Lawmaker says CYFD has yet to provide requested information
A historically troubled department is under more scrutiny. Lawmakers asked CYFD for a number of data points last session. Now, eight months after the deadline, some legislators say the department still hasn’t delivered.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Child welfare workers overwhelmed by non-critical cases
Child welfare workers overwhelmed by non-critical cases
THE overwhelmed child protection unit is being clogged by thousands of non-critical cases of domestic violence, diverting staff from Victoria’s most at-risk children.
THE overwhelmed child protection unit is being clogged by thousands of non-critical cases of domestic violence, diverting staff from Victoria’s most at-risk children.
Social workers dropped ball
Social workers dropped ball
Social workers recklessly disregarded their obligation to protect children who were sexually abused by their father, even granting him unsupervised visits during which he molested his toddler, a British Columbia judge has ruled.
Social workers recklessly disregarded their obligation to protect children who were sexually abused by their father, even granting him unsupervised visits during which he molested his toddler, a British Columbia judge has ruled.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Is pressure to speed up adoptions leaving children out in the cold?
Is pressure to speed up adoptions leaving children out in the cold?
Social workers are being heavily criticised by judges for bringing shoddy cases and poor evidence to court in care proceedings as the government allocates more funds to quicken the process
Social workers are being heavily criticised by judges for bringing shoddy cases and poor evidence to court in care proceedings as the government allocates more funds to quicken the process
State representative calls for independent investigation of DCFS
State representative calls for independent investigation of DCFS
State Representative Alfred Williams is calling for an investigation of the Department of Children and Family Services. This comes after a malnourished 15-year-old was found living in horrible conditions on July 8.
State Representative Alfred Williams is calling for an investigation of the Department of Children and Family Services. This comes after a malnourished 15-year-old was found living in horrible conditions on July 8.
When Desperate Parents Are Wrongly Accused of Abusing Their Very Sick Kids
When Desperate Parents Are Wrongly Accused of Abusing Their Very Sick Kids
If you have a child who is very sick, you will move heaven and earth to get that kid care. Unfortunately, there’s a possibility that this assiduousness will trigger suspicions of abuse. In a horrifying, supremely well-sourced op-ed in The New York Times, the mom of a girl who suffered from inexplicable headaches, nausea, falls, and pain, explains how other people in her situation have lost their kids to child protective service agents who imagined abuse where none exists (links added):
If you have a child who is very sick, you will move heaven and earth to get that kid care. Unfortunately, there’s a possibility that this assiduousness will trigger suspicions of abuse. In a horrifying, supremely well-sourced op-ed in The New York Times, the mom of a girl who suffered from inexplicable headaches, nausea, falls, and pain, explains how other people in her situation have lost their kids to child protective service agents who imagined abuse where none exists (links added):
Child-welfare problems could continue
Child-welfare problems could continue
Child-welfare officials Tuesday told state lawmakers that without additional resources, problems will continue within the troubled Human Services Department.
Child-welfare officials Tuesday told state lawmakers that without additional resources, problems will continue within the troubled Human Services Department.
BC’s child protection director abused authority in sex abuse case, says judge
BC’s child protection director abused authority in sex abuse case, says judge
In a blistering ruling against the government, a judge has sided with a Lower Mainland mother in her fight against B-C’s director of child protection.
In a blistering ruling against the government, a judge has sided with a Lower Mainland mother in her fight against B-C’s director of child protection.
ICE releases hundreds of women, children from detention
ICE releases hundreds of women, children from detention
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has released some 200 Central Americans, mostly women and children, from family-detention centers since last Friday. The move is part of a sweeping series of changes the agency has made in recent months to when and for how long families seeking asylum are being detained.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has released some 200 Central Americans, mostly women and children, from family-detention centers since last Friday. The move is part of a sweeping series of changes the agency has made in recent months to when and for how long families seeking asylum are being detained.
Last of four teens missing from group home found safe
Last of four teens missing from group home found safe
The last of four teen girls who walked away from a group home in Peoria Sunday has been found safe.
The last of four teen girls who walked away from a group home in Peoria Sunday has been found safe.
Foster kids bills shouldn’t give doctors a pass: Editorial
Foster kids bills shouldn’t give doctors a pass: Editorial
A package of four bills headed through the California Legislature this summer will help stem the tide of powerful psychotropic medication prescribed for as many as 1 in 4 foster children.
A package of four bills headed through the California Legislature this summer will help stem the tide of powerful psychotropic medication prescribed for as many as 1 in 4 foster children.
Orphanage founder describes imprisonment in Haiti at defamation trial in Portland
Orphanage founder describes imprisonment in Haiti at defamation trial in Portland
Orphanage founder Michael Geilenfeld describes the first cell where he was kept during his 237 days in a Haitian prison as “my picture of hell.”
Orphanage founder Michael Geilenfeld describes the first cell where he was kept during his 237 days in a Haitian prison as “my picture of hell.”
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Facebook Adoption
A Facebook post written over the weekend and posted to a private group is causing quite a stir in Dubuque, Iowa.
Indian Child Welfare Act hearings reignite adoption debate
Indian Child Welfare Act hearings reignite adoption debate
John Echohawk had heard enough. On May 14, he had listened with growing irritation to lawyers representing the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) denigrate the recently published guidelines and proposed rule for the Indian Child Welfare Act in front of the very people who had authored them.
John Echohawk had heard enough. On May 14, he had listened with growing irritation to lawyers representing the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) denigrate the recently published guidelines and proposed rule for the Indian Child Welfare Act in front of the very people who had authored them.
Manager sues child welfare agency alleging large caseload violates state law, endangers kids
Manager sues child welfare agency alleging large caseload violates state law, endangers kids
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a Department of Child Services family case manager contends her caseload is more than twice what Indiana law allows and the excessive work puts children at risk.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a Department of Child Services family case manager contends her caseload is more than twice what Indiana law allows and the excessive work puts children at risk.
Two N.J. child welfare workers assaulted, injured, on job
Two N.J. child welfare workers assaulted, injured, on job
Note: Bummer...
Two child protection caseworkers were attacked and injured while they were removing a child from a suspected abusive home in Pennsville Township, Salem County on Tuesday, according to state officials
Note: Bummer...
Two child protection caseworkers were attacked and injured while they were removing a child from a suspected abusive home in Pennsville Township, Salem County on Tuesday, according to state officials
Investigation from DHHS continues into foster mom, foster agency
Investigation from DHHS continues into foster mom, foster agency
Omarion Humphrey went missing on July 4 under the supervision of Lulu Richardson at Lake Callis Park and was found dead nearly a week later.
Omarion Humphrey went missing on July 4 under the supervision of Lulu Richardson at Lake Callis Park and was found dead nearly a week later.
Washington No.1 for jailing noncriminal kids, spurred by law named for Tacoma runaway
Washington No.1 for jailing noncriminal kids, spurred by law named for Tacoma runaway
More than two decades after the beaten body of a Tacoma runaway was found along the Spokane River, a photo of her hangs prominently on the wall in a King County juvenile courtroom.
More than two decades after the beaten body of a Tacoma runaway was found along the Spokane River, a photo of her hangs prominently on the wall in a King County juvenile courtroom.
Taken From Families, Indigenous Children Face Extreme Rates of State Violence in US
Taken From Families, Indigenous Children Face Extreme Rates of State Violence in US
The plight of Indigenous children recently made headlines, as Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a damning report calling the country's long-held policy of removing Native children from their families by force and placing them in state-funded residential schools "cultural genocide." According to the report, even before Canada was founded in 1867, churches were operating boarding schools for Indigenous children, and the last federally supported residential school didn't close until the late 1990s.
The plight of Indigenous children recently made headlines, as Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a damning report calling the country's long-held policy of removing Native children from their families by force and placing them in state-funded residential schools "cultural genocide." According to the report, even before Canada was founded in 1867, churches were operating boarding schools for Indigenous children, and the last federally supported residential school didn't close until the late 1990s.
Texas legislator continues push for bill to protect faith-based child welfare agencies
Texas legislator continues push for bill to protect faith-based child welfare agencies
A bill aimed at protecting child welfare agencies’ religious liberties failed to make it to the Texas House of Representatives floor this spring, but its main author, Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney), isn’t giving up on it.
A bill aimed at protecting child welfare agencies’ religious liberties failed to make it to the Texas House of Representatives floor this spring, but its main author, Rep. Scott Sanford (R-McKinney), isn’t giving up on it.
The New Child Abuse Panic
The New Child Abuse Panic
FEW things are tougher for a parent than dealing with a child’s serious medical condition, particularly if it is complicated and hard to diagnose. The parent has to make hard choices about treatment, navigating conflicting advice from doctors or even rejecting one doctor’s opinion and seeking another.
I was sent to 39 different homes and raped three times before I was 16
I was sent to 39 different homes and raped three times before I was 16
A former Birmingham children’s home resident has told how she was sent to 39 different placements and raped three times before the age of 16.
A former Birmingham children’s home resident has told how she was sent to 39 different placements and raped three times before the age of 16.
Adoptees fight for view into past
Adoptees fight for view into past
When Sharon Smith first started looking for her birth mother, she was hesitant. She didn't want to hurt her adoptive mother or intrude on her birth mother's life. As time went by, she gathered small scraps of information and a family friend even gave her a name. But 15 years into a fruitless search, she's angry about state laws surrounding adoptees' birth records. Because the information Smith seeks exists on her original birth certificate — it's just that she isn't allowed to see it.
When Sharon Smith first started looking for her birth mother, she was hesitant. She didn't want to hurt her adoptive mother or intrude on her birth mother's life. As time went by, she gathered small scraps of information and a family friend even gave her a name. But 15 years into a fruitless search, she's angry about state laws surrounding adoptees' birth records. Because the information Smith seeks exists on her original birth certificate — it's just that she isn't allowed to see it.
Emotional reunion for dad who hadn't seen his son for four weeks
Emotional reunion for dad who hadn't seen his son for four weeks
A man who hadn't seen his son for four weeks because his ex stopped access now wants custody of his son.
A man who hadn't seen his son for four weeks because his ex stopped access now wants custody of his son.
Criminals Working in Daycares & Becoming Foster Parents, Investigation Shows
After the State of Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) provided an exemption for criminal disqualification, people with questionable criminal backgrounds have been given a chance to work in daycares or become foster parents, reports ABC Action News.
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