New Hampshire's attorney general launched an investigation Thursday into the state youth detention center after two former counselors were charged with raping a teenage boy 82 times, at least once at gunpoint, in the late 1990s.
The "comprehensive, multi-faceted" investigation into the Sununu Youth Services Center will initially focus on the center's operations and employees from 1990 to 2000 and will address whether other children were physically or sexually abused, and whether other laws were broken, Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said in a news release.
More >> Ex-youth center workers accused of rape; state investigates
Showing posts with label New Hampshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Hampshire. Show all posts
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Foster mom says library policy prohibiting visits between foster kids and birth parents discriminatory
For many years, Abbey Clegg would take the children she fostered to the Manchester Public Library to meet with their birth mothers.
It is a quiet and safe place and one where birth mother and child could bond over the love of reading.
All that changed, however, last December when the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) sent foster parents an email informing them that they could no longer have supervised visits at the library.
It is a quiet and safe place and one where birth mother and child could bond over the love of reading.
All that changed, however, last December when the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) sent foster parents an email informing them that they could no longer have supervised visits at the library.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
‘All She Wanted Was to Be a Mom’: Adoptive Parents Allegedly Murdered by 11-Year-Old
As police investigate a pair of murders in a tiny New Hampshire town, residents are coming to terms with the shocking nature of the crime: a child is accused of fatally shooting a couple one cloudy Friday morning inside their rural home.
The 911 call came around 7:30 a.m. on March 15. Cops arrived to the Eckert family’s farm and discovered Lizette, a 50-year-old mother of three, dead of a gunshot wound. Her husband James, 48, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He died later that evening.
More >> ‘All She Wanted Was to Be a Mom’: Adoptive Parents Allegedly Murdered by 11-Year-Old
The 911 call came around 7:30 a.m. on March 15. Cops arrived to the Eckert family’s farm and discovered Lizette, a 50-year-old mother of three, dead of a gunshot wound. Her husband James, 48, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He died later that evening.
More >> ‘All She Wanted Was to Be a Mom’: Adoptive Parents Allegedly Murdered by 11-Year-Old
Friday, February 22, 2019
State rep 'blown away' over billing practices of child services
A lawmaker who chairs the House Child and Family Law Committee said he was “blown away” to find out that the state bills parents who receive help from the state for their children, charging for everything from foster care to expensive incarcerations at the Sununu Youth Services Center.
On Sunday, the New Hampshire Sunday News reported the long-standing practice of billing families. Nearly 4,000 accounts are active, and three parents spoke of receiving bills they had not expected when they agreed to services such as Children in Need of Services (CHINS).
More >> State rep 'blown away' over billing practices of child services
On Sunday, the New Hampshire Sunday News reported the long-standing practice of billing families. Nearly 4,000 accounts are active, and three parents spoke of receiving bills they had not expected when they agreed to services such as Children in Need of Services (CHINS).
More >> State rep 'blown away' over billing practices of child services
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Watchdog report over points to lingering problems at DCYF
Two years after a critical audit called for an overhaul of the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families, the agency is still beset by staffing and resource problems, a state watchdog has concluded after a nine-month review.
In its first annual report, the Office of the Child Advocate warned that staff shortages and inefficient policies are preventing the state from quickly opening and completing assessments, leaving many of the state’s children vulnerable to harm.
More >> Watchdog report over points to lingering problems at DCYF
In its first annual report, the Office of the Child Advocate warned that staff shortages and inefficient policies are preventing the state from quickly opening and completing assessments, leaving many of the state’s children vulnerable to harm.
More >> Watchdog report over points to lingering problems at DCYF
Monday, November 26, 2018
HUD Funding Helps Foster Children Reunite With Families
New Hampshire is getting nearly $600,000 in federal funding that will go toward helping reunite children in foster care with their families.
The $544,968 from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was awarded to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. They will spend the funding on 64 vouchers for families whose housing problems contributed to them being separated from their children. The funding's offered through HUD's Family Unification Program. Among those targeted are young people found to be at risk of homelessness.
More >> HUD Funding Helps Foster Children Reunite With Families
The $544,968 from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was awarded to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. They will spend the funding on 64 vouchers for families whose housing problems contributed to them being separated from their children. The funding's offered through HUD's Family Unification Program. Among those targeted are young people found to be at risk of homelessness.
More >> HUD Funding Helps Foster Children Reunite With Families
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Review finds New Hampshire child protection lacking
New Hampshire's child protection division is meeting just two out of 14 national standards regarding the outcomes it achieves and the systems it has in place, according to a federal agency's report issued Friday.
The U.S. Administration for Children and Families reviewed 65 New Hampshire child welfare cases from the last year and interviewed child welfare workers, attorneys for parents and child and others. It found the state Division of Children, Youth and Families wasn't in substantial conformity with any of its seven outcome standards, including protecting children from abuse and neglect; keeping them in their homes whenever possible; and ensuring they get adequate medical and mental health services.
More >> Review finds New Hampshire child protection lacking
The U.S. Administration for Children and Families reviewed 65 New Hampshire child welfare cases from the last year and interviewed child welfare workers, attorneys for parents and child and others. It found the state Division of Children, Youth and Families wasn't in substantial conformity with any of its seven outcome standards, including protecting children from abuse and neglect; keeping them in their homes whenever possible; and ensuring they get adequate medical and mental health services.
More >> Review finds New Hampshire child protection lacking
Monday, August 13, 2018
Father of young Manchester girl who died during abuse investigation sues state, DCYF
The father of a young girl who died while her child abuse case was under investigation is suing the state and its child protective services, claiming negligence that contributed to the girl’s death.
The lawsuit was filed Monday by Bedford attorney Rus Rilee on behalf of Christopher Willott, father of Sadence (Sadee) Willott, who died on Sept. 7, 2015 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon after she was found unresponsive at her Belmont Street home in Manchester.
More >> Father of young Manchester girl who died during abuse investigation sues state, DCYF
The lawsuit was filed Monday by Bedford attorney Rus Rilee on behalf of Christopher Willott, father of Sadence (Sadee) Willott, who died on Sept. 7, 2015 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon after she was found unresponsive at her Belmont Street home in Manchester.
More >> Father of young Manchester girl who died during abuse investigation sues state, DCYF
Saturday, August 04, 2018
Learning the right lessons from foster care tragedy
ONE NEED ONLY READ the Union Leader’s searing account of the horrible abuse of a young foster child — and the allegedly slipshod quick-and-dirty process by which the foster home was licensed — to understand why the New Hampshire Division of Children Youth and Families and the private agency involved in the case tried desperately to prevent the public from finding out about it.
Fortunately, the Union Leader fought for the public’s right to know and won. Now that the people of New Hampshire know, they can act. But how? The right kind of action requires reconsidering assumptions that have dominated the child welfare debate in New Hampshire for years. Those false assumptions helped get the state into this mess in the first place.
More >> Learning the right lessons from foster care tragedy
Fortunately, the Union Leader fought for the public’s right to know and won. Now that the people of New Hampshire know, they can act. But how? The right kind of action requires reconsidering assumptions that have dominated the child welfare debate in New Hampshire for years. Those false assumptions helped get the state into this mess in the first place.
More >> Learning the right lessons from foster care tragedy
Monday, July 23, 2018
NH settles another child abuse lawsuit
A 22-month-old boy suffered traumatic brain injury at the hands of foster parents whose license was rushed through by child protection workers, according to records and reports contained in a lawsuit brought by his mother.
Allegations in the 3-year-old case include claims that a private social service agency based in Northfield, the Spaulding Youth Center, ignored proper procedures for investigating the foster home and missed obvious red flags. In doing so, child-protection workers placed the toddler and his days-old sister in a foster home headed by a foster mom with family problems who had previously experienced the death of a baby under her foster care.
More >> NH settles another child abuse lawsuit
Allegations in the 3-year-old case include claims that a private social service agency based in Northfield, the Spaulding Youth Center, ignored proper procedures for investigating the foster home and missed obvious red flags. In doing so, child-protection workers placed the toddler and his days-old sister in a foster home headed by a foster mom with family problems who had previously experienced the death of a baby under her foster care.
More >> NH settles another child abuse lawsuit
Friday, June 01, 2018
DCYF struggles to improve, as bad news keeps coming
The state is about to pay $6.7 million to settle what amounts to a malpractice lawsuit against its child protective service agency, the Division for Children, Youth and Families, stemming from a horrific case of child sexual abuse involving two young girls who were supposed to be under the agency’s protection.
Yet in the past legislative session, lawmakers balked at spending $5 million to hire enough social workers to prevent such abuse in the future. Dr. Lawrence Shulman of Grantham, a member of the DCYF Advisory Board, expressed his frustration over the issue at the May 21 board meeting, with DCYF Director Joe Ribsam.
More >> DCYF struggles to improve, as bad news keeps coming
Yet in the past legislative session, lawmakers balked at spending $5 million to hire enough social workers to prevent such abuse in the future. Dr. Lawrence Shulman of Grantham, a member of the DCYF Advisory Board, expressed his frustration over the issue at the May 21 board meeting, with DCYF Director Joe Ribsam.
More >> DCYF struggles to improve, as bad news keeps coming
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Lawyers for abused girls to get 40 percent $6.75M settlement
Lawyers for two young sisters who were sexually abused by their parents while in foster care deserve 40 percent of the $6.75 million settlement they reached with New Hampshire's child protection agency, a judge ruled Friday.
That amounts to $2.7 million for attorney Rus Rilee and two colleagues who have spent four years representing the girls and their grandparents, forgoing other clients and earning no income for several years. Judge Gillian Abramson said the lawyers deserve more than the usual 25 percent fee because their work led to greater public accountability in such cases and because the grandparents strongly agreed with the higher amount.
More >> Lawyers for abused girls to get 40 percent $6.75M settlement
That amounts to $2.7 million for attorney Rus Rilee and two colleagues who have spent four years representing the girls and their grandparents, forgoing other clients and earning no income for several years. Judge Gillian Abramson said the lawyers deserve more than the usual 25 percent fee because their work led to greater public accountability in such cases and because the grandparents strongly agreed with the higher amount.
More >> Lawyers for abused girls to get 40 percent $6.75M settlement
Sunday, May 06, 2018
New Hampshire to pay abused girls, family $6.75 million
The state of New Hampshire has agreed to pay $6.75 million to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of two young sisters who were sexually abused by their biological parents while in foster care.
The girls' grandparents sued the Division for Children, Youth and Families in 2016, alleging the parents were allowed to have unsupervised visits with the girls in 2013, even though police were investigating reports they had molested other children at a homeless shelter.
More >> New Hampshire to pay abused girls, family $6.75 million
The girls' grandparents sued the Division for Children, Youth and Families in 2016, alleging the parents were allowed to have unsupervised visits with the girls in 2013, even though police were investigating reports they had molested other children at a homeless shelter.
More >> New Hampshire to pay abused girls, family $6.75 million
Thursday, May 03, 2018
Promotion Problems: DCYF Worker Charged with Assault Declines Director Spot
A worker for the state's Division for Children, Youth & Families who received a recent promotion declined the position Wednesday after several people expressed concerns about her pending assault charges.
Brookline police arrested Sherry Ermel, an administrator for DCYF in November. Ermel is accused of throwing a mug at her wife and hitting her in the back and then preventing her from calling 911.
More >> Promotion Problems: DCYF Worker Charged with Assault Declines Director Spot
Wednesday, May 02, 2018
New DCYF deputy director was arrested on assault charge last year
A spokesman from the governor’s office said the office has questions and concerns for the Department of Health and Human Services after a Division of Children, Youth and Families employee who was arrested on a domestic violence charge last year got a promotion.
More >> New DCYF deputy director was arrested on assault charge last year
Tuesday, April 03, 2018
Settlement reached in child sex abuse suit against DCYF
A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit brought against the state Division of Children, Youth and Families over a "horrific" case of parental child sex abuse - and a judge has sealed the documents.
The settlement agreement, if approved by the court, would resolve all claims against all the parties, according to those familiar with the case.
More >> Settlement reached in child sex abuse suit against DCYF
The settlement agreement, if approved by the court, would resolve all claims against all the parties, according to those familiar with the case.
More >> Settlement reached in child sex abuse suit against DCYF
Friday, March 02, 2018
N.H. Office of the Child Advocate investigating DCYF after Derry murder-suicide
State officials said Thursday that 6-year-old Preston Connor Edmunds' life might have been saved if prevention services had been available through the Division of Child, Youth and Family Services.
More >> N.H. Office of the Child Advocate investigating DCYF after Derry murder-suicide
Monday, February 26, 2018
Father of murdered Nashua toddler sues state agency
MANCHESTER — The state’s child protective service agency is facing another lawsuit over its handling of child abuse allegations.
Attorney Rus Rilee of Bedford confirmed on Friday that he has filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Superior Court on behalf of the father of 3-year-old Brielle Gage, of Nashua, whose mother is now serving 45 years to life for second-degree murder in the case.
More >> Father of murdered Nashua toddler sues state agency
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Foster parents call for better treatment by DCYF
Foster parents Dylan and Jaime Remenar take helpless children in crisis into their home, and are trusted with some of the state's most challenging cases.
On Tuesday, the Belmont couple spoke out against what they say is mistreatment of foster parents by the state agency assigned to protect children in New Hampshire, the Division for Children, Youth and Families.
More >> Foster parents call for better treatment by DCYF
On Tuesday, the Belmont couple spoke out against what they say is mistreatment of foster parents by the state agency assigned to protect children in New Hampshire, the Division for Children, Youth and Families.
More >> Foster parents call for better treatment by DCYF
Monday, November 13, 2017
LAWMAKER ATTACKS HOMESCHOOLING AS 'CHILD ABUSE'
About five years ago, lawmakers in New Hampshire approved a series of changes to improve their citizens’ access to homeschooling, but they now appear to be preparing to roll back those improvements.
More >> LAWMAKER ATTACKS HOMESCHOOLING AS 'CHILD ABUSE'
More >> LAWMAKER ATTACKS HOMESCHOOLING AS 'CHILD ABUSE'
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