Occupied with reining in rising property taxes and overhauling the school finance system, state lawmakers left Austin last month without substantively addressing other long-standing issues: the high number of uninsured Texas residents and problems that still plague the child foster care system.
Advocates were encouraged that bills addressing shortcomings in state social services, including those that would have expanded Medicaid, received public committee hearings at the beginning of the legislative session — something previous Legislatures had been loath to do. But dozens of bills — including those that would have extended Medicaid coverage for new mothers, prepared older teenagers to make the transition out of foster care, and instituted trauma-informed care across the child welfare system — died in large part because they carried hefty price tags.
More >> Lawmakers overlook high rates of uninsured, foster care fixes
Sunday, June 09, 2019
Civil rights groups sue over Trump foster care policies
Civil rights groups are filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration and the state of South Carolina, alleging the governments are making it easier for taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies to discriminate against same-sex and non-evangelical couples.
Thursday’s lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on behalf of a married lesbian couple. Eden Rogers and Brandy Welch were turned away by Miracle Hill Ministries, South Carolina’s largest state-contracted, federally-funded foster care agency.
More >> Civil rights groups sue over Trump foster care policies
Thursday’s lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on behalf of a married lesbian couple. Eden Rogers and Brandy Welch were turned away by Miracle Hill Ministries, South Carolina’s largest state-contracted, federally-funded foster care agency.
More >> Civil rights groups sue over Trump foster care policies
Saturday, June 08, 2019
What If We Gave Struggling Families as Much Support as Foster Parents?
When it comes to child welfare, social work experts and parents in B.C. say we’re investing in the wrong end of the system — pouring money into foster care instead of offering adequate support to vulnerable families, many of whom are Indigenous.
More >> What If We Gave Struggling Families as Much Support as Foster Parents?
More >> What If We Gave Struggling Families as Much Support as Foster Parents?
1 In 30 Kids In Foster Care In Texas Were Reported Missing Last Fiscal Year, Report Finds
More than 1,800 children and youth in foster care in Texas were reported missing during fiscal year 2018, according to a new report from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. DFPS was responsible for more than 52,000 kids during that period.
Similar numbers were reported in the previous two years.
More >> 1 In 30 Kids In Foster Care In Texas Were Reported Missing Last Fiscal Year, Report Finds
Similar numbers were reported in the previous two years.
More >> 1 In 30 Kids In Foster Care In Texas Were Reported Missing Last Fiscal Year, Report Finds
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
Auditor says DCF needs to do more to help kids aging out of system
Abused for much of their young lives, it's not surprising that many former foster children struggle as young adults.
Now the state auditor tells 5 Investigates there are far too many children not getting the support they need.
More >> Auditor says DCF needs to do more to help kids aging out of system
Now the state auditor tells 5 Investigates there are far too many children not getting the support they need.
More >> Auditor says DCF needs to do more to help kids aging out of system
DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
A Chicago nonprofit that provides adoption, foster care and related services for abused and neglected children is fighting allegations it misused taxpayer money after an extensive state audit revealed questionable charges for staff meals, traffic tickets and membership to a private social club, among other issues.
In a 64-page draft report obtained by the Tribune, auditors for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said they had “serious concerns” about spending by vendor Child Link as well as its internal controls. Issues highlighted in the confidential report included a lack of supporting documentation as well as disallowed expenses for food, entertainment and fundraising efforts.
More >> DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
In a 64-page draft report obtained by the Tribune, auditors for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said they had “serious concerns” about spending by vendor Child Link as well as its internal controls. Issues highlighted in the confidential report included a lack of supporting documentation as well as disallowed expenses for food, entertainment and fundraising efforts.
More >> DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
Shock as Scots children sent hundreds of miles away for foster care
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes condemned the situation, describing it as “a matter of great sadness”.
A Freedom of Information request by Ms Forbes revealed that one child was sent 484 miles (779km) to a foster home, seven children were placed more than 250 miles (402km) away and 11 were relocated more than 200 miles (322km).
More >> Shock as Scots children sent hundreds of miles away for foster care
A Freedom of Information request by Ms Forbes revealed that one child was sent 484 miles (779km) to a foster home, seven children were placed more than 250 miles (402km) away and 11 were relocated more than 200 miles (322km).
More >> Shock as Scots children sent hundreds of miles away for foster care
HHS cutting activities for unaccompanied children in shelters
The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is charged with caring for unaccompanied migrant children, is "scaling back" or canceling activities at shelters, citing the need for more resources.
A swell of migrants crossing the southern border has overwhelmed the agency's facilities, which house unaccompanied children until they are placed with a sponsor in the United States. The shelters provide schooling and activities for the children during their stay, but the increase of children arriving to the border has strained the department's resources.
More >> HHS cutting activities for unaccompanied children in shelters
A swell of migrants crossing the southern border has overwhelmed the agency's facilities, which house unaccompanied children until they are placed with a sponsor in the United States. The shelters provide schooling and activities for the children during their stay, but the increase of children arriving to the border has strained the department's resources.
More >> HHS cutting activities for unaccompanied children in shelters
Editorial: A chance for DCFS to better protect children — if taxpayer dollars are spent wisely
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a $40 billion state budget this week that includes a hefty increase for the Department of Children and Family Services — resources that should be directed toward child welfare protection, not lost in a bureaucratic abyss.
The budget that begins July 1 includes a nearly 11% hike for DCFS, bringing the agency’s total one-year appropriation to more than $1.3 billion. The increase was prompted in part by several heartbreaking child deaths, including that of 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake, whose parents are charged in his murder. The courts, DCFS employees and lawmakers consistently have cited too-high caseloads as a chronic problem that puts little lives at risk, including AJ’s.
More >> Editorial: A chance for DCFS to better protect children — if taxpayer dollars are spent wisely
The budget that begins July 1 includes a nearly 11% hike for DCFS, bringing the agency’s total one-year appropriation to more than $1.3 billion. The increase was prompted in part by several heartbreaking child deaths, including that of 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake, whose parents are charged in his murder. The courts, DCFS employees and lawmakers consistently have cited too-high caseloads as a chronic problem that puts little lives at risk, including AJ’s.
More >> Editorial: A chance for DCFS to better protect children — if taxpayer dollars are spent wisely
Why Is The U.S. State Department Making It Harder For Orphans To Find Families?
Jacques and Emily Rancourt have the kind of family you don’t see every day. Not only are they raising seven children—five through adoption—but most of their adopted children have life-threatening congenital heart defects. The Rancourts have spent so much time in cardiac care at Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. that they and another couple started a charity for families of children in cardiac crisis.
“Lily can connect with these children in the hospital like no one else can,” Emily says of her 9-year-old daughter, whose remarkable story includes receiving a heart transplant at age four. “She’s using the gift she was given to the maximum. She blesses people everywhere she goes.”
More >> Why Is The U.S. State Department Making It Harder For Orphans To Find Families?
“Lily can connect with these children in the hospital like no one else can,” Emily says of her 9-year-old daughter, whose remarkable story includes receiving a heart transplant at age four. “She’s using the gift she was given to the maximum. She blesses people everywhere she goes.”
More >> Why Is The U.S. State Department Making It Harder For Orphans To Find Families?
Oregon's foster care system remains in crisis, $1 million consultants brought in
Workers assigned to manage the state’s treatment of foster kids still have too much on their plates, according to an audit report released by Secretary of State Bev Clarno. To drive reforms more quickly, Gov. Kate Brown is paying an outside consulting firm $1 million to help.
More >> Oregon's foster care system remains in crisis, $1 million consultants brought in
Japan's adoption rules changed to allow older kids' ties to biological parents to be severed
They're beefing up their market.
The Diet on Friday passed a revision to increase the upper age limit at which a child can be adopted under a special system that allows ties to their biological parents to be severed.
Formerly, children’s ties to their biological parents could only be cut before the age of 6, but under the revised law children 14 and younger are now eligible.
More >> Japan's adoption rules changed to allow older kids' ties to biological parents to be severed
The Diet on Friday passed a revision to increase the upper age limit at which a child can be adopted under a special system that allows ties to their biological parents to be severed.
Formerly, children’s ties to their biological parents could only be cut before the age of 6, but under the revised law children 14 and younger are now eligible.
More >> Japan's adoption rules changed to allow older kids' ties to biological parents to be severed
Friday, June 07, 2019
8-Year-Old Forced to Put Rag in Her Mouth to Hush Her Screams During Beatings in Foster Home
An 8-year-old was so badly abused by her foster mother that her body was found covered with uncountable scars, scabs, blisters, and bruises from whip marks when police went to her foster home in Florida on May 16.
The child was forced to put a rag in her mouth while her foster family beat her so no one could hear her screams, reported the Sun Sentinel.
More >> 8-Year-Old Forced to Put Rag in Her Mouth to Hush Her Screams During Beatings in Foster Home
The child was forced to put a rag in her mouth while her foster family beat her so no one could hear her screams, reported the Sun Sentinel.
More >> 8-Year-Old Forced to Put Rag in Her Mouth to Hush Her Screams During Beatings in Foster Home
DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
A Chicago nonprofit that provides adoption, foster care and related services for abused and neglected children is fighting allegations it misused taxpayer money after an extensive state audit revealed questionable charges for staff meals, traffic tickets and membership to a private social club, among other issues.
In a 64-page draft report obtained by the Tribune, auditors for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said they had “serious concerns” about spending by vendor Child Link as well as its internal controls. Issues highlighted in the confidential report included a lack of supporting documentation as well as disallowed expenses for food, entertainment and fundraising efforts.
More >> DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
In a 64-page draft report obtained by the Tribune, auditors for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said they had “serious concerns” about spending by vendor Child Link as well as its internal controls. Issues highlighted in the confidential report included a lack of supporting documentation as well as disallowed expenses for food, entertainment and fundraising efforts.
More >> DCFS says nonprofit misused taxpayer dollars, demands repayment of $100K
Battle Pits Native American Tribes Against White Couple Over Adoption of Native Child in Case With Potential Affirmative Action Implications
In a case that may have implications for race-based affirmative action and other similar remedies offered to address centuries of racial discrimination in this nation, Native American tribes have banded together against a white couple over who should have custody of a Native American child.
Jennifer and Chad Brackeen of Texas are challenging federal law that requires Native American children to be adopted by a Native American family if a suitable one is available, the New York Times reports.
More >> Battle Pits Native American Tribes Against White Couple Over Adoption of Native Child in Case With Potential Affirmative Action Implications
Jennifer and Chad Brackeen of Texas are challenging federal law that requires Native American children to be adopted by a Native American family if a suitable one is available, the New York Times reports.
More >> Battle Pits Native American Tribes Against White Couple Over Adoption of Native Child in Case With Potential Affirmative Action Implications
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
Canada’s indigenous seek to break vicious cycle tearing families apart
The stain represents the violence of forcefully being taken away from his family to a boarding school intended to assimilate indigenous peoples. But it also represents the bonds to his grandfather, who brought him home and taught him the language, customs, and culture of his Halalt First Nation on Vancouver Island.
More >> Canada’s indigenous seek to break vicious cycle tearing families apart
More >> Canada’s indigenous seek to break vicious cycle tearing families apart
Social worker accused of watching child porn, offering minors cash for naked pictures
A Waukesha County social worker arrested last week offered to pay minors for naked pictures, WAOW affiliate WISN has learned.
Bernie Trokan is charged with possession of child pornography, and is now out of jail.
Trokan worked with children as a social worker with the Department of Health and Human Services for 17 years, but in the criminal complaint, prosecutors said he had disturbing child pornography on his cellphone.
More >> Social worker accused of watching child porn, offering minors cash for naked pictures
Bernie Trokan is charged with possession of child pornography, and is now out of jail.
Trokan worked with children as a social worker with the Department of Health and Human Services for 17 years, but in the criminal complaint, prosecutors said he had disturbing child pornography on his cellphone.
More >> Social worker accused of watching child porn, offering minors cash for naked pictures
State report: Foster care system will take years to fix
A year and a half ago, state watchdogs said the system overseeing care for Oregon's foster kids was in dire need of improvement.
They urged immediate improvements, but a new report released by state auditors Wednesday said the state is still risking children’s safety in a system so dysfunctional it will take years to fix.
More >> State report: Foster care system will take years to fix
They urged immediate improvements, but a new report released by state auditors Wednesday said the state is still risking children’s safety in a system so dysfunctional it will take years to fix.
More >> State report: Foster care system will take years to fix
Boy ‘given alcohol and raped’ at Scottish children’s home
A teenager was given alcohol and raped at a children’s home run by a religious order, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) has heard.
The witness, who is now in his 60s, said he thought he had been drugged as he recounted separate incidents of abuse at St Ninian’s in the 1970s.
More >> Boy ‘given alcohol and raped’ at Scottish children’s home
The witness, who is now in his 60s, said he thought he had been drugged as he recounted separate incidents of abuse at St Ninian’s in the 1970s.
More >> Boy ‘given alcohol and raped’ at Scottish children’s home
Flaws in Oregon’s child welfare system still place children at risk, review finds
Heavy workloads, a foster home shortage and failures to meet safety protocols within Oregon’s child welfare system continue to place children at risk, state auditors concluded in a report released Wednesday.
The reviewers checked on progress made by the Department of Human Services in the year since an extensive audit revealed widespread dysfunction that had been left unresolved for years. A central finding of the 2018 audit was that state officials repeatedly embarked on improvement efforts, only to ultimately abandon them.
More >> Flaws in Oregon’s child welfare system still place children at risk, review finds
The reviewers checked on progress made by the Department of Human Services in the year since an extensive audit revealed widespread dysfunction that had been left unresolved for years. A central finding of the 2018 audit was that state officials repeatedly embarked on improvement efforts, only to ultimately abandon them.
More >> Flaws in Oregon’s child welfare system still place children at risk, review finds
Records: Father warned officials of child abuse, mental health issues before girl's death
A Brighton mother who killed her 5-year-old daughter before taking her own life was investigated by police and state officials for child abuse less than two years ago and the child's father accused her of having mental health issues.
Melissa Partee killed her 5-year-old daughter, Isabella, before killing herself in her Brighton apartment. Their bodies were found around noon Monday. Police haven't indicated when either might have died.
The child’s father, Nathan Younkin, called the Shelby Township Police Department on Sept.11, 2017, and reported Partee was physically abusing Isabella.
More >> Records: Father warned officials of child abuse, mental health issues before girl's death
Melissa Partee killed her 5-year-old daughter, Isabella, before killing herself in her Brighton apartment. Their bodies were found around noon Monday. Police haven't indicated when either might have died.
The child’s father, Nathan Younkin, called the Shelby Township Police Department on Sept.11, 2017, and reported Partee was physically abusing Isabella.
More >> Records: Father warned officials of child abuse, mental health issues before girl's death
Thursday, June 06, 2019
Mum fights to keep her children in the US
A mother embroiled in a divorce tussle is fighting the forcible removal of her children from the US.
The children's father has a court order granting him sole custody and wants his three daughters back in Kenya.
More >> Mum fights to keep her children in the US
The children's father has a court order granting him sole custody and wants his three daughters back in Kenya.
More >> Mum fights to keep her children in the US
State lawmakers voted to force ‘chemical castration’ on sex offenders. Medical experts urge caution.
A bill in Alabama awaiting the governor’s signature would require people convicted of certain sex offenses to undergo “chemical castration” as a condition of parole — a requirement meant to keep perpetrators from committing similar crimes.
The proposed law, passed by the state legislature, says a judge must order anyone convicted of a sex offense involving a child under the age of 13 to start receiving testosterone-inhibiting medication a month before their release from prison. Most offenders would have to pay for their treatment, which would be administered by the Department of Public Health, until a judge decides the medication is no longer necessary.
More >> State lawmakers voted to force ‘chemical castration’ on sex offenders. Medical experts urge caution.
The proposed law, passed by the state legislature, says a judge must order anyone convicted of a sex offense involving a child under the age of 13 to start receiving testosterone-inhibiting medication a month before their release from prison. Most offenders would have to pay for their treatment, which would be administered by the Department of Public Health, until a judge decides the medication is no longer necessary.
More >> State lawmakers voted to force ‘chemical castration’ on sex offenders. Medical experts urge caution.
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