3-Year-Old Asked To Pick Parent In Attempted Family Separation, Her Parents Say

At a Border Patrol holding facility in El Paso, Texas, an agent told a Honduran family that one parent would be sent to Mexico while the other parent and their three children could stay in the United States, according to the family. The agent turned to the couple's youngest daughter — 3-year-old Sofia, whom they call Sofi — and asked her to make a choice.

"The agent asked her who she wanted to go with, mom or dad," her mother, Tania, told NPR through an interpreter. "And the girl, because she is more attached to me, she said mom. But when they started to take [my husband] away, the girl started to cry. The officer said, 'You said [you want to go] with mom.' "

More >> 3-Year-Old Asked To Pick Parent In Attempted Family Separation, Her Parents Say

Mother accused of letting husband abuse adopted twins released with GPS monitor

Regina Ceska, accused of doing nothing while her husband allegedly abused their adoptive twin daughters both physically and sexually over a six-year period, was released on her own recognizance pending her trial.

She is charged with second-degree misdemeanors for failing to report abuse of a cognitively disabled or otherwise impaired adult and neglect of an adult she had care for. The twins, who were adopted when they were 11 years old, turn 22 Tuesday.

More >> Mother accused of letting husband abuse adopted twins released with GPS monitor

'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Little is revealed at the outset of Manitoba child protection cases about why kids are taken into care, a recent CBC investigation into child protection court found — but lawyers in two other provinces say that's not the case where they practise.

But they also said that they're up against many of the same challenges those working on CFS cases in Manitoba face: court delays, heavy caseloads and a system that isn't designed to deal with the complicated nature of families.

More >> 'Operating in the dark': How much detail courts get in child protection cases depends on where you live

Pennsylvania missionary arrested for allegedly abusing children at an orphanage in Kenya

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing children at an orphanage he founded in Kenya, federal officials said.

Gregory Dow, 60, was taken into custody Friday at his home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He started a home for orphaned children in the east African nation in 2008, and allegedly abused the minors under his care for years, according to the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

More >> Pennsylvania missionary arrested for allegedly abusing children at an orphanage in Kenya

Are immigrant children free to leave shelters ‘at anytime,’ as a Republican Congressman said?

The claim: At shelters for migrant children, “There's not a lock on the door. Any child is free to leave at anytime, but they don't. You know why? Because they are well taken care of. And yes, at some point they’re going to live with family, generally not mother or father, but some family member, that’s a good thing." — Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Denton, during a June 24 MSNBC interview. "

More >> Are immigrant children free to leave shelters ‘at anytime,’ as a Republican Congressman said?

• Schumer Pushes Bill to Protect Migrants After Facing Heat from Local Activists
• Ex-CEO of nonprofit that houses migrant children earned over $3.5 million: report
• Cuccinelli won’t rule out separating children from parents in ICE raids
• New Texas child detention center is clean and bright – but it's still a jail

Why An Attorney May Not Be Enough In Child Welfare Cases

Jason Bragg was confused. He felt angry. But more than anything, he wanted his son back.

Washington authorities removed the 4-year-old from his father’s custody in January 2012 after receiving reports of drug use by Bragg. It took 20 months for the ensuing child welfare case to be dismissed and for Bragg to fully regain custody of his son.
More >> Why An Attorney May Not Be Enough In Child Welfare Cases

'I Was Utterly Gutted': Farai Chideya Endures 3 Failed Adoptions

Farai Chideya wanted to become a mother. Five years and $50,000 after she began this quest, Chideya is still childless but has gained a harsh lesson about the ills of America's adoption system.

Three times, Chideya was matched with a child and three times the mother changed her mind.

More >> 'I Was Utterly Gutted': Farai Chideya Endures 3 Failed Adoptions

Reworked Adoption Bill will give children and parents more rights

The new amendment would involve the state giving birth parents six months to come forward and object to a disclosure of information about them to their children

More >> Reworked Adoption Bill will give children and parents more rights

Mother says fight for child on Spirit Lake felt hopeless

A silent tear rolled down Nina Martin’s cheek as she looked around the pink, Minnie Mouse-themed bedroom. A neat pile of toys sit in the corner and the closet is filled with tiny hangers holding up brightly colored clothes in hopes that someday Martin will again see her 3-year-old daughter.

More >> Mother says fight for child on Spirit Lake felt hopeless

Parents furious as schools ban teachers from putting sun cream on pupils over ‘child abuse’ accusation fears

FURIOUS parents are claiming that schools are banning teachers from dabbing life-saving sun cream on pupils as they might be accused of child abuse.

Concerned mums and dads are flocking to sign a petition launched by parent Leigh O'Connor to change the rules and make it a legal duty of care to prevent children being put at risk of an early death from skin cancer.

More >> Parents furious as schools ban teachers from putting sun cream on pupils over ‘child abuse’ accusation fears

Buxton man arrested after police say he pushed DHHS caseworkers

A Buxton man faces several charges after police said he pushed two Maine Department of Health and Human Services caseworkers at his home as part of an investigation.

Buxton and Saco Police were on scene with the caseworkers at a home on Town Farm Road when George Casey, 63, came home.

More >> Buxton man arrested after police say he pushed DHHS caseworkers

SC couple accused of falsifying overseas adoption documents

The U.S. Department of Justice says a South Carolina couple tried to get around overseas adoption rules by telling immigration officials a baby they adopted in the Philippines was their biological child.

The State reports federal prosecutors indicted 24-year-old Stephanie Jean Locker and 46-year-old Gerald Vincent Locker Jr. on charges of conspiracy and making false statements in a passport application.

More >> SC couple accused of falsifying overseas adoption documents

Nurse was fired for reporting child neglect, disgusting conditions at group homes, suit claims

A former nurse who complained about “disgusting and unsanitary” conditions and inadequate staffing at several South Jersey group homes for children claims in a new lawsuit that she was fired for being a whistleblower.

Doreen M. Romalino, of Franklinville, filed suit against the Center for Family Services, Inc. in Superior Court of Camden County Friday afternoon under the state’s Conscientious Employment Protection Act, known as CEPA.

More >> Nurse was fired for reporting child neglect, disgusting conditions at group homes, suit claims

Ivanka Trump shock: How Ivanka’s mother ‘threatened to put her up for adoption’

Dubbed the First Daughter due to her unusually high position in her father Donald Trump’s administration, Ivanka has been vying for his approval her whole life. However, she reportedly “had her moments” as a teenager that pushed her mother to make a shocking threat of being put up for adoption. In an interview with Marie Clare in 2007, she said: “I think my mum threatened to put me up for adoption a few times.”

More >> Ivanka Trump shock: How Ivanka’s mother ‘threatened to put her up for adoption’

2 teens with 'significant mental health issues' missing after leaving foster home

The Park County Sheriff's office is asking for help locating two teenage girls who ran away from a therapeutic foster care home where they were receiving treatment for significant mental health issues.

Emma Stokes and Anna Frankman, both 16, were last seen in the area of Mount Evans Boulevard in Pine Junction around 10 p.m. on July 7, the sheriff's office said.

More >> 2 teens with 'significant mental health issues' missing after leaving foster home

At Least 30 Migrant Children Have Been Separated From Their Parents for More Than a Year

A report from the House Oversight Committee provides new details on the calamity at the U.S.-Mexico border.

More >> At Least 30 Migrant Children Have Been Separated From Their Parents for More Than a Year

• Border Patrol Agents Are Passing Around a Coin Mocking Care for Migrant Kids
• U.S. Senators Introduce Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act
• A doctor will assess migrants in U.S. custody along the border: Deal reached amid lawsuit
• The “Pro-Life” Movement Is Silent About Children Dying at the Border

Federally Funded Evangelical Foster Agency Still Won’t Accept Jewish Or Queer Volunteers

A federally funded Christian foster agency in South Carolina has decided to open its doors to prospective foster parents and employees who aren’t evangelical Protestants ― but the organization’s ban on working with people who are LGBTQ, progressive Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or from other faiths remains intact.

Greenville’s Miracle Hill Ministries, the state’s largest foster care organization for children who don’t have significant special needs, previously had strict rules about only hiring and working with foster parents and volunteers who subscribe to a set of conservative evangelical principles. In practice, that meant even Catholics were reportedly rejected by the ministry.

More >> Federally Funded Evangelical Foster Agency Still Won’t Accept Jewish Or Queer Volunteers

Report: DCFS failed to remove boy from home, despite court order weeks before death

A 4-year-old California boy who reportedly begged not to live with his parents was allowed to remain in their home despite a court order to remove him. Noah Cuatro died weeks later under suspicious circumstances.


His parents, Jose and Ursula Cuatro, are now under investigation in his death, according to the Los Angeles Times.

More >> Report: DCFS failed to remove boy from home, despite court order weeks before death

Utah Facility Housing Oregon Foster Youth To Close After Reports Of Abuse

An out-of-state treatment facility that houses Oregon foster children is shutting down as it faces numerous reports of serious safety concerns.

Red Rock Canyon School, in St. George, Utah, was the site of an intense brawl and faces accusations of staff assaults of students. The school, owned by Sequel Youth and Family Services, will close at the end of summer.

More >> Utah Facility Housing Oregon Foster Youth To Close After Reports Of Abuse

Commentary: CPS Caseworker

This is the second of a four-part series on a case study of liberty loss through government overreach.

More >> Commentary: CPS Caseworker

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against DHHS from mother seeking contact with her daughter

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed an Eddington woman’s lawsuit that sought to force the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to allow her contact with her 7-year-old daughter, who in May was living with her father’s girlfriend in Ellsworth under an agency safety plan.

U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker said the case belonged in state court because “federal courts do not have jurisdiction to issue child custody decrees.”

More >> Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against DHHS from mother seeking contact with her daughter

To get children in stable homes faster, new Florida law tougher on parents' rights, timetable

Parents whose children are in protective custody will have less time to get them back before their parental rights can be terminated, under a new Florida law.

The law, called A Year is a Long Time In the Life of a Child, aims to save money and get neglected and abused children into permanent homes faster by showing parents a tougher hand.

More >> To get children in stable homes faster, new Florida law tougher on parents' rights, timetable

PD: Foster dad in Gilbert arrested for child molestation

A foster dad has been arrested in Gilbert for child molestation, police say, and his wife spoke exclusively to Arizona's Family.

More >> PD: Foster dad in Gilbert arrested for child molestation

N.J. caseworker with ‘direct access to children’ produced child pornography, feds say

A caseworker with New Jersey’s child welfare agency - who was previously fired from a teaching job over allegations about his conduct with students - was charged Friday with producing images of child sexual abuse, according to court documents and officials.

Kayan Frazier faces federal charges of producing visual depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, receipt of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. The 27-year-old was already in custody at the Atlantic County jail since his April arrest on state child pornography offenses.

More >> N.J. caseworker with ‘direct access to children’ produced child pornography, feds say

Sister, adoptive mom testify at Rosenbaum trial

Doctor visits, a heartbreaking encounter in a Walmart and wrangling over allowing a teddy bear in court marked Friday's testimony in the murder trial of Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum. The pair are charged in the 2015 death of foster child Laila Daniel.

Amanda Harrill, the adoptive mother of Laila’s big sister Millie, testified that Millie, who just finished first grade, had gotten into trouble for “lying" at school in what Millie said was a mix-up about which group she should have been studying with.

More >> Sister, adoptive mom testify at Rosenbaum trial

• Testimony wraps up in foster child death trial