Massachusetts House votes to require more reporting from Department of Children and Families on foster care system; wellness bill passes 156-0

The Massachusetts House on Wednesday passed a bill that would require the Department of Children and Families to report on its efforts to improve the foster care system, in light of a litany of complaints from foster parents.

The Republican/MassLive.com reported earlier this year on a number of foster parents who complained of disrespectful treatment, a lack of information and bureaucratic hurdles from DCF. Parents said they were not given information about children’s medical records or court dates and about what resources were available to help them care for children.

More >> Massachusetts House votes to require more reporting from Department of Children and Families on foster care system; wellness bill passes 156-0

Foster father accused of raping, assaulting children

A Chelsea man was arraigned Monday after he was accused of sexually assaulting his two foster children.

Michael Diaz, 33, was arrested July 19 on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, six counts of aggravated rape of a child under 16 and one count of distribution matter harmful to a minor.

More >> Foster father accused of raping, assaulting children

• Chelsea Man Charged With Raping His 2 Foster Children

Bill protects parents with disabilities in custody cases

Parents with disabilities delivered emotional testimony to lawmakers, urging passage of a bill they said would protect them from discrimination in child custody cases.

Bills filed by Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Kay Khan (S 983, H 1487) would prohibit a parent's disability from being used as a negative factor in custody matters without a written, evidence-based finding from a court showing "the nexus between the parent's disability, or its manifestations, and harm to the child," and whether that harm could be prevented with adaptive equipment or supportive services.

More >> Bill protects parents with disabilities in custody cases

Should siblings be kept together in foster care?

Should siblings be kept together in foster care?

That is the conversation Massachusetts lawmakers are having as they consider a bill that would require the state Department of Children and Families to prioritize sibling unity.

More >> Should siblings be kept together in foster care?

Clive McFarlane: Worcester family has troubling encounter with Dept. of Children and Families

The Department of Children and Families’ mission, as one of its officials told me, “is first and foremost to protect children from abuse and neglect.”

That focus is understandable, given the many horror stories of child abuse and neglect that’s been chronicled in this state over the years, and it explains why DCF is providing services and support to approximately 45,000 children under 18 and their families in the commonwealth.

More >> Clive McFarlane: Worcester family has troubling encounter with Dept. of Children and Families

Juvenile female and 2-year old son missing from Fairhaven foster home

A juvenile female went missing/runaway from a Fairhaven foster home on Saturday, July 6, 2019, with her 2-year-old son. They may be with the child’s paternal grandfather who works in Bourne and has been seen there in the past few days. His last known address was in New Bedford and is believed to have been there recently. He may also be working along the waterfront or fish houses in New Bedford.

More >> Juvenile female and 2-year old son missing from Fairhaven foster home

Sisters Separated After Adoption Reunite At Logan Airport

It was a meeting nearly 70 years in the making. Two sisters, one from Massachusetts, met for the first time– and they had a lot of catching up to do.

It was an overwhelming moment at Logan airport Tuesday morning as 71-year-old Cori Rowe from Lynn met the sister she never knew she had.

More >> Sisters Separated After Adoption Reunite At Logan Airport

15-month-old foster child may have been exposed to fentanyl before death, sources say

Authorities in Massachusetts are investigating the death of a 15-month-old girl who died at Lawrence hospital over the weekend.

More >> 15-month-old foster child may have been exposed to fentanyl before death, sources say

Essex DA investigating deaths of 3 babies involving DCF

The Essex County District Attorney's Office has launched an investigation into the deaths of three babies involving the Department of Children and Families.

The first case in the investigation refers to the death of a 4-week-old boy in Haverhill on April 18, 2019, who was reported to emergency services as unresponsive and rushed to Holy Family at Merrimack Valley Hospital.

More >> Essex DA investigating deaths of 3 babies involving DCF

DA: Investigation underway after 15-month-old foster child dies at Lawrence hospital

An investigation is underway after a 15-month-old baby girl in foster care died at Lawrence General Hospital over the weekend, officials announced Wednesday.

The baby’s foster father called the Lawrence Police Department around 8:55 a.m. on Sunday and reported that the child was unresponsive, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.

More >> DA: Investigation underway after 15-month-old foster child dies at Lawrence hospital

• 15-month-old girl in foster care dies at hospital, DA says
• State Investigates Deaths Of 3 Babies In DCF Care
• Toddler Dies In Lawrence Foster Home
• Prosecutors Investigate Recent Deaths of 5 Children

Auditor says DCF needs to do more to help kids aging out of system

Abused for much of their young lives, it's not surprising that many former foster children struggle as young adults.

Now the state auditor tells 5 Investigates there are far too many children not getting the support they need.

More >> Auditor says DCF needs to do more to help kids aging out of system

Governor vows to re-examine foster home abuse case

The governor is launching a review into that horrific case of abuse in a state licensed foster home 5 Investigates exposed last week.

The victims say what they went through was more than abuse, it was torture.

More >> Governor vows to re-examine foster home abuse case

7Investigates: Foster Children’s Money

Millions of dollars taken from children in Massachusetts. Investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan found some call a secret system. Who is getting their money, and why? 7 Investigates.

More >> 7Investigates: Foster Children’s Money

Opinion: Long waits for intensive foster care homes are routine for state’s most-wounded children

Some suffer from serious medical conditions. Some have been left alone in their homes for days at a time or have had to call 911 because a parent has overdosed on drugs. Others have suffered physical or emotional abuse at the hands of a trusted adult.

These children’s stories all are different, but what they have in common is the experience of severe trauma that has denied them a secure place in a loving home with people they can rely on.

More >> Opinion: Long waits for intensive foster care homes are routine for state’s most-wounded children

Lawmaker blasts state for foster home abuse case

A state representative is lashing out at the Department of Children and Families and the criminal justice system for their handling of the horrific case of abuse inside a central Massachusetts foster home.

"This case was really covered up, brushed under the rug, and it's just a travesty all around," said state Rep. Shaunna O'Connell.

More >> Lawmaker blasts state for foster home abuse case

Former foster children say they endured abuse for years

5 Investigates a horrific case of abuse that's been kept hidden for years by the state and in courts. The abuse all involves a single foster home in Massachusetts and at least six children.

More >> Former foster children say they endured abuse for years

Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, union announce reforms to improve troubled foster care system

Amid ongoing problems with the state’s foster care system, the Department of Children and Families on Tuesday announced an agreement with the union representing the agency’s workers to review staffing and provide more resources to foster parents and social workers.

Gov. Charlie Baker said he believes the reforms will result in “a big improvement in the way the department works and the way it serves kids and families.”

More >> Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, union announce reforms to improve troubled foster care system

Too Many Kids, Too Few Judges Mean Delays In Child Welfare Cases In Worcester County

Guy O'Donnell is sitting in the Worcester courthouse, waiting for a decision that's been put off several times before.

O'Donnell is waiting to learn if the court will set a hearing date for him and his spouse to begin formal adoption proceedings for the two children who've been living with them for the past two years.

More >> Too Many Kids, Too Few Judges Mean Delays In Child Welfare Cases In Worcester County

’There’s no way for us to learn how to live’: Foster children who age out of care suffer later in life

Nelly Medina was 9 when her mother, who was addicted to drugs, left her and her two siblings and did not come home.

By the time Medina turned 18, she had lived in 14 foster homes and attended 10 public schools. She asked to be emancipated at 16 so she could abort a pregnancy. She ultimately miscarried.

More >> ’There’s no way for us to learn how to live’: Foster children who age out of care suffer later in life

'I felt constantly lied to’: Massachusetts foster parents say state makes it harder to help vulnerable children

One day, a social worker picked up Marianna Litovich’s foster son from daycare and kept the boy for four hours before bringing him home. The social worker refused to tell Litovich where she had taken the boy.

“I was told I had no right to know. I was immediately demoted from parent to babysitter,” said Litovich, of South Hadley, who has adopted two children through the Department of Children and Families and hopes to adopt a third.

More >> 'I felt constantly lied to’: Massachusetts foster parents say state makes it harder to help vulnerable children