Mandated reporter charged for allegedly failing to report abuse

A Children and Youth Services worker is facing charges after police say she failed to report the suspected abuse of a 6-year-old.

Barbara Desmond has been a county social worker since 2007, but Wednesday she was charged by Greensburg police.

More >> Mandated reporter charged for allegedly failing to report abuse

What Happens When Educators Fail to Report Child Abuse (Hint: Not Much)

Sweetwater Union High School District officials received an email with detailed information about ongoing sexual abuse of a student by a teacher, but did nothing. La Jolla High School officials believed a teacher’s touching of a student rose to the level of criminal behavior, but don’t appear to have called in Child Protective Services or San Diego police.

More >> What Happens When Educators Fail to Report Child Abuse (Hint: Not Much)

When Schools Use Child Protective Services As A Weapon Against Parents

Tiffany Banks sat in her living room, a ruby-red wall decorated with family photographs behind her, listing all the ways her life had unraveled over the past year. Her 6-year-old son had been removed from her care for more than a month. She was forced to close an in-home child care business, and she’d been temporarily displaced from her preschool teaching job, which she’d held for 17 years. Her teenage daughter refused to talk to the 6-year-old, blaming him for the family’s troubles.

Banks didn’t blame her little boy. She blamed his school, and the investigators from the state’s child welfare agency they’d sent to her door.

More >> When Schools Use Child Protective Services As A Weapon Against Parents

Lawsuit against DCF worker in Sheldon case dismissed

The Vermont Supreme Court ruled Friday that a mandated reporter does not have to report something that has already been reported.

The court threw out a lawsuit against Nicholas Ruggiero, an administrative reviewer for the Vermont Department of Children and Families, by Willis Sheldon, father of the late Dezirae Sheldon.

More >> Lawsuit against DCF worker in Sheldon case dismissed

Schools refer nearly 5,000 more pupils to social services

Schools are sending more vulnerable children to social care services, with more than 119,000 cases last year, the latest government data has revealed.

In 2017-18, schools were responsible for referring 119,030 children in need to social care services, an increase of nearly 4,500 compared with the previous year.

More >> Schools refer nearly 5,000 more pupils to social services

Australian Catholic Church Rejects Reporting Abuse Confessions

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN Australia rejected recommendations to compel priests to report child abuse revealed to them in confessionals.

An investigation by the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse discovered widespread abuse, revealing that approximately 7 percent of the country's priests had been accused of abusing children.

More >> Australian Catholic Church Rejects Reporting Abuse Confessions

A back to school reminder - Teachers are the #1 CPS Rats

The start of a new school year typically conjures memories of yellow school buses in a row, students in a single-file line and fresh crayons, but for the Indiana Department of Child Services, its synonymous with something else – more reports of suspected abuse or neglect.

Data from DCS shows reports of suspected abuse dip in June and July and jump in August when students go back to the classroom. According to the data, in 2017 there were 22,181 reports made in May, 17,696 in June, 17,194 in July and 23,137 in August. Numbers available for 2018 follow a similar pattern: 22,792 reports were made in May. That number dropped to 16,398 in June. Data for July 2018 is not yet available.

More >> Reports of suspected child abuse, neglect increase after summer break

Ask Amy: I Was Accused Of Abuse For Teaching My Child The Facts Of Life

I usually don't post stuff like this, but I think this dad should be filing complaints against this school nurse.  I would.

More >> Ask Amy: I Was Accused Of Abuse For Teaching My Child The Facts Of Life

How Colorado educators fail to report sex abuse of students — and get away with it

Colorado public schools are paying millions to settle lawsuits when educators fail to report sex abuse of students, but those educators avoid legal consequences. This Denver Post investigation explains why.​

More >> How Colorado educators fail to report sex abuse of students — and get away with it

Mandated Reporters - The phone call that can destroy your life

Every CPS intervention begins with a phone call

More >> Mandated Reporters - The phone call that can destroy your life

If child abuse is so rampant, why are prosecutions so rare for those who fail to report it?

If you work with children in your job, California law requires you to report suspected child abuse. But few people are ever prosecuted for failing to alert authorities about their suspicions.

From 2012 to 2017, fewer than a dozen workers in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties were charged by county prosecutors with violating the so-called mandated reporter law. And because violations are only a misdemeanor, those who are prosecuted and convicted virtually always receive light sentences instead of jail time.

More >> If child abuse is so rampant, why are prosecutions so rare for those who fail to report it?

Note: I'll tell you why.  It's because their so overwhelmed with people like the social workers at my child's school who report every little scrape on the knee.

Justices: Teachers Not Required to Report Own Child's Abuse

Teachers in Washington are supposed to tell authorities when they believe a student has suffered abuse or neglect, but the state's Supreme Court ruled Thursday the requirement doesn't necessarily apply when a teacher's own child is the victim.

In an 8-1 ruling, the court dismissed a Pierce County case against a teacher who failed to immediately report that her daughters told her their stepfather had molested them.

More >> Justices: Teachers Not Required to Report Own Child's Abuse

Bill to Criminalize Failure of Educators to Report Suspected Child Abuse Doesn't Pass Maryland House

Maryland legislators ended their 2018 session without passing a high-profile bill to protect against child sex abuse in schools.

The bill would make it a criminal offense if educators fail to report suspected child abuse, punishable by up to six months in jail.

More >> Bill to Criminalize Failure of Educators to Report Suspected Child Abuse Doesn't Pass Maryland House

The Snitches in Your Kids’ Dental Office

Parents who decide, for whatever reason, that they don’t like their children’s oral-care provider should be forewarned. Empowered by government “mandatory reporter” laws, dental offices are now using their authority to threaten families with child-abuse charges if they don’t comply with the cavity police.

More >> The Snitches in Your Kids’ Dental Office

Child Abuse Report Bill Vetoed Over 'Unintended Consequence'

Senate Bill 2460 would have required a person reporting abuse to provide his or her own name, address and telephone number. It said that information would be redacted at the end of an investigation.

However, Bryant says in his veto message Monday that people might stop reporting abuse or neglect if they have to provide their own information. He says it was "a well-intentioned bill with an unintended consequence."

More >> Child Abuse Report Bill Vetoed Over 'Unintended Consequence'

Abuse reporting bills would criminalize teachers

The Maryland Senate recently passed legislation that would turn trusted community members into criminals. The House should not follow suit. The new bills propose criminal penalties for certain classes of people required to report child abuse or neglect who “knowingly” fail to do so. Such “mandatory reporters” include our state’s teachers, counselors, social workers and nurses.


More >> Abuse reporting bills would criminalize teachers

Judge to rule Monday on principal charged with failing to report sex assault allegation

WARWICK, R.I. — A District Court judge will now decide whether a Providence elementary school teacher is guilty of failing to report to the state Department of Children, Youth and Families allegations that a gym teacher sexually abused young girls by groping them last May.

Judge James Caruolo heard impassioned closing arguments Friday in the trial of Harry Kizirian Elementary School Principal Violet LeMar.

More >> Judge to rule Monday on principal charged with failing to report sex assault allegation

Trial begins for school principal charged with failing to report child abuse to DCYF

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The bench trial of a Providence elementary school principal who was charged with failing to contact the R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families about sexual abuse allegations her students made against a teacher started Thursday with two children taking the stand to repeat their claims.

More >> Trial begins for school principal charged with failing to report child abuse to DCYF

LK Report for 8/16/17 - Suing CPS and More...

Here are today's headlines.  

Check back later.  You never know when I might update this post.

http://www.LegallyKidnapped.com

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A woman who works for Child Protective Services has been arrested after she was allegedly caught with heroin in her possession and admitted to regularly smoking methamphetamine with her 14-year-old son.
More >> Child Protective Services worker accused of smoking meth with 14-year-old son

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LINCOLN, Neb. - Four reports from Omaha and one from Holdrege have been received regarding a woman posing as a child protective services employee seeking admission into homes, the Department of Health and Human Services said. More >> Woman posing as Child Protective Services worker tries to enter homes -------------------- While she sought custody of her newborn son during her treatment for methamphetamine addiction and mental health counseling, she got to raise him herself. More >> Can giving babies back sooner to parents in drug treatment be best? A court is trying it. ---------------------- As the nation's opioid crisis has deepened, the number of drug treatment centers for pregnant women has grown. But experts and advocates say there aren't enough services for pregnant women to meet the demand, and many don't offer the drugs doctors would normally use to treat addiction because they are concerned about the effects they might have on a fetus. And some laws requiring that babies going through withdrawal be removed from their mother's care can be a deterrent to seeking help, they said. More >> Pregnant women addicted to opioids face tough choices -------------------- A SOCIAL worker has been struck off after he allegedly told a highly vulnerable child to self harm. David Steare was alleged to have told the youngster to ‘only cut’ herself on alternate days at set times, with her mother there to treat her wounds. More >> Social worker struck off after allegedly telling vulnerable child to self-harm --------------------- South Africa’s child protection system is failing its children‚ says World Vision South Africa. “Despite comprehensive law and policy regulations‚ the lack of inter-sectoral collaboration has led to very low cross-referrals between social services and the SAPS‚” the humanitarian and child advocacy organisation said on Wednesday. More >> SA child protection system failing its children – World Vision SA ---------------------- Raising the minimum wage by $1 per hour would result in a substantial decrease in the number of reported cases of child neglect, according to a new study co-authored by an Indiana University researcher. More >> Raising the minimum wage would reduce child neglect cases ----------------------- DES MOINES, IOWA  --  Iowa jurors awarded Heidi and Rachel McFarland $3.25 million, saying they believe Des Moines adoption attorney Jason Reiper failed to file crucial adoption paperwork in a timely fashion, which ultimately led to the loss of their child. More >> Ankeny Couple Awarded Millions in Adoption Malpractice Lawsuit ------------------------ ASHLEY — A local mother filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging Luzerne County Children and Youth Services put her two children into a home where they were physically and sexually abused by an adopted child. More >> Woman says CYS put her children in abusive home

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A 19-year-old who says she suffered years of abuse at the hands of her adoptive mother filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and outrageous conduct.

More >> Iowa teen files civil suit against mother convicted of abuse
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TOPEKA (TNS) — Kansas is asking that reports of child abuse and neglect be made by phone for now because of computer problems.

More >> DCF taking reports by phone due to computer issues
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The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the state's child welfare agency cannot vaccinate children placed temporarily in its custody when the parents object.

More >> Court: State can't vaccinate kids in temporary custody

• Conn. Supreme Court: DCF Can't Mandate Vaccinations Over Parental Rights

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The British Columbia Court of Appeal has determined that a child’s Indigenous heritage does not attract a “super-weight” over other factors in adoption in a decision the birth mother plans to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

More >> B.C. court rules Indigenous heritage doesn’t override child’s best interest in adoption
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Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea holds a very strong opinion in regards to removing music education from schools. The bassist sat down with Rolling Stone to give his thoughts on politicians looking to cut funding for such programs, stating: "It's child abuse. It's just plain wrong."

More >> RHCP’s Flea says removing music education from schools is “child abuse”

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A SENIOR Catholic priest has argued lifting the seal of confession and forcing clergy to report admissions of child sex abuse would make children more vulnerable.

More >> Senior priest claims breaking confessional seal could make children more vulnerable

LK Daily Report for 7/26/17 - Share this post so we can enlighten the sheep about the CPS mess...

Here are the headlines for today.  Check back soon!

This post could be updated at any time throughout the day.

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One of the foster brothers of slain Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer is to be sentenced in a Logan court.

Joshua Thorburn, 21, pleaded guilty in November 2016 to charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice following the death of Tiahleigh in October 2015.

More >> Sentencing for Tiahleigh's foster brother

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The state Children, Youth and Families Department has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit brought by a Washington state family who alleged the state agency failed to properly screen a Clovis-area foster couple accused of raping some of the children in their care, including a boy the couple later adopted.

More >> CYFD settles suit over sexually abused adopted child

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Just under 2,100 Pennsylvania newborns whose mothers had Medicaid were diagnosed with narcotics withdrawal syndrome last year, but only 972 infants were reported to county child welfare authorities as having been exposed to drugs in the womb. 

More >> Pennsylvania law keeps some drug-exposed infants off child welfare radar, advocates say

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In a previous column about the harm done to battered women and their children by child protective services agencies, I told the story of Sharwline Nicholson, lead plaintiff in a successful class-action lawsuit to stop the child protective services agency in New York City from taking children just because their mothers had been beaten. 

More >> Domestic Violence Survivors Say Mandatory Reporting Laws Made Their Lives Worse

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Maisha Joefield thought she was getting by pretty well as a young single mother in Brooklyn, splurging on her daughter, Deja, even though money was tight. When Deja was a baby, she bought her Luvs instead of generic diapers when she could. When her daughter got a little older, Ms. Joefield outfitted the bedroom in their apartment with a princess bed for Deja, while she slept on a pullout couch.

More >> In Case You Missed It: NY Times and DPA: Foster Care as Punishment: The New Reality of ‘Jane Crow’

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The details in the more than a thousand pages of documents the Department of Children and Families began releasing Monday are heart wrenching.

More >> Reports show Nubia Barahona abused since birth