Lawsuit says state had knowledge but failed to act on abusive foster parent

A civil lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Fort Smith says officials at the state Human Services Department knew about allegations of abuse of foster children by Van Buren truck driver Charlie Garretson but failed to act.

More >> Lawsuit says state had knowledge but failed to act on abusive foster parent

• Victims of Predatory Foster Parent Sue Former DHS Employees
• Suit says DHS knew of abuse in Arkansas foster home; filing faults agency for time plaintiffs spent with rapist

Local family sues DCF after foster child sexually assaults 4-year-old

Without warning a Lowell-area family says the Department of Children and Families placed a foster child in their home and never disclosed he could be a threat to other children.

More >> Local family sues DCF after foster child sexually assaults 4-year-old

Foster child, adoptive parents urge chance in DHS

The starvation deaths of two Iowa teenagers have put the pressure on the foster care system in Iowa, which one successful foster family says is broken.

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Canada To Parents: Accept Your Kid's Gender Identity, Or Lose Them

Tolerance in Canada is a one-way street. As long as you fall in line with Socialist ideologies, you have a place in the land of the maple leaves.

More >> Canada To Parents: Accept Your Kid's Gender Identity, Or Lose Them

• Canadian parents must accept children’s ‘gender identity’

Child welfare records may have been faked in at least seven counties

Have abused children been put in greater harm's way by the very people who are supposed to protect them?

More >> Child welfare records may have been faked in at least seven counties

Advocates rally for R.I. bill restoring aid to foster kids until 21

About 80 social service advocates and young adults gather at a State House rally Tuesday, hoping to influence lawmakers.

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Social worker struck off after lie caused children to be removed into care

A social worker whose lie to colleagues “almost certainly” led to children being taken into care has been struck off.

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Mom Who Got Into Legal Trouble for Raising 'Free-Range' Kids Is Running for Office

She's out of legal trouble now, but the Maryland mom who was investigated for her “free-range” parenting style is taking steps to make sure it never happens to anyone else.


More >> Mom Who Got Into Legal Trouble for Raising 'Free-Range' Kids Is Running for Office

Judge denies motion to keep 7-month-old on life support

A judge in Clarksville has denied to extend the injunction keeping a 7-month-old baby on life support.

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Iowa pays $175K after foster child beaten with a brick and drowned

Iowa will pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit involving a foster child who was bludgeoned with a brick and drowned by another foster child.

More >> Iowa pays $175K after foster child beaten with a brick and drowned

Hearings will look into allegations DHHS supervisors fudged caseload numbers

State lawmakers say they will look into reports the Michigan agency that handles child abuse and neglect cases fudged its numbers to make it appear it was complying with a court order.

More >> Hearings will look into allegations DHHS supervisors fudged caseload numbers

• Lawmakers vow to investigate DHHS records manipulation

Canada’s New Law Lets Government Take Children Away If Parents Don’t Accept Their Gender Identity

A Canadian province has passed a law that gives rights to the government to take away children from families that don’t accept their kid’s chosen “gender identity” or “gender expression”.

More >> Canada’s New Law Lets Government Take Children Away If Parents Don’t Accept Their Gender Identity

• Petition calls for repeal of ‘totalitarian’ bill allowing children to be taken from Christian homes

After two tragic teen deaths, legislators hold hearing on Iowa’s child welfare system

Legislators on the Government Oversight Committees from the Iowa House and Senate have launched their public review of the state’s foster care system and how allegations of child abuse are handled.

More >> After two tragic teen deaths, legislators hold hearing on Iowa’s child welfare system

• Iowa's troubled child-protection system to be reviewed by national experts
• Lawmakers grill Iowa DHS in tense oversight hearing
• Legislators ponder policy response to deaths of two adopted foster care kids
• Iowa lawmakers seek answers to child deaths
• Iowa child welfare system under review by lawmakers
• 'This is unconscionable.' Iowa officials grilled over 2 adopted teens' deaths

Parents Stranded after Ethiopia Suspends Adoption

As a result of the adoption suspension, more than 40 American families who had completed the process have been denied access to a child who is legally theirs.

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Texas immigration lockdowns holding some families too long

Afghan asylum seeker Samira Hakimi and her relatives — three of them young children — have spent six months inside a Texas immigration lockdown, even though state lawmakers adjourned this week without passing legislation to circumvent federal rules on housing minors at such facilities.

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State pushes back at federal monitor

In the 26 years since federal authorities began monitoring Connecticut’s child welfare system, state officials have made progress in overcoming manhy of its deficiencies. But now the court-appointed monitor argues that the progress has slowed so much that he should be given significant influence over the agency’s staffing, technology and other resources.

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Sister of alleged victim in foster mom sex abuse case reveals new details

The sister of a young man who was allegedly raped hundreds of times by his foster mother is speaking out for the first time.

More >> Sister of alleged victim in foster mom sex abuse case reveals new details

Georgia Increases Child Welfare Worker Salaries 19%

On May 1, 2017, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) increased salaries by 19% for front-line child welfare staff. The goal is to reduce turnover rates that range regionally from 32% to 39%. The state’s new budget includes $25.8 million to cover the costs of the salary increase. The base starting salary for a front-line case worker with a bachelor’s degree in social work will increase from $28,000 to $35,600.


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DCF worker charged with possession child pornography in Hamden

A DCF worker is facing criminal charges after police said he was in possession of child pornography.

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ACLU and others say DCF violating separation of church and state by sponsoring faith gathering

At the 2016 Florida Faith Symposium, Gov. Rick Scott told delegates that his parents had introduced him to Jesus Christ.

More >> ACLU and others say DCF violating separation of church and state by sponsoring faith gathering

Three ex-Penn State officials get jail in Sandusky child sex abuse coverup

Three former Pennsylvania State University officials were sentenced to jail on Friday for covering up ex-coach Jerry Sandusky's sexual predations and effectively letting him victimize more boys.

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‘Reunification Day’ celebrates parents getting children out of foster care

When the state took away her two youngest sons and sent them to live with a relative, Marsha Valenzuela knew she needed to change.

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No refund: Iowa can't recoup adoption payments, even if there's abuse

Marc and Misty Ray of Perry adopted four children from Iowa’s foster care system: a 10-year-old boy, two girls ages 10 and 12, and 16-year-old Sabrina Ray.

More >> No refund: Iowa can't recoup adoption payments, even if there's abuse

Minors Can’t Be Treated As Chattel For Claiming Custody: Bombay HC...

The Bombay High Court has stayed an order by family court, Bandra, which granted access to the mother of six-year-old girl Janhavi, who has been in her father’s custody since birth. ...

More >> Minors Can’t Be Treated As Chattel For Claiming Custody: Bombay HC...

How Illinois fails its children

Another child dies tragically while under the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and another director (that’s eight directors in five years) resigns in the midst of controversy. This sad story has been repeated way too often these past 30-plus years. There is always more than enough blame to go around, starting with overworked frontline workers and ending with the director. Investigations are initiated, individuals resign or are fired, and in some cases, criminal charges are filed. A new director will take charge, new staff will be hired, and things will continue on ... until the next tragedy.

More >> How Illinois fails its children

• Our View: In wake of many failures, DCFS director needed to go