Foster parents’ son sexually assaulted teenager, possibly others, deputies say

The biological son of two foster parents is facing charges after deputies say he raped a teenager in late December, and sexually assaulted at least one other foster child in the past, at a southwest Albuquerque foster home, according to a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

More >> Foster parents’ son sexually assaulted teenager, possibly others, deputies say

Judge determines couple with low IQs can parent both their boys

Four years after their son was first placed into foster care, a Deschutes County judge has determined that Amy Fabbrini and Eric Ziegler can parent both their boys.

More >> Judge determines couple with low IQs can parent both their boys

AMAZING UPDATE! Man finds his daughter 39 years after her adoption

"I'm trying to find my daughter," Miller said. "I can't... I'm sorry, this is very hard for me."

More >> AMAZING UPDATE! Man finds his daughter 39 years after her adoption

Foster care system “failed” child refugee

After finishing a prison sentence for crimes he committed as a young adult, Abdoul Abdi hoped to be released last week to a halfway house in Toronto and on his way to being home with family. Instead, he was re-arrested by Canadian border officials and thrown into immigration detention.

More >> Foster care system “failed” child refugee

Man who spanked child calls Child Protective Services to report his own abuse

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — A Kentucky man called Child Protective Services to turn himself in after he spanked a 3-year-old so hard he caused bruises, WDRB reports.

Derek Thompson, 32, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is charged with third-degree criminal abuse of a child.

More >> Man who spanked child calls Child Protective Services to report his own abuse

A man charged with raping one of his foster children has been granted lower bond

A lower bond has been set for a Bradenton man who was a foster parent for more than a decade and is charged with raping one of the girls in his care.

Albert Ferrell, 65, is charged with sexual battery of a child older than 12 years old and younger than 18 by a person in custodial authority and battery on a law enforcement officer.


More >> A man charged with raping one of his foster children has been granted lower bond

Timeline of events leading up to foster baby's death

On New Year's Eve morning, 11-month-old Ariza Barreras was found dead at a home she was staying in, while her foster parent was out of town.

More >> Timeline of events leading up to foster baby's death

Seven police officers turned up to tear Gina’s baby from her arms – even though she’d done nothing wrong: It took 5 months to get him back and other mums have been falsely accused for the same reason

For any devoted mother with a baby who suffers from colic, it’s a familiar ritual. After every feed, Gina Hodgkins would sit her newborn son Teddy on her lap to rub his back and release any trapped wind causing him discomfort.

She supported his floppy head by gripping him under his chin, with her finger and thumb resting on his cheeks.

More >> Seven police officers turned up to tear Gina’s baby from her arms – even though she’d done nothing wrong: It took 5 months to get him back and other mums have been falsely accused for the same reason

Ethiopia's lawmakers approve ban on foreign adoptions

Ethiopian lawmakers have approved a ban on foreign adoptions amid concerns about mistreatment of children overseas.

More >> Ethiopia's lawmakers approve ban on foreign adoptions

• Ethiopia will no longer allow foreigners to adopt its children

Jefferson County caseworker admits falsifying child abuse records

A former Jefferson County Human Services caseworker fabricated records in a dozen child abuse and neglect cases claiming she investigated the cases when she had not, authorities say.

More >> Jefferson County caseworker admits falsifying child abuse records

• Former Jefferson County case worker pleads guilty to forgery
• Former child abuse caseworker accused of fraud pleads guilty

Foster parent's license in the process of being revoked after baby's death

The Children, Youth and Families Department is in the process of revoking a foster mom's license after a baby dies.

More >> Foster parent's license in the process of being revoked after baby's death

Lawyer says system puts some Canadian foster kids at risk of deportation

One youth lawyer is calling foul on a federal system she believes is putting some Canadian foster children unfairly at risk of deportation once they turn 18.

More >> Lawyer says system puts some Canadian foster kids at risk of deportation

• How Canada has failed Abdoul Abdi and other child immigrants: Morning File, Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Kansas Foster Care Fix-It Panel Still Looking For Repairs

A task force formed to fix Kansas’ troubled foster care system relied largely on the ideas of a lone member to meet a deadline for preliminary suggestions, reflecting the daunting nature of its job and some troubles within the panel.

More >> Kansas Foster Care Fix-It Panel Still Looking For Repairs

• Facing Mounting Troubles, Kansas Child Welfare Agency Asks Lawmakers For Additional Money
• Sedgwick Co. Judge believes DCF needs more than extra funding to help children

Woman charged in foster baby's death released from jail

The woman accused of child abuse in the death of an 11-month-old girl has been released from jail. Stephanie Crownover left the Valencia County Magistrate Courthouse Tuesday emotional, after spending the past week in jail facing child abuse charges.

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'They're going to think I bashed him': Woman's panicked 000 phone call after finding her bruised 20-month-old foster baby dead - as she faces court charged with his murder

A foster mother's panicked triple-zero call after a baby in her care was found dead has been revealed - as she told operators police will 'think I bashed the child'.

The woman, 40, has been charged with murder after a 20-month-old foster baby in her care was found dead in a bed with a broken leg and badly bruised face.

More >> 'They're going to think I bashed him': Woman's panicked 000 phone call after finding her bruised 20-month-old foster baby dead - as she faces court charged with his murder

Lawsuit alleging Missouri's foster kids drug prescriptions are unconstitutional proceeds

Claims that Missouri has historically and unconstitutionally failed foster children by prescribing psychotropic drugs are surviving challenges in federal court.

In a St. Louis University School of Law news release, a group of plaintiffs behind a federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of "all minor children who are or will be in Missouri foster care" are hailing a federal court judge's decision to preserve some of their claims, while dismissing others.

More >> Lawsuit alleging Missouri's foster kids drug prescriptions are unconstitutional proceeds

• Missouri Can’t Dodge Claims of Overmedicating Foster Kids

Oregon's child welfare agency is headed to trial over 2-year-old's death

SALEM – Oregon's child welfare agency is headed to trial later this year in a lawsuit seeking millions in damages for the death of a 2-year-old who died in the care of his stepfather.

On Monday, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Donald Abar ruled the lawsuit could proceed, despite objections from lawyers for the Department of Human Services and cities of Monmouth and Dallas.

More >> Oregon's child welfare agency is headed to trial over 2-year-old's death

Budget crisis could disrupt 'fragile' improvements in child welfare, monitors of DHS plan say

Noticeable progress within the child welfare division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services has been made, but it’s far from a permanent change in the system or culture.

On Tuesday, the monitors of the Pinnacle Plan released their bi-annual report of the agency’s reform effort, which launched in 2012 after a negotiated settlement in a federal class-action lawsuit that alleged abuses in foster care.

More >> Budget crisis could disrupt 'fragile' improvements in child welfare, monitors of DHS plan say

Australia's child protection system is ripping families apart

Child protection and family services should focus on assisting vulnerable families as opposed to removing children, says Gerry Georgatos.

More >> Australia's child protection system is ripping families apart

New trial date for Gary woman accused of smothering foster child

CROWN POINT — A woman accused of smothering her 1-year-old foster child was granted a new trial date as attorneys continue to review evidence in the case.

The request to reschedule a Feb. 5 trial for Jamilia S. Hodge was made at a court hearing Monday by her defense attorney, T. Edward Page.

More >> New trial date for Gary woman accused of smothering foster child

Foster mother accused of killing baby denied bail

She sobbed as the horrific murder allegations against her were read out.

More >> Foster mother accused of killing baby denied bail

• NSW foster mum accused of killing baby boy in her care

• Woman caring for 20-month-old foster baby charged with murder

Kids-for-cash judge has some convictions tossed

A federal judge Monday reversed some of disgraced former Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr.’s convictions, finding that his trial attorneys’ failure to pursue a statute of limitations defense “may have altered the outcome” of his trial.

Ciavarella, 67, was convicted of 12 of 39 charges for accepting kickbacks in exchange for funneling juvenile defendants to detention centers built by wealthy developer Robert K. Mericle’s construction firm and operated by companies controlled by former local attorney Robert Powell.

He was seeking reversal on some of those counts, arguing his trial attorneys were ineffective for failing to raise statute of limitations claims before the jury.

More >> Kids-for-cash judge has some convictions tossed

More >> I'm sorry, but this guy should be beaten in a jail cell. 

Kansas Child Welfare Wants More Money So Children Can Sleep In Homes Instead Of Offices

Kansas’ troubled child welfare agency asked lawmakers Monday for money to solve mounting problems -- foster kids sleeping on offices, children lost in the system, and a skyrocketing caseload.

More >> Kansas Child Welfare Wants More Money So Children Can Sleep In Homes Instead Of Offices

Rhode Island OKs settlement over child welfare system

Rhode Island has agreed to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit that alleges systemic abuse and neglect of the nearly 2,000 children living in state custody.

State officials and the nonprofit advocacy group Children's Rights on Monday announced the settlement of the lawsuit first filed in 2007.

More >> Rhode Island OKs settlement over child welfare system

• State reaches settlement in DCYF lawsuit prompted by toddler’s beating death
• R.I. agrees to settle lawsuit alleging improper treatment of children in state care

Missing Little Elm Teen Located: Police

A 15-year-old girl reported missing from Little Elm was found safe Monday with her parent who does not have parental rights.

More >> Missing Little Elm Teen Located: Police