Unpaid staff desperate as Gauteng Social Development begins forensic investigation of Child Welfare Kagiso

The Department of Social Development in Gauteng (GDSD) has launched a forensic investigation to trace what happened to funds that went missing at Child Welfare Kagiso in the 2017/18 financial year. It is looking at how it will help staff members unpaid for more than a year who have stuck with the centre and performed their duties despite the challenges they’ve faced.

More >> Unpaid staff desperate as Gauteng Social Development begins forensic investigation of Child Welfare Kagiso

Gauteng’s dysfunctional foster care system places vulnerable children at risk of human trafficking

In February this year, there were at least 727 children still waiting for foster care placement in Gauteng. Some of them have been on the waiting list for more than three years. The stark reality is that this places our already vulnerable children at risk of potentially becoming victims of human trafficking.

More >> Gauteng’s dysfunctional foster care system places vulnerable children at risk of human trafficking

Foster mom 'chained up teenage daughter for three days'

A Worcester mother found herself in the dock on two counts of child abuse on Thursday after she "disciplined" two teenage girls for creating "lust-inducing" Facebook pages.

The woman, a 52-year-old who lives with her biological daughter and 11 foster children, allegedly chained up her 16-year-old foster daughter for three days. The second child-abuse charge related to daily "hidings" the woman allegedly inflicted on her 15-year-old biological daughter.

More >> Foster mom 'chained up teenage daughter for three days'

Social worker brutally gunned down in driveway

The fatal shooting of a 45-year-old female social worker has left her family, friends and the townspeople shocked and baffled.

In an incident that occurred at Makhado Park in Louis Trichardt, a social worker at the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, Ms Thinavhuyo Muzila, was shot multiple times and killed upon arriving home last Friday at about 21:30. Muzila was parking her vehicle, intending to enter the house, when unknown suspects emerged and shot her, killing her instantly.

More >> Social worker brutally gunned down in driveway

Addo ranger back in court for foster daughter's murder

The Addo Elephant Park ranger who fatally shot his one-year-old foster child and wounded his wife – who was holding the toddler at the time – appeared in the Paterson Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Shaun Billet, 45, the father of two other children, was arrested in August for murder and attempted murder.

More >> Addo ranger back in court for foster daughter's murder

Adoption red tape denies orphan a home

A lack of professional capacity and despite tireless work by an elderly couple to take her into foster care, 12-year-old Lebogang Mokoka has never had a family.

The child, who lives at Rays of Hope, a child and youth care centre in Alexandra just outside of Johannesburg, was abandoned at birth yet has not been able to live with the couple who love and want her as part of their family.

More >> Adoption red tape denies orphan a home

Ex-foster child in court for murder

A Soweto woman accused of killing her foster mother appeared disoriented in court yesterday.

Nomvula Ramonotsi, 36, was unresponsive during the short proceedings at the Protea Glen Magistrate's Court yesterday. Ramonotsi will know next week whether she will be granted bail.

More >> Ex-foster child in court for murder

15 years for foster mother who burnt child to death

Pretoria - Anna Mahlangu, 64, sobbed loudly as she went down the stairs to the holding cells of the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, after being sentenced to 15 years for the murder of her 13-year-old foster child.

Mahlangu, who was wearing a striped skirt, doek (scarf), tracksuit top and scarf, hugged her family members before disappearing from view.

More >> 15 years for foster mother who burnt child to death

Damage caused at the Child Welfare offices

Suspects caused damage to the Child Welfare vehicles that were parked at the office in Jellicoe Street this weekend.

On Sunday, November 26 at 03:30 Ms Alrina Kleynhans from Child Welfare received a call from the security company about a break in at the premises.

More >> Damage caused at the Child Welfare offices

Orphaned child’s 10-year battle for a birth certificate

For the past ten years, Bronwyn Moss and her family have been battling to register an orphaned child with the Department of Home Affairs.

Moss, from Mooinooi in North West Province, has been advised to adopt the child in order to get his documents, but she cannot adopt without documents proving who he is.

More >> Orphaned child’s 10-year battle for a birth certificate

SA smacking ban will do more harm than good, says NZ group

Johannesburg - Family First NZ, a leading family group in New Zealand, is warning South African families that a smacking ban will do more harm than good by criminalising good parents, and harming children and families, with little effect on the real issue of child abuse.

More >> SA smacking ban will do more harm than good, says NZ group

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 7/28/17 - Systematic Failures

Here are the headlines for today.  Check back soon!

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

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A new report released Friday found ethical lapses and mistakes deemed "highly irresponsible" under the state's former child services director, George Sheldon, who favored a circle of associates he imported from Florida after he took over the Department of Children and Family Services.

More >> State report rips former DCFS chief over ethical, financial lapses

• Report says ex-director mismanaged DCFS

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A Contact 5/Palm Beach Post investigation uncovers what many investigators are calling "a crisis" inside the Department of Children and Families. Large caseloads, high turnover, low pay, voluminous paperwork, and pressure to meet performance goals - make the job impossible, child protective investigators say, and put children in a dangerous position.

More >> Falsifying DCF Records: Former Investigator says 'it's common knowledge'
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First Nations foster child Kawliga Potts was killed by his foster mother Lily Choy in January 2007. Choy was later convicted of manslaughter.

More >> Judge blames social workers' 'failure' to do their jobs for 2007 death of foster child
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Northampton County children and youth caseworker Shannon Snyder lies awake wondering about the teenage girl she met earlier in the day who feared her strict parents could kill her.

More >> Frazzled child welfare workers struggle as abuse reports soar

Note: I've said it before and I'll say it again.  CPS is only half the problem and the only thing lower than a CPS Agent is a Rat.
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A former social worker from Crawfordsville was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor Thursday. Amy Walls, 46, Crawfordsville was taken into custody on a warrant out of Allen County. According to court documents, the charges were filed Wednesday in Allen County Superior Court.

More >> C’ville woman charged with sex crimes

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Investigators inside the Florida Department of Children and families say Florida is putting children at risk.

More >> DCF Workers: State Is Failing Kids
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The publisher of the Mail Online will pay out damages to Madonna over a “serious invasion of privacy” after the website published details of the singer’s four-year-old twin daughters in January.

More >> Mail Online forced to pay damages for revealing details of Madonna’s adoption
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SALT LAKE CITY — When a child is sick, parents go to doctors looking for a diagnosis, prescription or treatment plan. Sometimes they find conflict.

More >> What rights do parents have when they disagree with doctors?
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The head of the state’s child welfare agency, hired seven months ago to revive a mission that critics say had been sacrificed in recent years to save money, faced plenty of questions from lawmakers Thursday.

More >> DCYF director on the hot seat over department training, investigations
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Following reports of high caseloads, high turnover and little experience among Child Protective Investigators in Palm Beach County, The Post and WPTV decided to investigate.

More >> DCF casework by the numbers: An inside look
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An Ankeny couple who adopted nine children with disabilities from foster care has been charged with child endangerment for allegations of physical abuse.

More >> EXCLUSIVE: After 68 police reports, Ankeny couple who adopted 9 kids charged with abuse
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Orphanages seem like the easy route, but what we don't realise is that they stunt the physical, mental and emotional development of a child.

More >> Orphanages Are Not Conducive To Child Development

Life in prison for foster father rapist

Esikhaleni Regional Court has convicted and sentenced a 50-year-old foster father to life in jail for raping his daughter between August 2011 and September 2012.

More >> Life in prison for foster father rapist

• Foster father sentenced to life for rape

Irish mum who was forced to give her child up for adoption is to be reunited with him after 31 years

Dubliner Shana Hillary Blackman had baby put up for adoption against her wishes when he was just three months old

More >> Irish mum who was forced to give her child up for adoption is to be reunited with him after 31 years

Children seek their dads

The Alexandra cluster of Social Development is looking for the father of Siyathemba Makhubalo, born on 7 January 1999; and Caroline Ziphokazi Makhubalo, born on 7 May 2006, are both looking for their unknown father/fathers. The late mother of the children was Sindiswa Mildred Makhubalo.

More >> Children seek their dads

Couple's hell over foster-care kids

A KwaZulu-Natal couple are embroiled in a desperate battle to stop social welfare officials from removing their adopted and foster children because of “untrue and subjective” allegations that they are involved in child trafficking.

More >> Couple's hell over foster-care kids

Study exposes shock foster care findings

Children chained to trees, forced to sleep in old water tanks, not being fed and young girls sexually abused and made pregnant are some of the shocking findings of a study into the state of foster care in the Eastern Cape.

More >> Study exposes shock foster care findings

Gran fights to reunite with child

A 56-year-old street trader who was told she was too broke and sickly to raise her only granddaughter has won a three-year court battle.

“I’m going to fetch her tomorrow, she’s coming home for good this time,” she said.

More >> Gran fights to reunite with child

UK threatens to place child in foster care

A South African woman embroiled in a custody battle has 30 days to return her young child to his father in the UK - even though it’s been two years since they last saw each other.

More >> UK threatens to place child in foster care