly ACS failure

Mayor de Blasio is denouncing The Post and city Comptroller Scott Stringer for conspiring to create “fake news” — namely last week’s exposĆ©s of gross mismanagement at the Administration for Children’s Services.

More >> De Blasio’s despicable ‘fake news’ defense for deadly ACS failure

Monday, December 26, 2016

Why Is the Government Telling Us How to Raise Our Kids?

he headline says it all: “Proposed Bill Would Expand Parents’ Rights, but Critics Say It Goes Too Far.” What exactly is too far when it comes to parents’ rights? In the case of this story from Fort Worth, Texas, it means that “critics” think parents shouldn’t have the right to know what their children are doing at school. Opposing this belief is Texas state senator Konni Burton, who authored the legislation. She believes that parents should be allowed access to their kids’ personal information, rather than protecting their child’s alleged right to privacy.

More >> Why Is the Government Telling Us How to Raise Our Kids?

Move Over Pizzagate: 25 of the Sickest Foster Child Molesters of 2016 - Part 1 of 3

In order to show what a huge problem this is, I am going to highlight some of the sickest and most disturbing cases of 2016.  Of course this is only a few of the 300 or so links from just this year on the subject of sexual abuse in the child welfare system.  We don't know how many cases didn't make the news because the government doesn't track it.  What we do know is that this is an ongoing problem because more and more are getting busted all the time.  We also know that just in the state of Nebraska alone, they are now investigating 36 cases of children sexually abused while in foster care.  I doubt we'll get the details of these cases though.  We'll have to wait and see.

It only goes to show you that pedophiles who haven't been caught yet are great at passing their background checks.

This will be a 3 part series.  Just doing it makes me want to puke but it's got to stop.  

1. Cesar Gonzalez-Mugaburu


"Cesar Gonzalez-Mugaburu is accused of victimizing children as young as 8 years old."

He has taken in over 140 boys in the last 20 years in Long Island New York, and now stands charged of sexually abusing many of them.   As it stands now, there are more than 30 complaints against him. 
----------------------------------------------
2. Matthew Cable


Matthew Cable of Wausau Wisconsin was arrested back in July for sexually molesting a foster child under he age of 13.

Cable and his wife were in the process of adopting the child as well.  

---------------------------------------------
3. Edgar Torrance


Back in November, Edgar Torrance from Conway Arkansas was sentenced to 12 years in jail for the rape and second degree sexual assault of a 6 year old foster child in his care back in 2015.  

They're gonna love him in Jail.
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4. Clarence C. Garretson


Back in May of this year, Clarence C. Garretson plead guilty to molesting 5 different foster children as young as 9 years old in his care from the years 2000 to 2014.  

Garretson is now facing 15 years per count.
-----------------------------------------------------
5. Lawrence Oxton


71 year old Lawrence Oxton, a sick fuck from Belfast Maine was convicted back in February of molesting a 9 year old foster child in his care.  Lawrence will now spend the next 9 years of his life in jail.  If he survives that, he will spend the rest of his life on probation.
---------------------------------------------
6. Ciera Beauchamp


A foster mother by the name of Ciera Beauchamp from Indianapolis Indiana, along with two other women was charged with forcing a teenage foster child in her care into prostitution so that she could help them pay the bills.

Although she is not guilty of sexually abusing the child herself, she's still a sicko worthy of mentioning here.

------------------------------------------------

7. Irvin Dewberry


This piece of crap named Irvin Dewberry, from Murfreesboro Tennessee was arrested back in October for molesting a 10 year old girl in his care.  

He was charged with two counts of child rape and two counts of sexual assault.  

8. Pastor Tommy Lynn Bailey


Tommy Lynn Bailey who was a Pastor of a church in Oklahoma plead guilty to a deal that got him only 5 years and a $15k fine with $15k restitution to the victim who was a young foster child in his care who he molested over a 7 year period.  

I'm sure God has special plans in store for him too.
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She was raised in dozens of foster homes. Can she keep her own son out of the system?

Gwen Wright needed to get to the hospital. The labor pains were radiating from deep in her gut, like pliers twisting her insides. First they were an hour apart, now every 30 minutes. She was a week past her due date, and the baby was coming.

More >> She was raised in dozens of foster homes. Can she keep her own son out of the system?

Hearing For Social Workers In Detroit Boy’s Death On Pause Until January

The hearing for two Children’s Protective Services workers charged in connection with the death of a 3-year-old Detroit boy is on pause until after the new year.

More >> Hearing For Social Workers In Detroit Boy’s Death On Pause Until January

Tiahleigh Palmer's foster mother Julene Thorburn lived in fear of Rick Thorburn

The foster father of Tiahleigh Palmer threatened to kill his wife if she told anyone about his son having sex with the 12-year-old, court documents allege.

More >> Tiahleigh Palmer's foster mother Julene Thorburn lived in fear of Rick Thorburn

A New Missouri Law Could Give Kids Serious Criminal Records For School Fights, Schools Say

A new Missouri statute is drawing the ire of civil rights advocates over concerns that it unnecessarily criminalizes children. However, a state lawmaker says that the statute is being mischaracterized and does not spur significant change.

More >> A New Missouri Law Could Give Kids Serious Criminal Records For School Fights, Schools Say

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Wisconsin mom finds adopted daughter's twin

A mom gave her adopted daughter quite the Christmas surprise: She found the girl's identical twin.

More >> Wisconsin mom finds adopted daughter's twin

Saturday, December 24, 2016

India takes up with norway issue of alleged child abuse faced by Indian couple

In wake of the allegations made by an Indian couple that the Norwegian authorities have taken away their five-year-old child on frivolous complaint of abuse, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the embassy in Oslo has taken up this issue and added that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is personally monitoring the case.

More >> India takes up with norway issue of alleged child abuse faced by Indian couple

Sister says she was never never told of teen’s suicide at children’s shelter

Lauryn Martin, 16, on Friday remained on life support in Nicklaus Children’s Hospital near South Miami a little over a week after hanging herself with a scarf in her dorm room at the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter last week.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article122819179.html#storylink=cpy

More >> Sister says she was never never told of teen’s suicide at children’s shelter

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article122819179.html#storylink=cpy

Police: Aunt arrested after placing child in backpack, sneaking past CPS

A woman was arrested Friday after placing a child in a backpack, then sneaking it past a Children’s Protective Service worker, according to Rosenberg police.

More >> Police: Aunt arrested after placing child in backpack, sneaking past CPS

Friday, December 23, 2016

15-year-old boy arrested for social worker’s slay

A 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly killings a   social worker at the  Department of Social Welfare and Development  in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) on Friday.

More >> 15-year-old boy arrested for social worker’s slay

Sister of abused teen speaks out against the foster care system

A 14-year-old boy was rescued in Helena from abusive adoptive parents in November.  Police said he had withered away to fifty-five pounds, after nearly two years of confinement in a basement.

More >> Sister of abused teen speaks out against the foster care system

New bill would allow county board to oversee CPS

As lawmakers prepare for the 2017 legislative session, many are looking at the issue of Child Protective Services and The Department of Family and Protective Services efforts to overhaul the system.

More >> New bill would allow county board to oversee CPS

Tiahleigh Palmer: Court documents reveal foster brother saw schoolgirl as a 'source of income'

Tiahleigh Palmer's foster brother considered the Queensland schoolgirl a "source of income" for his family when he allegedly confessed to an incestuous relationship in an online conversation, court documents show.

More >> Tiahleigh Palmer: Court documents reveal foster brother saw schoolgirl as a 'source of income'

Norway Custody Row: Can Imagine What the Child is Going Through, Says Sushma

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is recovering from a kidney transplant surgery, found herself directing Indian ambassador in Norway to take up the matter at the 'highest level' of an Indian child taken away by Norwegian authorities for alleged parental abuse.

More >> Norway Custody Row: Can Imagine What the Child is Going Through, Says Sushma

Connecticut DCF Commissioner: No Need for Independent Ombudsman

The Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families said she doesn’t believe her office would benefit from the oversight of an outside ombudsman.

More >> Connecticut DCF Commissioner: No Need for Independent Ombudsman

Judge who ruled Texas' foster care system broken recognized

U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack, the judge who ruled that Texas' foster care system is unconstitutionally broken, has been named The Dallas Morning News' Texan of the Year.

More >> Judge who ruled Texas' foster care system broken recognized

Foster child needs 'better preparation' to age out

More than 1,000 teenagers age out of foster care each year in Texas, many of them damaged and unable to succeed as adults.

More >> Foster child needs 'better preparation' to age out

Arkansas father had no say, so adoption nullified

A Faulkner County Circuit Court erred when it allowed an Arkansas man to adopt his stepdaughter without the consent of her birth father, who had been out of touch for nearly two years while under a restraining order, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

More >> Arkansas father had no say, so adoption nullified

Arkansas lawmakers quiz judges for solutions to foster care woes

Lawmakers seeking to address a 30 percent rise in the number of children in foster care interviewed a panel of judges and a Supreme Court justice for more than 90 minutes Tuesday morning at the state Capitol. Members of the Joint Peer Review Committee have been working for several months to identify causes of the increase and to figure out a way to counteract it.

More >> Arkansas lawmakers quiz judges for solutions to foster care woes

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Parents, foster-care advocates stand against possible repeal of ACA

Parents and leaders of foster-care groups gathered at the state Capitol to warn lawmakers and the public about possible problems that could emerge with repealing the Affordable Care Act.

More >> Parents, foster-care advocates stand against possible repeal of ACA

Judicial Watchdog Official Claims He Was Fired For Complaint Against Judge In Child Custody Case

The former head of a Michigan judicial watchdog board has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was fired for attempting to file a formal complaint against a judge who controversially sent 3 children to a juvenile detention center.

More >> Judicial Watchdog Official Claims He Was Fired For Complaint Against Judge In Child Custody Case

Some CPS Workers Will Get Raises, While Others Will Have To Wait Six Months

980 workers with Child Protective Services who recently earned promotions will have to wait as long as six months to get a recently-approved $12,000 raise. Meanwhile, their colleagues — and recent hires — will receive the extra money next month.

More >> Some CPS Workers Will Get Raises, While Others Will Have To Wait Six Months

Group says Arizona foster children, families would be hit hardest by Obamacare repeal

Foster families and children will lose the most if Obamacare is repealed without a replacement, an Arizona child advocacy group said.

More >> Group says Arizona foster children, families would be hit hardest by Obamacare repeal

Children as young as four may have been sexually abused in British football, police reveal

Children as young as four may have been molested as part of the deepening sexual abuse scandal that has shaken British football, police revealed on Wednesday.

More >> Children as young as four may have been sexually abused in British football, police reveal

Attorney: Starved teen's death reveals Iowa child welfare neglect

An attorney representing the interests of three siblings of a West Des Moines 16-year-old who starved to death raised concerns Tuesday about the ability of Iowa’s child-welfare system to protect older children who may be targets of abuse.

More >> Attorney: Starved teen's death reveals Iowa child welfare neglect

Inspector general investigating sexual abuse of kids in state care

The state inspector general for child welfare is investigating child sexual abuse and exploitation of children in state-licensed facilities and the child welfare system, Julie Rogers announced Wednesday.

More >> Inspector general investigating sexual abuse of kids in state care

In just 3 months, 10 kids died on NYC child services’ watch

Ten kids died despite each being the subject of at least four abuse or maltreatment complaints to the city’s troubled child-welfare agency in the weeks leading up to the slaying of little Zymere Perkins, a probe by Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office has found.

More >> In just 3 months, 10 kids died on NYC child services’ watch

36 reports of sex abuse trigger review of Nebraska child welfare system

A 13-year-old foster child placed in the home of an ex-convict in Omaha who goes on to rape and impregnate the girl.

More >> 36 reports of sex abuse trigger review of Nebraska child welfare system

'What did we miss?' Sandy Bay CFS requests review after homicide of teen in foster care

The head of Sandy Bay Child and Family Services says the agency is "shocked" to learn the death of an 18-year-old with disabilities in foster care was ruled a homicide, and has ordered an external review.

More >> 'What did we miss?' Sandy Bay CFS requests review after homicide of teen in foster care

North Carolina Foster Child Sues CPS Supervisor who Adopted Him, Only to Abuse Him

A North Carolina foster child, who was discovered by a sheriff’s deputy cuffed to a front porch with a dead chicken tied around his neck, filed a lawsuit last month against the Child Protective Services worker who adopted him, only for her and her boyfriend to spend several years abusing him.

More >> North Carolina Foster Child Sues CPS Supervisor who Adopted Him, Only to Abuse Him

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Manager testifies for social workers in Detroit boy's death

A Michigan Children's Protective Services manager has testified that social workers charged with manslaughter and child abuse in the death of a 3-year-old Detroit boy weren't negligent in their duties.

More >> Manager testifies for social workers in Detroit boy's death

Birth mother's name disclosed in "unfortunate error"

Note: This is a good example of the mentality that we are up against.

Sorry doesn’t cut it.

That’s the view of one Mandarin mom after state social workers accidentally divulged the name of her adopted daughter’s birth mother.

More >> Birth mother's name disclosed in "unfortunate error"

'SERIOUS AND SYSTEMIC FLAWS' IN JOINT INVESTIGATION OF FOSTER CARE OF TWO CHILDREN

Police and social services staff have come under fire from a High Court judge who said there were systemic flaws in a joint investigation relating to two children.

More >> 'SERIOUS AND SYSTEMIC FLAWS' IN JOINT INVESTIGATION OF FOSTER CARE OF TWO CHILDREN

Report: DCYF not adequately protecting kids at risk for abuse

The state isn’t adequately protecting or providing services to children at risk for abuse and neglect, according to a long-awaited independent review of the Division for Children, Youth and Families.

More >> Report: DCYF not adequately protecting kids at risk for abuse

Klapheke Case: Judge Denies Former CPS Worker's Request to Drop Charges


A judge has denied a former Abilene CPS supervisor's request to have her charge connected to the fatal Tiffany Klapheke child abuse case dismissed.

More >> Klapheke Case: Judge Denies Former CPS Worker's Request to Drop Charges

Mississippi continues improvements of foster care system

Mississippi's foster care system was being in jeopardy of a federal takeover last year. But the state is moving towards more improvements.  Another positive milestone in a 12-year-old federal lawsuit was reached Monday. There was a settlement in federal court.

More >> Mississippi continues improvements of foster care system

Children of addicts yearn for home despite dangers

As heroin pushes its way into families across the county, more and more children are filling the foster care system, eager to go home to their parents no matter the home life.

More >> Children of addicts yearn for home despite dangers

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Government told to 'get a grip' on child protection services

Ministers have been told to "get a grip" over child protection amid warnings youngsters are being left "at risk of harm" because of a failure to make improvements.

More >> Government told to 'get a grip' on child protection services

Fourth Time Filing Bill, Senator Hopes Surviving Child Abuse Victim Will Get Money Owed


A Florida lawmaker is hoping a claims bill to further compensate a child abuse victim will pass the state legislature for 2017. This will be the fourth year the measure comes before lawmakers.

More >> Fourth Time Filing Bill, Senator Hopes Surviving Child Abuse Victim Will Get Money Owed

Final Senate Foster Youth Caucus Session Focuses on “Normalcy”

On Monday, December 12 the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth held their last round table discussion for 2016. This week’s discussion focused on foster care and “normalcy” or attempts to make foster care placements as family like as possible for children in care.

More >> Final Senate Foster Youth Caucus Session Focuses on “Normalcy”

Left Behind: Trump’s Immigration Plans Could Spur Uptick in Foster Care Numbers

President-elect Donald Trump made clear in a recent interview that he plans to deport between two and three million undocumented immigrants, a drastic increase from current practice under which about 235,000 were sent away in 2015.

More >> Left Behind: Trump’s Immigration Plans Could Spur Uptick in Foster Care Numbers

Pro-Trump ‘Pizzagate’ troll smears humorist with more phony ‘child sex ring’ charges

A notorious “alt-right” online troll and “pick-up artist” is trying to smear a liberal humorist and producer with phony pedophilia charges in an online feud that has begun to have real-world consequences, said the Daily Beast on Monday.


More >> Pro-Trump ‘Pizzagate’ troll smears humorist with more phony ‘child sex ring’ charges

Adoptions in Australia fall to record low levels in 2016

Only 278 adoptions were finalised in the past year – the lowest number on record – according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

More >> Adoptions in Australia fall to record low levels in 2016

Judge OKs new deals in Mississippi foster care case

The state of Mississippi and child advocates have reached another set of agreements in a 12-year-old lawsuit over shortfalls in the state’s child welfare system.

More >> Judge OKs new deals in Mississippi foster care case

Tampa Bay baby dies in foster care, days away from adoption

An infant died while in Tampa's foster care system on December 11, leaving his soon-to-be adoptive parents devasted.

More >> Tampa Bay baby dies in foster care, days away from adoption

Majority of abuse reports to state DCYF dropped

The state’s child protective agency keeps getting the same reports about abuse involving the same families, yet consistently rules the charges unfounded, even in cases where the abuse is acknowledged as fact.

More >> Majority of abuse reports to state DCYF dropped

State worker charged in boy's death said he seemed 'fine'

When a state social worker checked on 3-year-old Aaron Minor at his Detroit home after receiving a complaint that the boy could be in danger, she saw no evidence of abuse or neglect, according to testimony Monday in a Detroit courtroom.

More >> State worker charged in boy's death said he seemed 'fine'

Monday, December 19, 2016

The Aussie kids terrified of their 18th birthdays

JUST days before his 18th birthday, Dylan Langley, a cheerful blonde-haired Essendon fanatic, was told to start “looking for a homeless shelter”.

More >> The Aussie kids terrified of their 18th birthdays

Return to sender. Parental kidnapping spikes around the holidays.

One of the unpleasant realities of divorce is that parents who share custody of their children often have to spend the holidays without their kids.

The mom or dad who has primary custody will put their child on an airplane or watch the other parent drive off with them in the back seat.  The expectation is that the child will be returned in a week or two.  Unfortunately, that expectation is sometimes crushed when the other parent doesn’t return the child at the agreed upon time.

More >> Return to sender. Parental kidnapping spikes around the holidays.

Assembly Of First Nations Wants Control Of Native Child Welfare

Canada's treatment of First Nations children received international attention at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington.

More >> Assembly Of First Nations Wants Control Of Native Child Welfare

Why services need to understand the financial impact of care proceedings on parents

This time of year is an expensive one, undoubtedly so if you’re a parent. Bombarded by television adverts from at least October, Christmas infests every part of our lives, and parents feel it keenly.

More >> Why services need to understand the financial impact of care proceedings on parents

'Why are kids fleeing from juvenile homes?'

Taking the incidents of children fleeing from juvenile homes seriously, the Rajasthan High Court asked the government to submit a report by January 9. The court asked why the children were fleeing from juvenile homes and what preventive steps have been taken by the authorities.

More >> 'Why are kids fleeing from juvenile homes?'

Investigation After Foster Baby Dies: Adoption Was In Motion

Police are investigating after a foster baby dies, just weeks before his adoption, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The 17-month-old boy’s adoption was in motion before his life was suddenly lost.

More >> Investigation After Foster Baby Dies: Adoption Was In Motion

ACS employs more bosses than abuse caseworkers

The city’s beleaguered child-welfare agency has become bloated with bosses under Mayor de Blasio, with honchos accounting for more than one-quarter of its workforce — and even outnumbering the caseworkers sent to investigate suspected child abuse, an analysis by The Post has found.

More >> ACS employs more bosses than abuse caseworkers

Indiana DCS struggles to keep up with pace of child abuse reports

For the first time in recent history and despite an emphasis in recent years on keeping troubled families together, the number of Indiana children in foster care has risen dramatically as reports of abuse and neglect continue to grow.

More >> Indiana DCS struggles to keep up with pace of child abuse reports

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Karnataka man rapes 17-year-old foster daughter, gets her pregnant

A man had allegedly raped his ‘foster daughter’ at Chikkanayakanahalli town and the incident came to light after the girl conceived.

More >> Karnataka man rapes 17-year-old foster daughter, gets her pregnant

Investigation launched after infant dies in foster care

Florida detectives have launched a criminal investigation into the death of a 17-month-old boy in foster care who was about to be placed with adoptive parents.

More >> Investigation launched after infant dies in foster care

McMartin: Child welfare’s prelude to #Pizzagate

How could anyone believe that a popular gathering place for children actually was a front for a child sex abuse ring, with secret tunnels used to hide the nefarious goings on?

More >> McMartin: Child welfare’s prelude to #Pizzagate

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Within reach of adoption, toddler dies while in foster care


After about five months in foster care, and just weeks away from a new home with adoptive parents in North Carolina, little Aedyn Agminalis was rushed to the emergency room.

More >> Within reach of adoption, toddler dies while in foster care

Vermont high court reinstates parents' rights

The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that the Department for Children and Families and its attorneys moved too quickly in terminating the parental rights of a mother and father in Caledonia County.

More >> Vermont high court reinstates parents' rights

Rockdale woman convicted of killing foster child dies in prison



A Rockdale woman who was convicted of capital murder in 2014 for the death of her 2-year-old foster child has died in prison, officials said Friday.

More >> Rockdale woman convicted of killing foster child dies in prison

Maryland state agencies stop sending youths for treatment to Good Shepherd, group home

Two state agencies have placed a moratorium on sending youths in their custody to Good Shepherd Services, a Baltimore County residential treatment center cited by regulators for not providing proper supervision after one patient reported being sexually assaulted and others showed signs of overdose after taking medicine stolen from a medical cart.

More >> Maryland state agencies stop sending youths for treatment to Good Shepherd, group home

Friday, December 16, 2016

Central Texas woman convicted of killing foster child dies in prison

Sherill Ann Small, 57, of Rockdale, who was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the beating death of her 2-year-old foster child, has died in prison.

More >> Central Texas woman convicted of killing foster child dies in prison

Social work restructure meant ‘corners were being cut’, finds serious case review

A children’s services restructure meant “corners were being cut” at the time agencies failed to properly investigate a torn lip suffered by a baby, a serious case review has found.

More >> Social work restructure meant ‘corners were being cut’, finds serious case review

State Stands Behind Medicaid Cuts For Disabled Children--For Now

Beginning Thursday the State of Texas will cut the amount it pays to therapists who treat some of the state’s most vulnerable children. Families are now worried they’ll lose care that is teaching their children important life skills.

More >> State Stands Behind Medicaid Cuts For Disabled Children--For Now

Man in brutal sex attacks a 'poster child' for child welfare failures: defence

A Manitoba judge has reserved his decision in the sentencing of a man involved in the brutal beating and sexual assault of a teenage girl and a woman.

More >> Man in brutal sex attacks a 'poster child' for child welfare failures: defence

3 New York Child Welfare Workers Fired After 6-Year-Old Dies from Alleged Abuse

A recently released state-ordered report into the handling of a six-year-old New York City boy’s death has led to the termination of three city employees and the appointment independent monitor to review the city’s child welfare agency, PEOPLE confirms.

More >> 3 New York Child Welfare Workers Fired After 6-Year-Old Dies from Alleged Abuse

Parents facing custody issues see hope with California legalization

Nathaniel Rudd didn’t know he was going to be a dad until the mother of a woman he’d dated months before – nine months, to be exact – called him from the hospital.

More >> Parents facing custody issues see hope with California legalization

Advocates, Legislators Call for Changes in Handling of Foster Child Abuse Cases

As Texas leaders grapple with how to fix the state’s troubled foster care system, one issue on the agenda is how to end the discrepancies between how the state handles abuse cases for foster children and for those outside the foster care system.

More >> Advocates, Legislators Call for Changes in Handling of Foster Child Abuse Cases

Texas Foster Care System Faces Concerns About Overmedication of Children

Holding a scrapbook inches from his face, Jessy Dussetschleger flips through pages and pages of pictures from his childhood. Smiling and tapping his adoptive mother on her shoulder, he points to a photo of himself with his siblings at a birthday party.

More >> Texas Foster Care System Faces Concerns About Overmedication of Children

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Prosecutors take rare step of charging social worker, boss for boy's death

Prosecutors on Monday took the rare step of charging a social worker and her boss with manslaughter and child abuse, alleging they neglected to do everything required to protect a 3-year-old Detroit boy who died.

More >> Prosecutors take rare step of charging social worker, boss for boy's death

Seeking to dismiss lawsuit, DCYF says it’s not liable for abuse suffered by girls

A married couple accused of molesting children at a homeless shelter where they were staying were never independently investigated by the Division for Children, Youth and Families, the agency admitted in court documents Monday.

More >> Seeking to dismiss lawsuit, DCYF says it’s not liable for abuse suffered by girls

I had too many arrests to work in a prison — but not for ACS

The city’s troubled Administration for Children’s Services hired a man with 11 arrests and a “history of domestic violence” as a case worker — even though his rap sheet kept him from getting a job as a jail guard, a stunning new lawsuit reveals.

More >> I had too many arrests to work in a prison — but not for ACS

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

DCYF responds to lawsuit over sexual abuse of 2 girls

The Division of Children, Youth and Families is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed in October alleging that it was negligent when two little girls in its custody were sexually abused by their own parents.

More >> DCYF responds to lawsuit over sexual abuse of 2 girls

Tiahleigh Palmer: Trent Thorburn's bail hearing delayed

The foster brother accused of committing incest against allegedly murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer will wait another week to hear if he will be out of jail for Christmas.

More >> Tiahleigh Palmer: Trent Thorburn's bail hearing delayed

State orders NYC to hire monitor for children’s services agency

New York State has ordered the de Blasio administration to hire an independent monitor to oversee its child-welfare agency after city caseworkers repeatedly failed to protect a 6-year-old boy from family beatings that eventually killed him, according to a state report.

More >> State orders NYC to hire monitor for children’s services agency

Alcoholic foster dad removed from foster list: GN

A self-declared alcoholic foster parent in Iqaluit who was recently nearly convicted of sexually abusing a child in his care in 2013 is no longer on the Department of Family Services’ list of approved foster parents.

More >> Alcoholic foster dad removed from foster list: GN

Lawsuit against state for alleged foster home abuse gets new trial

Five former Eatonville foster children who allege they were abused will have another chance to argue the state failed to protect them before they were adopted, an appellate court said Tuesday.

More >> Lawsuit against state for alleged foster home abuse gets new trial

Top Five Threats to Child Welfare from ACA Repeal

Proposals by the Congress and President-elect to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—including the Medicaid expansion—to turn Medicaid into a block grant, and to cut resources, all can sound very abstract to social workers and policymakers coping with the day-to-day tragedies and crises of child welfare. But should Congress make good on any of these threats—which could happen as early as January 2017—the dangers are very real to abused and neglected children, their birth, adoptive, and foster parents, as well as state agencies and providers.

More >> Top Five Threats to Child Welfare from ACA Repeal

NYC child welfare workers fired over 6yearold”s death, mayor says

Three New York City Administration of Children and Family Services workers were fired Tuesday, and the city accepted a state order for an independent monitor after a scathing report on the agency’s handling of a 6-year-old Harlem boy who died, CBS New York reports.

More >> NYC child welfare workers fired over 6yearold”s death, mayor says

How can it be right to have targets for breaking up families?

Imagine you’re a mother arriving at court, fighting for the right to keep your baby who was removed from you just after birth. Your local authority now says your child should be adopted. Despite everything your barrister has told you about the rigour of adoption law, you will arrive in front of the judge today with even less trust than you had before.

More >> How can it be right to have targets for breaking up families?

New Jersey judge orders Trentonian newspaper to stop reporting a story

The Trentonian newspaper says a judge has ordered it to stop publishing articles about a child custody case, a ruling that has sparked concerns about press freedom and violation of First Amendment rights.

More >> New Jersey judge orders Trentonian newspaper to stop reporting a story

Seven adopted children removed by CPS placed in foster care home

Seven adopted children removed last month from their Richmond-area home amid allegations that they were abused and confined to a single filthy room have been placed together in a foster home, officials said Tuesday.

More >> Seven adopted children removed by CPS placed in foster care home

How not to win your case by exploiting your child to drum up sympathy for your cause

The following video was recently posted to Facebook.  I'm sure many of you have already seen it.



My heart goes out to this child.  It's disgusting what he has to go through, the poor little guy.

Under the original video, which has been shared to multiple groups, pages and walls on Facebook you will see lots of comments from CPS victims whose hearts are broken, or who couldn't watch it without crying.  You can see them being reminded of similar occurrences in their own cases.  You see them crying out that CPS needs to be stopped.  Their poor emotional hearts are being ripped out of their chests over this.  "Oh my God it's only a poor helpless CPS victim child!!!  How can they do this to him?  It is absolutely devastating!.

Now I'm not saying that CPS is right here, nor am I claiming to know any of the details of this case such as what happened 5 minutes before or after the video or why CPS was in her life in the first place, but I do know how CPS operates because I've been studying this mess for years.  Do you know what CPS will see when they view this?  CPS will see this mother exploiting her child to drum up sympathy for her cause.  I'm sorry but it's true.  This will not help her case.  Nor will it help to fix this problem of CPS abuse of power which will only be fixed through legislation and enforcement and improvement of current laws.  The video may win the hearts of one or two bleeding heart legislators but they will quickly be put in their place by the special interests or rather the System Suck constituents who want to protect their meal tickets.  Ultimately it will hurt her case.  It will lead to a poor little boy who needs his mother to spending a longer stint in foster care.

I'm sorry but I'm calling bullshit on this one and will strongly suggest that if you have CPS up your ass that you DO NOT make video's like this.  Why?  Because I know how CPS thinks.  I can totally see how CPS will use this video against the mother who, BTW, could have handled it much better. She could have added a line like, "but I love you and will see you real soon," or "everything will be okay."  She could have have done something... anything to comfort this child who SHE was CLEARLY upsetting.  She could have given him a hug, for example, but no.  Instead The mother is leading him on while trying to capture the drama on camera. She's upsetting him by telling him that they're going to take him away again and filming it when she should be enjoying the little time she has with him and reassuring him that it will all work out. She could have offered him some strength, some reassurance, some love.  She offers him no comfort at all and instead continues playing into it, "they're going to come whether I want them to or not.  You know this."  It's like she knew how he was going to react so she staged the whole thing and for nothing but the dramatic effect.

What I would much rather see is a video of the child kicking and screaming and grasping onto the mothers leg while the caseworker dragged him away while the mother offers him some love and support.  There will be plenty of time to let it all out after.

Now I know why this video was posted and I can sympathize with that.  It was put there to tug on your heart strings.  It was created to piss you off, to make you cry, to somehow motivate you to take some action against CPS because how could they do this to poor helpless children?  Of course what this video will lead to is a lot of pissing and moaning on Facebook, perhaps the cutting off of the mothers visits, who knows.  Maybe you could all get together, stand on the steps of your state capital and have a good cry.  Then when you're done, maybe you can learn some facts and numbers and actually offer some solutions to the problem which don't include traumatizing children.  You could, for example, demand that your US Senators support and pass the Family First Act which would free up federal funding that is specifically designated for foster care so that CPS can help keep families together by providing needed services in the home rather than removing the child and creating whole new sets of problems all the way up to an adoption bonus.  That is just one simple thing that we can all do that takes nothing more than a phone call.  Then when you learn what's in it and learn what it's all about perhaps you can come up with solutions and legislation to put forth in your own state.

Come on people, you all need to be smarter about this.  Stop the drama because emotional people can't come up with good solutions.  And crying about it isn't going to do a damn thing.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Authorities: Man Freed 2 Years After Wife's False Accusation

The report says Polk's incarceration cost state taxpayers more than $54,000 and he also lost his job doing electrical work and was separated from his children. He's seeking work through staffing agencies.

More >> Authorities: Man Freed 2 Years After Wife's False Accusation

Racist abuse derails Facebook campaign to foster child refugees

A social media campaign to recruit foster parents for child asylum seekers was derailed after it attracted racist abuse and extreme anti-immigrant comments.

More >> Racist abuse derails Facebook campaign to foster child refugees

Embattled Head of City's Child Welfare Agency Quits

The embattled head of the city's child welfare agency, Gladys CarriĆ³n, resigned Monday in the face of withering criticism over her leadership.

More >> Embattled Head of City's Child Welfare Agency Quits

Baptist Children’s Homes ‘resolves concerns’ over foster care reform

The Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) said it has ‘resolved concerns’ with lawmakers over foster care reform legislation that could defund most congregate care programs.

More >> Baptist Children’s Homes ‘resolves concerns’ over foster care reform

Monday, December 12, 2016

Substance Abuse Not Only Factor in Growing Foster Care Numbers

The number of children in foster care increased for the third straight year in fiscal 2015, according to data released in October by the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) and covered in The Chronicle. The number of children in state care increased from 401,213 on September 30, 2013 to 427,910 on September 30, 2015.

More >> Substance Abuse Not Only Factor in Growing Foster Care Numbers

Child Protective Services after NYC homeschooler

After recently withdrawing her son from public school because of safety and education concerns, a New York City mom went through all the required procedures to homeschool her son, but soon found Child Protective Services (CPS) coming after her.

More >> Child Protective Services after NYC homeschooler

Are Obama’s Immigration Prisons for Families Legitimate ‘Child Care Facilities’? Judge Says No

Nearly 500 mothers incarcerated with their children at euphemistically-termed immigrant family detention centers in Texas were released over the weekend following a judge’s ruling that such prisons cannot operate as childcare facilities.

More >> Are Obama’s Immigration Prisons for Families Legitimate ‘Child Care Facilities’? Judge Says No

Child advocates seeing an 'alarming' increase in children entering foster care, urge overhaul of system

There has been an “alarming” increase in the number of children going into foster care, Brian Maness, the president and chief executive of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, said last week.

More >> Child advocates seeing an 'alarming' increase in children entering foster care, urge overhaul of system

Kansas DCF Counsel Says Privatized Foster Care Lead Agencies’ Bundled Payments May Be A Conflict Of Interest

In testimony to the Kansas Foster Care Adequacy Committee on November 16, 2016, counsel for the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) said the bundled payment structure for state’s current foster care lead agencies contracts could create conflicts of interest. The concern is that the non-profit lead agencies currently have a financial incentive to place children in foster homes recruited by the lead agency, whether or not the foster home is the most appropriate for the child.

More >> Kansas DCF Counsel Says Privatized Foster Care Lead Agencies’ Bundled Payments May Be A Conflict Of Interest

Second wave of stolen generations in WA

In Ann Oakley’s family, child removal runs four generations deep. Like her mother and grandmother, Oakley, 52, was taken away as a small child and placed in state care.

More >> Second wave of stolen generations in WA

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Former owner of adoption agency charged with felony tax evasion

The former owner of a state adoption agency was charged Monday with multiple counts of tax evasion.

More >> Former owner of adoption agency charged with felony tax evasion

Parents Are Suing 1 Hospital After It Had a Stranger Breastfeed the Wrong Baby

After Tammy Van Dyke's baby had to go through a year of HIV testing because of an easily preventable mistake, this mother of two is suing.

More >> Parents Are Suing 1 Hospital After It Had a Stranger Breastfeed the Wrong Baby

Social workers fleeing troubled foster care system

Lousy pay, a toxic workplace and excessive workloads are driving away the people who serve vulnerable kids and their families.

More >> Social workers fleeing troubled foster care system

State foster care turnover rate one of nation’s highest

As the number of foster children in Georgia soars, a state agency continues to struggle with a high turnover rate among the caseworkers who help these kids.

More >> State foster care turnover rate one of nation’s highest

Colorado father's 'epic' eight-year legal battle to win parental rights nears end

Eight years ago, Rob Manzanares was shocked to learn that the mother of his daughter gave birth to her prematurely and put her up for adoption without his knowledge or consent.

More >> Colorado father's 'epic' eight-year legal battle to win parental rights nears end

You don't need a brain in order to be a CPS agent, you just need to fall for their recruitment propaganda

Since I've been doing this blog I've seen lots and lots of bullshit.  This however, takes the cake.

Here I present to you a CPS Worker recruitment video from New York City's Administration for Children's Services.  Pay close attention to how great they make it sound.


They obviously aren't looking for anybody with any understanding of child welfare and how it works. Nope, they're trying to recruit the clueless.  Probably because the clueless are the ones dumb enough to get suckered into this mess.

A quote from this video...
"Once you knock on that door and you show that family that respect, they tend to open their doors and open their arms and welcome you."
Un-flippin-believable!

In nearly 10 years of working on Legally Kidnapped, I have yet to hear from one parent who likes their CPS Worker.  A parent may suck up to the workers face but when they are gone it's a whole different story.  It is also important to note that new CPS Agents can drag out your case as ever changing caseworkers have to get to know you all over again.

There is also evidence to support the argument that these people are full of shit.  For example, here's an article from just a couple months ago from the New York Post...
The heavy grind is contributing to high turnover in the already problem-plagued agency. Nearly one-quarter of the caseworkers have less than a year’s experience at any given time, the report said. 
“The work can be very stressful and is not highly paid,” the ­report notes. 
Low pay, heavy caseloads causing an exodus of child-welfare workers

And here's another from the Daily News which talks about New York City CPS dropping the ball...
ACS boss is MIA: From Myls Dobson to Zymere Perkins, child abuse caseloads continue to rise under her watch
New York City's CPS agency is also being sued in federal court for failing the kids in their care, partially due to the shortage of workers...  
Why NYC's Foster Care System is Failing Children
So as you can see, they're desperate and will probably take anybody.