Richard Wexler Retires

Richard Wexler Retires

Richard Wexler is leaving his work and NCCPR to pursue a career in another field. The blog post below is his last as an advocate for child protection reform.

Note: No worries everybody.  You still got me.

http://www.nccprblog.org/2012/03/thanks-for-4683-gifts.html

Foster care in America: A Nebraska caseworker gives away the game

Foster care in America: A Nebraska caseworker gives away the game

When it comes to the all-time Child Protective Services Excuse Hit Parade this item almost always is in the top three: “We can’t take away children,” says the caseworker or the supervisor or the agency flack or the agency director. “Only a judge has the power to do that. The courts make these decisions.”

Over-Reporting Can Lead To Worse Outcomes For At-Risk Kids

Over-Reporting Can Lead To Worse Outcomes For At-Risk Kids

Reporting anything and everything to DSS is not being cautious. On the contrary, it is a profoundly reckless act. It exposes hundreds of innocent children to the enormous trauma of a child abuse investigation or worse, needless placement in foster care. At the same time, it overloads caseworkers so they have even less time to find children in real danger.

Note: You go Wex!

Forced abuse-reporting bill could overwhelm cops, CYS COMMENTARY Richard Wexler

Forced abuse-reporting bill could overwhelm cops, CYS COMMENTARY Richard Wexler

SOME LOCAL police chiefs say they have no problem with legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Robert Casey of Scranton that would force everyone to report any suspicion of child abuse to child protective services agencies or to police

More Mandated Child Abuse Reporting Would Be Worst Response to Penn State Scandal

More Mandated Child Abuse Reporting Would Be Worst Response to Penn State Scandal

The worst response to the child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State University would be to rush to broaden laws requiring people to report their slightest suspicions of child maltreatment, according to a national non-profit child advocacy group.

Who is in foster care? The lie at the heart of CR’s fundraising campaign

Perhaps Mr Wexler should call it what it is. Fraud!

Who is in foster care? The lie at the heart of CR’s fundraising campaign

Although I do respect his work and would like to thank him for his continuing contribution to Child Welfare Reform as well as the wonderful information that he has shared with us over the years and all of his efforts fighting for the rights of children and families... There are two areas where I totally disagree with Richard Wexler. The first is his take on the State of Maine's child welfare system, the second is his view regarding the "good but misguided intentions or incompetence" of those who work for or in the system.

I will address the latter first. You see, although I honestly believe that no child protective / foster care / adoption worker goes into it thinking "Oh boy, I get to steal children," as most were sold on the same kinds of lies that Mr. Wexler claims Children Rights is trying to sell you. Many do go into it with good intentions. And although Children Rights may have some good intention, they also have something to gain by promoting the view that they do, you know like long-term federal oversight contracts and such. I wouldn't even try to tell you that every single foster parent out there is in it for the money, because that's simply not true. Some really do want to help children and others go into it with the intention of adopting a child and some, of course, are pedophiles who have discovered an easy method of access to children. But not all of them are in it for the money you see.

However, I do think that the number one reason for the high turnover rates in child welfare are due to good and well intentioned people coming to the realization that they were scammed into a child stealing operation that conflicts with their personal morals and values, causing them to get out while there is still a shred of their soul left to save. Those who are in it for the long haul are a totally different breed. Take into consideration the "Queen of Removal" or the "Terminator" and try to convince anybody with half a brain that people like that are well intentioned but misguided or incompetent. Then take into account the fact that such titles are considered an honor in the first place. To me that's just downright sadistic.

So although we must give credit to the harm caused by the well intentioned but incompetent, for reasons which I am about to explain, we can not disregard the fact that not all of their intentions are pure.

Now onto the second issue, unlike Mr Wexler, I speak from the personal experience of of dealing with a sadistic bitch of a worker who got off on the power trip. Oh sure, when she was in front of anybody who mattered, like a judge or her supervisor or our counselors, just to name a few, she played the kind caring worker who just wanted to help. When she would come to our home for a visit however, she was a totally different person engaging in a psychological beat down on my wife, and clearly loving every minute of it. And God forbid I ever tell you that her name was ****** *******, and that she hails in, guess where??? MAINE.

And God forbid I tell you that 10 years after this bitch got my wifes rights terminated, I met my step son for the first time, at the age of 13 and found out just how he had been treated during his 11 years in Maine's foster care system, and that in doing so, I feel that I can also speak with some kind of authority when I say that Maine is far from on the right track. Why? Because Maine's National Model Child Welfare System, long after 2003 became the inspiration for Legally Kidnapped. And Maine's continuing efforts at improvement have not addressed many of key the issues that plague every child welfare system in the country if not the world. Issues such as how to adequately care for the children who ARE in the system so that they can have many of the same chances at life as any other kid.

So while I do agree with the Wex that the State of Maine has made great strides in improving SOME areas of their child welfare system, and I'm not even against pointing out the positive changes that the state has made as I have been posting the articles pertaining to the media's celebration of the 10th anniversary of the death of Logan Marr and their use of this poor innocent child and her mother to exploit the much needed improvements that they have achieved, which was more to shut up people like Mary Callahan who was coming at them from multiple directions than anything else. I would, however like to take this opportunity to explain what the Wex won't tell you.

Maine still treats it's foster children and their families like crap!

Yes folks, they still get bounced around from home to home, and while Maine is improving it's methods of acquisition and gaining national attention as a "National Model" child welfare system, they are still actively engaged in covering up the fraud, waste, mismanagement, and are still psychologically, chemically and physically abusing the children in their care. Yup, they still have no problem separating siblings just to get that little boost to their adoption numbers. No it's not uncommon for a foster child in Maine to experience 14 or 15 different placements. Yes many of these kids still get booted out at the ripe old age of 18 ultimately ending up on the streets or in jail. Yes people, service providers still make their money off of the system. But shhhhh. It's a secret.

And get this. If I tell you all about my step-son's experience in the Maine foster care system which does include sexual and physical abuse and long term institutionalization, multiple placements, physical restraints and lots and lots of little pills, I could get a $500 dollar fine and up to 30 days in jail.

So while I would love to challenge Mr Wexler to go to Maine and talk with some of the families and children who have been directly involved and victimized by Maine's "National Model" child welfare system. It will never happen because he would have to acknowledge my criticism. In fact he rarely acknowledges the work of anybody else who is out there fighting for change. Especially somebody like me simply because some of his readers might be interested in what others have to say. He wouldn't want to share the spotlight as the worlds only national expert on child welfare reform, not that I have ever claimed to be an expert on anything because I'm not.

I'm just a humble blogger doing my thang.

"Well intentioned," my ass. This is redirection. Take the focus of the bad by continuously pumping the good.

Maine Voices: Endangered kids need new approach

Attn: Richard Wexler!!!

Are you gonna let these ladies talk to you like this?

Ellen Hernandez/Francis Murphy: In defense of child shelters

And what about this from last week? Or did I miss something?

Taking toys from foster kids won't fix D.C. child services

Come on Wex!!! You da man!!!

(update: Oops. The comment he left did not show up the first time I was there. My bad or their server, whatever.)

System Suck Marcia Robinson Lowry from Childrens Rights Attacks The Wex

Usually it's the other way around. You know, the Wex accusing Children's Rights of not doing enough to keep kids out of foster care in the first place.

Taking toys from foster kids won't fix D.C. child services

In light of the difficult decisions reflected in the budget amendments passed last month by the D.C. Council, it is particularly important to ensure that the discussion of budget cuts affecting vulnerable children and families is as accurate as possible.

Note: Can't we just all get along?

And the Wex goes off on Iowa's Child Abuse Registry.

National child welfare advocate responds to child abuse registry news

Richard Wexler, executive director of the Virginia-based National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, had this to say about the Iowa Department of Human Services’ plan for the state child abuse registry:

“What it boils down to is: They are willing to do nothing.

Note: It's a well intentioned but dysfunctional system, doncha know.

Don’t Confuse Poverty with Neglect

Don’t Confuse Poverty with Neglect

Though your story about foster care in Alexandria is headlined "Foster Care System Needs More Parents" a better headline would be "Foster Care System Needs to Take Away Fewer Children."

Curbing needless foster care: Does the Obama Administration even have a clue?

Curbing needless foster care: Does the Obama Administration even have a clue?

INDIFFERENCE AND/OR HOSTILITY THREATEN CHILD WELFARE WAIVERS

Ok, I get that with two wars, the worst environmental disaster in our history, health care, the economy, etc. President Obama may not be paying a lot of attention to child welfare. But is it too much to ask that his administration not make things even worse?

Georgia Child Welfare Reforms Endangered by New Litigation

Georgia Child Welfare Reforms Endangered by New Litigation

Legal action by a group that calls itself “Children’s Rights” (CR) threatens child welfare reforms that have made Georgia’s children safer, a national child advocacy group said Tuesday.

Federal Court Orders State to Cover More Foster Care Costs

Federal Court Orders State to Cover More Foster Care Costs

Child welfare systems don't work, despite defense

Child welfare systems don't work, despite defense

Re: "Allow Colorado's county-based child welfare system to work as designed," Dec. 31 guest commentary.

Ever since the great "state vs. county" debate broke out over Colorado child welfare, I've maintained it's a sideshow wasting everyone's time and effort. Among the nation's best — and worst — systems are some run by states and some run by counties.

The children who don’t matter to “Every Child Matters”

The children who don’t matter to “Every Child Matters”

THE NET OF VOLUNTARY HELP TO FAMILIES SHOULD BE CAST WIDE. BUT THE NET OF COERCIVE INTERVENTION INTO FAMILIES SHOULD BE NARROW.

A family is gagged - pass it on!

A family is gagged - pass it on!

Yesterday, I had the honor of being one of the speakers at a public forum in Omaha organized by the Family Advocacy Movement, a grassroots group organized by families affected by Nebraska's "Safe Haven" debacle last year, and families with similar issues.

National Coalition for Child Protection Reform Criticizes Michigan's Child Welfare Efforts

National Coalition for Child Protection Reform Criticizes Michigan's Child Welfare Efforts

A national child advocacy group has issued a report criticizing the state for proposing cuts to programs that prevent child abuse and increasing funding to groups that institutionalize children.

Case of Park Avenue Lawyer Shows Double Standards in Child Welfare, National Child Advocacy Group Says

Case of Park Avenue Lawyer Shows Double Standards in Child Welfare, National Child Advocacy Group Says

Cycle of Failure

Cycle of Failure

HOW MICHIGAN KEEPS “THROWING THE FIGHT” FOR CHILDREN – AND HOW TO MAKE THE STATE A CONTENDER AGAIN

WEXLER: Keeping kids with families is best

WEXLER: Keeping kids with families is best

Child exploitation takes many forms. But one of the worst is exploiting a tragedy to divert scarce resources into failed programs.

That's exactly what the man in charge of raising money for one such program, a residential treatment center, did in his recent Speakout column in the Rocky Mountain News.