Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Report Slams DHS Protection Work
A new report said the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is falling down on its job of protecting Oklahoma's children.
Appeals court sends R.I. DCYF suit back to court
Appeals court sends R.I. DCYF suit back to court
A federal appeals court in Boston on Friday overturned a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit that accuses the state Department of Children, Youth and Families of widespread abuse and neglect of children in state foster care.
A federal appeals court in Boston on Friday overturned a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit that accuses the state Department of Children, Youth and Families of widespread abuse and neglect of children in state foster care.
System still failing kids
System still failing kids
A CHILD protection worker has described trying to improve the plight of children in remote communities as "like trying to shift an elephant with a pin".
A CHILD protection worker has described trying to improve the plight of children in remote communities as "like trying to shift an elephant with a pin".
Colin Turner: The vital role played by social workers
Note: Here's some British BS for you all to chew on.
Now, I'm not going to get into what kind of person would want to be a babystealer, because that would be redundant at this point. What interested me about this article is this...
The argument centers around the belief that social workers in the field of child protection do good work that goes unrewarded but when they make a mistake, the consequences are great as the media only reports on the bad. This, although it should be no surprise coming from the mouth of a child protection worker, is a bold faced-flat out lie as there is all kind of media attention aimed at the "good" these people do. Enough, in fact, that the Child Protective Industry receives overwhelming support from most of society as there is still the belief that these people only seek to protect children from abuse or neglect instead of using them to grow a thriving business and provide a better product for the forced adoption industry.
Colin Turner: The vital role played by social workers
Vilified over Baby P and other failings, social workers are under scrutiny like never before. So why would anyone do it? Here, Colin Turner, who returned to the profession after a high-profile role elsewhere, explains why he came back to the job he loves.
Now, I'm not going to get into what kind of person would want to be a babystealer, because that would be redundant at this point. What interested me about this article is this...
The reality is that there are literally hundreds of untold success stories where social workers have made a positive impact on the lives of children and families – but of course these don’t make news stories and I guess it’s right that they don’t.This is a restatement of a common argument that babystealers use when justifying their existence. A restatement of the "damned if you do / damned if you don't" mentality.
These are private to the children and families and should be kept that way.
Nevertheless, I still find it interesting that when a lifeguard saves a child from drowning it makes the front page of the local newspaper, but when a social worker rescues a child from abuse or neglect, it is never reported.
Make a mistake, however, and social workers are vilified. They’re criticised for interfering in family life and criticised when they don’t. It’s not easy.
The argument centers around the belief that social workers in the field of child protection do good work that goes unrewarded but when they make a mistake, the consequences are great as the media only reports on the bad. This, although it should be no surprise coming from the mouth of a child protection worker, is a bold faced-flat out lie as there is all kind of media attention aimed at the "good" these people do. Enough, in fact, that the Child Protective Industry receives overwhelming support from most of society as there is still the belief that these people only seek to protect children from abuse or neglect instead of using them to grow a thriving business and provide a better product for the forced adoption industry.
Thieves Hold Up Couple's Adoption Quest
As the community steps up to help a Midland couple build an addition to their home in an attempt to adopt their three grandchildren, someone has stolen building supplies from the construction site. Read: Lumber Taken From Contractor's Trailer
Police sergeant barred from contact with girl
Police sergeant barred from contact with girl
Note: This dude is just a little too weird. If you know what I mean.
A Tenino police sergeant who investigated a 15-year-old girl's allegation she had been raped has been barred from having any contact with the girl.
Note: This dude is just a little too weird. If you know what I mean.
A Tenino police sergeant who investigated a 15-year-old girl's allegation she had been raped has been barred from having any contact with the girl.
Lecturer and child protection expert on child porn charges
Lecturer and child protection expert on child porn charges
A UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk lecturer and child protection expert has appeared in court on child pornography charges.
A UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk lecturer and child protection expert has appeared in court on child pornography charges.
Local case shines light on Supreme Court nominee Kagan
Local case shines light on Supreme Court nominee Kagan
Truck loads of documents penned by Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan have been unearthed leading up to her confirmation hearings next week. One ferreted out by legal observers details her take on a landmark high court ruling – a case from Neenah, Wis. – that’s proved both controversial and widely influential. And it may tell a lot about Kagan.
Truck loads of documents penned by Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan have been unearthed leading up to her confirmation hearings next week. One ferreted out by legal observers details her take on a landmark high court ruling – a case from Neenah, Wis. – that’s proved both controversial and widely influential. And it may tell a lot about Kagan.
Psychotropic Drug Use in Foster Care System Under Investigation
Psychotropic Drug Use in Foster Care System Under Investigation
The US Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the prevalence of prescribed psychotropic medications for children in foster care. The estimated cost of prescribed medications, often used in the treatment of emotional and behavioural problems, may run to hundreds of millions of dollars each year in the United States alone. To date, only limited reports are available to determine the actual prevalence of psychotropic medication in foster children. Experts suggest that foster children are four times more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic or antidepressant medication than other children covered under Medicaid. One 2003 study of foster children in Florida indicated that 55 percent of children in the foster care system are being administered psychotropic medication although forty percent of those medicated had no history of a psychiatric evaluation.. Another study has indicated that anti-psychotic medication used has increased 528 from 2000 to 2005. A Texas study from 2004 showed that 34.7 percent of foster children were prescribed at least one psychotropic drug with some children taking five or more.
The US Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the prevalence of prescribed psychotropic medications for children in foster care. The estimated cost of prescribed medications, often used in the treatment of emotional and behavioural problems, may run to hundreds of millions of dollars each year in the United States alone. To date, only limited reports are available to determine the actual prevalence of psychotropic medication in foster children. Experts suggest that foster children are four times more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic or antidepressant medication than other children covered under Medicaid. One 2003 study of foster children in Florida indicated that 55 percent of children in the foster care system are being administered psychotropic medication although forty percent of those medicated had no history of a psychiatric evaluation.. Another study has indicated that anti-psychotic medication used has increased 528 from 2000 to 2005. A Texas study from 2004 showed that 34.7 percent of foster children were prescribed at least one psychotropic drug with some children taking five or more.
Child abuse charge against Rock County deputy dismissed
Child abuse charge against Rock County deputy dismissed
A child abuse charge against a Rock County sheriff's deputy was dismissed Monday in Rock County Circuit Court and the sheriff released a statement saying any allegation of violations of department orders or procedures is "totally and completely unfounded."
A child abuse charge against a Rock County sheriff's deputy was dismissed Monday in Rock County Circuit Court and the sheriff released a statement saying any allegation of violations of department orders or procedures is "totally and completely unfounded."
Seasonality of child abuse is a myth
Seasonality of child abuse is a myth
A new study has challenged the notion that winter months, and especially winter holidays, are a time of increased child abuse.
A new study has challenged the notion that winter months, and especially winter holidays, are a time of increased child abuse.
I Don't Understand, or Maybe I do.
I Don't Understand, or Maybe I do.
"Why let her believe that she is working toward reunification when everyone is just going through the motions?"
Note: Here is an interesting blog post from a foster parent. The real mother is being lied to and thinks that she is working towards reunification while everybody else involved in the stealing of her children is working towards just the opposite, and lying to her about it in the process.
Imagine being lied to by everybody who has that kind of power over you. It happens all the time. They just don't tell you all that often.
Here is the comment that I left on this post. I would imagine that she will not publish it as all comments are moderated, but it was left anyway.
And in case she takes this post down or changes it, as they often do once I link to them. I will copy and paste the original post here. (The original link is at the top of this post.)
From the Blog: My Life in a Foster Care Space Warp
"Why let her believe that she is working toward reunification when everyone is just going through the motions?"
Note: Here is an interesting blog post from a foster parent. The real mother is being lied to and thinks that she is working towards reunification while everybody else involved in the stealing of her children is working towards just the opposite, and lying to her about it in the process.
Imagine being lied to by everybody who has that kind of power over you. It happens all the time. They just don't tell you all that often.
Here is the comment that I left on this post. I would imagine that she will not publish it as all comments are moderated, but it was left anyway.
>> Why let her believe that she is working toward reunification when everyone is just going through the motions?
How does it feel to be a part of a lie? Does it feel like your being used? Is this a discussion that you've actually had with a worker? Do you ever feel like they're setting these parents up to fail? I mean with such a lack of faith in a person, who you said yourself, "She seems to be making progress as well," they can't be providing too much of a support system.
It should be all of your jobs to help her to build on her strengths even the small ones that are a little too late. Knowing it's not going to happen but going through the motions anyway is more of the way you all play games with peoples lives.
Perhaps you could tell her the truth. Give her a call, say "Hey, everybody is undermining your efforts." Tell her not to get her hopes up. Tell her don't bother. Tell her, they're just going through the process to make themselves look good so that you can't sue them for it later on down the road. It's all about appearances.
Just shows some of the sick games that these people play with the lives of parents. I can picture a bunch of them all standing around the water cooler joking about the obstacle course of hoops she gets to jump through. Kind of like holding a carrot on a stick just in front of the donkey who chases it, isn't it?
Now everything she is doing is based on a lie. False hopes. False dreams. Yet you all let her do it anyway knowing that she's got the chance of a snowball in hell. You're all in on it too.
Thank God that I never had to try to live up to all of your standards of perfection while you all watched. It wouldn't go over nearly this well for you.
LK
And in case she takes this post down or changes it, as they often do once I link to them. I will copy and paste the original post here. (The original link is at the top of this post.)
From the Blog: My Life in a Foster Care Space Warp
Monday, June 21, 2010
I Don't Understand, or Maybe I do.
The little boys that I have right now are doing well and settling in very nicely. They are happy and healthy and secure and really beginning to attach. Good things all. They are visiting with their birth mom pretty liberally, although supervised. She seems to be making progress as well. Unfortunately her situation is such that she is not going to get her boys back. There is too much unhealthiness in her life. Even if she maintains her sobriety, she has way too much other bad stuff and not enough of anything good to parent anyone. I know this. The worker knows this. The judge knows this, as do the attorneys. I'm pretty sure everyone involved in this case knows it, except for mom. Everyone talks about it, but not to her. No one has told her and no one will tell her. Why not? Why not just tell it like it is and allow her to maintain some control over the situation? Why not allow her to relinquish and make some choices about where her boys end up? She could ask for post adoption contact agreement so she could have continued contact. Why let her believe that she is working toward reunification when everyone is just going through the motions? Once they terminate the adoptive family will be advised not to maintain contact. They almost alway advise it in our county regardless of the birth family situation. We have been told repeatedly that contact with Ella's family is not appropriate (and she did ultimately relinquish)
If I admit it, I know why it is this way. It's to protect the county from lawsuits.
Posted by Susan at 9:06 PM
Labels: adoption, wondering
Sources: Social-service manager falsely claiming whistle-blowers are going to jail Read more: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20100622_Sources_
Sources: Social-service manager falsely claiming whistle-blowers are going to jail
A MANAGER of a Latino social-service agency has been falsely telling the agency's foster parents that two women who spoke out to the Daily News about a foster child's abortion are headed to jail, according to several sources.
A MANAGER of a Latino social-service agency has been falsely telling the agency's foster parents that two women who spoke out to the Daily News about a foster child's abortion are headed to jail, according to several sources.
Obama Says Fathers Just Need to Be There
Obama Says Fathers Just Need to Be There
In what has become his tradition within a tradition, President Obama for a third straight year seized on June’s celebration of fathers to promote “a national conversation” about responsible fatherhood, infused with his own experiences as an abandoned son and now as a busy parent.
In what has become his tradition within a tradition, President Obama for a third straight year seized on June’s celebration of fathers to promote “a national conversation” about responsible fatherhood, infused with his own experiences as an abandoned son and now as a busy parent.
Left-Behind Parents Want End to Single Child Custody System
Left-Behind Parents Want End to Single Child Custody System
Masako Suzuki, 50, has been fighting tooth and nail for the last six years just to gain equal custody of her son, who lives with her estranged husband.
"I’m still fighting, taking on not just my ex-husband but also the Japanese administration, and in many ways also the whole social system that does not recognise the rights of a child to both parents after a divorce," says Suzuki.
Masako Suzuki, 50, has been fighting tooth and nail for the last six years just to gain equal custody of her son, who lives with her estranged husband.
"I’m still fighting, taking on not just my ex-husband but also the Japanese administration, and in many ways also the whole social system that does not recognise the rights of a child to both parents after a divorce," says Suzuki.
Judge issues rulings in class action against Dept. of Social Services
Judge issues rulings in class action against Dept. of Social Services
Orleans Parish District Court Judge Paulette Irons ruled on three motions brought forth June 18 in a class action suit against the Louisiana Department of Social Services in Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
Orleans Parish District Court Judge Paulette Irons ruled on three motions brought forth June 18 in a class action suit against the Louisiana Department of Social Services in Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
DCYF may seek national accreditation
DCYF may seek national accreditation
Note: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
The state Department of Children, Youth and Families could seek national accreditation beginning in July 2011 if legislation approved by the General Assembly is signed into law by Governor Carcieri this week.
Note: What's really sad is that they'll probably get it.
Appeals court reinstates RI foster care suit
A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse and neglect of Rhode Island's foster children.
The decision Friday from the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a trial judge's decision to dismiss the case.
And from January...
Federal appeals court judges question dismissal of R.I. child advocate’s lawsuit
Note: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
The state Department of Children, Youth and Families could seek national accreditation beginning in July 2011 if legislation approved by the General Assembly is signed into law by Governor Carcieri this week.
Note: What's really sad is that they'll probably get it.
Appeals court reinstates RI foster care suit
A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit alleging widespread abuse and neglect of Rhode Island's foster children.
The decision Friday from the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a trial judge's decision to dismiss the case.
And from January...
Federal appeals court judges question dismissal of R.I. child advocate’s lawsuit
Welfare quarantine for non-Indigenous people
Welfare quarantine for non-Indigenous people
Income management for non-Indigenous welfare recipients will be rolled out across the Northern Territory from next month, after draft laws passed the Senate.
Income management for non-Indigenous welfare recipients will be rolled out across the Northern Territory from next month, after draft laws passed the Senate.
U.K. Court: Lesbian Mom Barred From Paying Child Support
U.K. Court: Lesbian Mom Barred From Paying Child Support
A High Court judge in the U.K. ruled on Friday that the non-biological lesbian mother of a 10-year-old boy is not required to pay child maintenance to her former girlfriend. The couple had not entered into a civil union and therefore Justice Moylan said the non-biological mother could not be deemed a legal parent, despite being a “social and psychological” one.
A High Court judge in the U.K. ruled on Friday that the non-biological lesbian mother of a 10-year-old boy is not required to pay child maintenance to her former girlfriend. The couple had not entered into a civil union and therefore Justice Moylan said the non-biological mother could not be deemed a legal parent, despite being a “social and psychological” one.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Judge banishes family's custody lawyer
Judge banishes family's custody lawyer
An internationally known human-rights lawyer who had agreed to work on the case of a Swedish family whose son was taken into custody by agents of the government social-services program for being homeschooled says she has been banished from the case.
An internationally known human-rights lawyer who had agreed to work on the case of a Swedish family whose son was taken into custody by agents of the government social-services program for being homeschooled says she has been banished from the case.
(Time to get out your hick boots people): What It’s Like to Be a Foster Parent
I am very sorry for posting this. And I suggest that if you read the following article, that you hold on to your lunch, because there are some things being said here that will make you want to vomit. Remember, these could be your kids he is talking about.
The article is titled: What It’s Like to Be a Foster Parent And what we have here are some desperate infertile's who have decided to adopt through the foster care system.
I am now going to copy and paste a line which was particularly troublesome to me. A few paragraphs down he says, "Like many couples, we became foster parents, hoping that eventually we would have the chance to make the arrangement permanent."
Now translated into reality, we have a preacher who quite possibly shoots blanks and a wife who God has chosen not to give a child of her own to, for whatever reason, who now feels entitled to somebody else's child, will pass it off as doing God's work without consideration that there is a heartbroken mother out there who will never see her kid again. These people indirectly hope and prey for some kid to get abused and come into the system then indirectly hopes and preys that the real parents rights are terminated so that they get to adopt. Of course they leave all the thoughts about the real parents out of it. Nope, the families are demonized, and their feelings are not considered in the least when making their decision to adopt through foster care. Nope. They just want a child of their own.
Now perhaps to the untrained mind that was a rather harsh interpretation of this particular situation, as society blindly believes that people who help children like this are saints amongst us, but further down, the guys drama queen personality shines right through. Check out what he says here...
That may be. But in order for you to get them, they had to suffer the loss of their parents. The parents had to suffer the loss of their children. And all kinds of bad things had to happen first. But you got your kids now. And you're damn well gonna see it through right? Just like a real parent.
Then he babbles a bit more, but then he actually goes on and makes an interesting point.
I can't even go on about this creep anymore. There's just something seriously wrong here with the perspective of the people who they give our children to.
If you know what I mean.
Love
LK
The article is titled: What It’s Like to Be a Foster Parent And what we have here are some desperate infertile's who have decided to adopt through the foster care system.
I am now going to copy and paste a line which was particularly troublesome to me. A few paragraphs down he says, "Like many couples, we became foster parents, hoping that eventually we would have the chance to make the arrangement permanent."
Now translated into reality, we have a preacher who quite possibly shoots blanks and a wife who God has chosen not to give a child of her own to, for whatever reason, who now feels entitled to somebody else's child, will pass it off as doing God's work without consideration that there is a heartbroken mother out there who will never see her kid again. These people indirectly hope and prey for some kid to get abused and come into the system then indirectly hopes and preys that the real parents rights are terminated so that they get to adopt. Of course they leave all the thoughts about the real parents out of it. Nope, the families are demonized, and their feelings are not considered in the least when making their decision to adopt through foster care. Nope. They just want a child of their own.
Now perhaps to the untrained mind that was a rather harsh interpretation of this particular situation, as society blindly believes that people who help children like this are saints amongst us, but further down, the guys drama queen personality shines right through. Check out what he says here...
We don't pretend that it's been easy. All children come with baggage. Foster children come with more. We've endured social workers, teachers, therapists, adoption agents, doctors, judges, temper tantrums, food hoarded and rotting in pillowcases, self-injury, anger, suicidality and consequent hospitalization. We've been lied to, raged at, punched, kicked, bitten and run away from. We keep things locked up and an alarm on at least one bedroom door.The poor thing. I mean really, my ass bleeds for you brother. You had to deal with Social Workers, who btw were not there to steal your child. You had to deal with shrinks, well what did you expect? With all the child welfare fraud going around these days, and shrinks being some of the most often paid of all the System Sucks, of course the kids are going to be diagnosed. I suppose you really wanted a healthy white newborn, but it just didn't turn out that way. So you'll just make due with what the Child Protective Industry, who BTW is not God, gives you.
And this dude wants to throw in a bit of theology to justify doing all of this. Not the children they wanted, but they'll have to do, right? No. Wait. They are the children we hoped and longed for just as Abraham and Sara hoped and longed for Isaac.The other thing that we have never lost is the sense that these are our children. I don't want to say that these are the kids we wanted, because as the theologian Stanley Hauerwas puts it, to have to be a wanted child is a terrible burden. I don't agree with all of Hauerwas' conclusions about abortion, but he is right on one thing:
The crucial question for us as Christians is what kind of people we need to be to be capable of welcoming children into this world, some of whom may be born disabled and even die.I might add: "...some of whom may be deeply disturbed in their emotions." The point remains the same. Our adoptive children are not the children we wanted. No child could ever measure up to that standard. But they are the children that we welcomed into our family, and to whom we continue to extend our deepest love, compassion, and hospitality. They are more than the children we wanted: they are the children we hoped and longed for just as Abraham and Sara hoped and longed for Isaac.
That may be. But in order for you to get them, they had to suffer the loss of their parents. The parents had to suffer the loss of their children. And all kinds of bad things had to happen first. But you got your kids now. And you're damn well gonna see it through right? Just like a real parent.
Then he babbles a bit more, but then he actually goes on and makes an interesting point.
It would be short-sighted to limit the scope of our choice to the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy (in our case, to adopt or not).So, if I get him right, he's actually comparing the decision not to adopt a child with a woman's decision to have an abortion. Which reduces to the Child Protective Industries decision to take a child from a foster parent and reunify them with the real parent, is like having a miscarriage I would imagine.
I can't even go on about this creep anymore. There's just something seriously wrong here with the perspective of the people who they give our children to.
If you know what I mean.
Love
LK
Moms Discredit Themselves by Denying Parental Alienation
Moms Discredit Themselves by Denying Parental Alienation
There are probably thousands or more mother’s rights groups around the world. The web is replete with their sites such as Justice4Mothers and Rights for Mothers. Generally they are irate about being deprived of contact with their kids and being financially and emotionally destroyed by family law courts. I certainly understand that as it has happened to me, too, as it has to many other parents. Unfortunately, some of these moms have gone off the deep end into sexism and gender warfare that is both counterproductive to their cause and to the interests of their children. A very obvious sign of this is the many mother’s rights web sites that issue blanket denials of the existence of parental alienation, a form of emotional child abuse that is common in divorces and troubled families.
There are probably thousands or more mother’s rights groups around the world. The web is replete with their sites such as Justice4Mothers and Rights for Mothers. Generally they are irate about being deprived of contact with their kids and being financially and emotionally destroyed by family law courts. I certainly understand that as it has happened to me, too, as it has to many other parents. Unfortunately, some of these moms have gone off the deep end into sexism and gender warfare that is both counterproductive to their cause and to the interests of their children. A very obvious sign of this is the many mother’s rights web sites that issue blanket denials of the existence of parental alienation, a form of emotional child abuse that is common in divorces and troubled families.
The cost of raising children: 2009 vs. 1960
The cost of raising children: 2009 vs. 1960
The grand total for middle-income parents raising one child from birth to age 17 is $222,360, which doesn't include college tuition, according to the recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2009 Expenditures on Children by Families report.
The grand total for middle-income parents raising one child from birth to age 17 is $222,360, which doesn't include college tuition, according to the recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2009 Expenditures on Children by Families report.
There is a bleeding heart social worker on twitter who is going to report someone to CPS
http://twitter.com/BleedingHeartSW/statuses/16627988014
http://twitter.com/BleedingHeartSW
Tomorrow I have to report a patient to Child Protective Services (CPS) after she delivers her baby...
http://bleedingheartsocialworker.tumblr.com/post/718730107/report-to-cps-monday
http://twitter.com/BleedingHeartSW
Tomorrow I have to report a patient to Child Protective Services (CPS) after she delivers her baby...
http://bleedingheartsocialworker.tumblr.com/post/718730107/report-to-cps-monday
Child abuse investigator charged with fabricating reports
What you are about to see is a lying asshole.
A former Racine County Child Protective Services investigator was charged Thursday with fabricating reports in six cases where there were allegations of abuse against children.
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