Legally Kidnapped

Shattering Your Child Welfare Delusions Since 2007


Friday, October 31, 2014

Child Protective Services Are Officially Looking Into ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Case

Child Protective Services Are Officially Looking Into ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Case

It looks like the ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo‘ scandal is an endless one. Mama June’s mother, Sandra Hale, sat down for an interview with ET where she opened up about the horrific situation — including a conversation she had with child protective services about the danger she believes Mama June’s youngest child, Alana, may currently be facing. You can watch the interview posted above.

Man Who Molested Children Becomes Foster Parent, Molests More Kids




Child protection: how to keep vulnerable kids with their families

Child protection: how to keep vulnerable kids with their families

After a long period of expansion in the number of children living in out-of-home care, most modern child protection systems around the world have been labouring to prevent such placements. Instead, they’re choosing to work more closely with families to safely maintain children in their own homes.

Officials issue warning about fake DCF worker in Polk County

Officials issue warning about fake DCF worker in Polk County

Officials with the Department of Children and Families are warning about an unknown individual posing as a DCF investigator in Polk County.

7 Family Law Questions Non-Family Lawyers Get Wrong

7 Family Law Questions Non-Family Lawyers Get Wrong

Since quite a bit of time has probably passed since taking the Bar Exam, here is a refresher with seven divorce questions attorneys may encounter at happy hour or an upcoming holiday dinner.

Children's social work to have new set of standards - Not Good News!!!

Children's social work to have new set of standards

The government has announced changes to children's social work in England, to restore confidence in the service.

Court ruling may affect welfare entitlements of one-parent families

Court ruling may affect welfare entitlements of one-parent families

A High Court ruling in an action by a separated father of four may have signficant implications for the welfare entitlements of one-parent families. Among the court’s findings is the man was wrongly treated as a single person for the purpose of considering his application for rent allowance.

Foster mother of surrogate child moves court for maternity leave

Foster mother of surrogate child moves court for maternity leave

A state-employed Kerala woman, who became a mother with the help of surrogate parent, pleaded in the the High Court for maternity leave to take care of the child.

Child abuse expert says foster mother's story doesn't match injuries

Child abuse expert says foster mother's story doesn't match injuries

A pediatric abuse investigator testified Thursday that none of the claims made by Alexandria Hill's foster mother can explain what caused fatal injuries to the toddler in 2013.

State in talks with expert to lead foster child death investigation

State in talks with expert to lead foster child death investigation

State officials are negotiating a contract with child welfare expert Mike Capello to conduct an independent investigation of a Clark County foster child who was killed while in care.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Fear of Ebola Leaves Orphaned Children Abandoned

Fear of Ebola Leaves Orphaned Children Abandoned

13-year-old Jennette’s (name changed by UNICEF) grandmother died from Ebola. Shortly after attending the funeral, Jennette began to feel sick. When fever developed, she was taken to a local treatment center along with her mother and sister. All three family members tested positive for Ebola. Against all odds, they were successfully treated and released.


Crown tells abuse victims sorry

Crown tells abuse victims sorry

The NSW Crown Solicitor has apologised to child sex abuse victims who were asked to prove they were abused even though the state knew they had been.

Five testify in foster mom's murder trial

Five testify in foster mom's murder trial

Mary Sweeney held her 2-year-old daughter, Alexandria Hill, for 15 minutes after she was taken off of life support on July 31, 2013, a medical specialist testified Wednesday during Sherill Small's capital murder trial in a Milam County courtroom.

‘Reducing social worker visits to long-term foster placements misses the point’

‘Reducing social worker visits to long-term foster placements misses the point’

Paul Adams, fostering development consultant at BAAF, says social worker consistency and approaches matters more than the number of visits

Note: It also gives the foster parents time to hide the abuse.

Teen accused of killing 5-year-old foster brother told police he could lie, but not kill

Teen accused of killing 5-year-old foster brother told police he could lie, but not kill

In a video recording shown to the court, Cody Metzker-Madsen said a mysterious figure that stared at him would sometimes appear near the wooded area surrounding his rural home in Logan.

Labour TD Anne Ferris: "I was date raped at 16 and forced to give my baby up for adoption."

Labour TD Anne Ferris: "I was date raped at 16 and forced to give my baby up for adoption."

Brave TD Anne Ferris today reveals how she was forced to give up her baby after being date-raped as a teenager.

Law commission to suggest amendment to Guardians and Wards Act

Law commission to suggest amendment to Guardians and Wards Act 

Shared parenting, a common feature in the West and developed nations, is still alien to India. But with divorce cases rising in the courts, petitions for such a concept is growing here.

Director ‘shocked’ by social worker sex allegations

Director ‘shocked’ by social worker sex allegations

The director of the San Mateo County Human Services Agency said Wednesday she is “horrified” by allegations that one of her employees was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 16-year-old girl he was supposed to help.

CPS Commissioner says he vows to improve the system

CPS Commissioner says he vows to improve the system

How do you reform Child Protective Services? The agency tasked with protecting children like 2-year-old Colton Turner.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Fayette County man sentenced to up to 75 years for sex crimes

Fayette County man sentenced to up to 75 years for sex crimes

A 58-year-old Fayette County man was sentenced Wednesday to up to 75 years for sexual crimes committed against his 15-year-old niece and foster child.


Judge refuses to declare mistrial in case of Army couple accused of child abuse in N.J.

Judge refuses to declare mistrial in case of Army couple accused of child abuse in N.J.

A federal judge refused to declare a mistrial Wednesday after lawyers for an Army couple charged with child abuse objected to the testimony of a child services worker who told the jury that it was the worst case of abuse she had seen.

Judge Hears Police Interview of Teen on Trial in Foster Child’s Murder

Judge Hears Police Interview of Teen on Trial in Foster Child’s Murder

An Iowa teen facing a murder charge angrily denied killing a five-year-old boy in a video played in court Wednesday.

Parents With Kids In Foster Care Ask Dr. Phil For Advice On Regaining Custody (VIDEO)

Parents With Kids In Foster Care Ask Dr. Phil For Advice On Regaining Custody (VIDEO)









Seventeen-year-old Andrue claims that his mother and stepfather physically and mentally abused him and his three younger siblings for years. The teen says he attempted to end his life out of desperation to escape the alleged abuse.

West Midlands Police have six weeks to improve child protection investigations after scathing report

West Midlands Police have six weeks to improve child protection investigations after scathing report

West Midlands Police has been given six weeks to improve its child protection investigations after a scathing report found a 'general lack' of understanding among staff and 'weak' responses to complex cases.

Carbon County woman charged with making false child abuse allegations

Carbon County woman charged with making false child abuse allegations

A 28-year-old Mahoning Township woman who allegedly exaggerated injuries to a 5-year-old boy in a case in which the boy's uncle was charged with assault has been charged with making false reports to police.

San Mateo County social worker arrested on child molestation charges

San Mateo County social worker arrested on child molestation charges

A San Mateo County social worker was arrested on 18 counts of felony child molestation after a 16-year-old girl he was assigned to help through Child Protective Services reported they had a sexual relationship.

Former Baby P child protection chief Sharon Shoesmith says SHE is a 'victim' because she cannot get a job following 2007 killing


The former head of children's services at the council which failed to save Baby P from being tortured to death has claimed she was a 'victim' of the scandal.

‘Politician, heal thyself!’: Social work academics react to the Baby P documentary

‘Politician, heal thyself!’: Social work academics react to the Baby P documentary

The BBC documentary on Baby Peter was extremely distressing to watch and we salute the brave and principled programme makers and those who spoke out in it.

Over a third of social workers feel their caseload is unsafe

Over a third of social workers feel their caseload is unsafe

Over a third of social workers feel their caseload has become unsafe, according to a Community Care online survey of 420 social workers.


Trial into death of foster child Alexandria Hill begins in Cameron

Trial into death of foster child Alexandria Hill begins in Cameron

"Even if it was accidental, I would not shake a baby," Sherill Small said during a July 31, 2013, interview with Rockdale police. "If I would have shook her, I would tell you."

Report slamming Mass. foster care puts Coakley on defense

Report slamming Mass. foster care puts Coakley on defense

A bombshell federal report ranking the Bay State dead last in the nation in keeping foster kids safe took center stage in the opening round of last night’s final televised debate, when Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley wrangled over who would best protect the state’s most vulnerable children as governor.

Couple sue CYFD over adopted son’s alleged abuse by foster parents

Couple sue CYFD over adopted son’s alleged abuse by foster parents

A Washington state couple are suing the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, alleging the agency failed to properly screen a Clovis-area foster couple accused of raping some of the children in their care, including a boy the Washington couple later adopted.

Charges dropped against man accused of sexually assaulting adopted sons

Charges dropped against man accused of sexually assaulting adopted sons

All sexual assault criminal charges against George Harasz have been dropped.

Erie County CPS has changed since boy’s murder

Erie County CPS has changed since boy’s murder

Relatives say they had called CPS dozens of times before the violent death of Eain Brooks.

Family sues Virginia Beach in infant boy's starvation

Family sues Virginia Beach in infant boy's starvation

The family of a 13-month-old who died two years ago has sued the city, claiming the Department of Human Services could have prevented his death.

Lawmakers call for audit of Milwaukee child welfare bureau

Lawmakers call for audit of Milwaukee child welfare bureau

Twelve state lawmakers, responding to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation that found thousands of incomplete child protective service investigations, have asked for a state audit of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare.

Testimony: Teen had volatile temper


The foster mother of an Iowa teenager charged with first-degree murder told a judge today that the teen had trouble "telling right from wrong" while playing with other children.

Feds: Bay State dead last in keeping foster kids safe

Feds: Bay State dead last in keeping foster kids safe

The Bay State’s embattled child welfare system ranked dead last in the country in keeping kids in foster care safe, according to a new bombshell federal review that critics say deserves “immediate attention” from the Patrick Administration and his would-be replacement.


Most parents in child care court cases are not married and raising children alone

Most parents in child care court cases are not married and raising children alone

A FAMILY COURT to handle child care orders is needed as soon as possible, according to the second Interim Report from the Child Care Law Reporting Project.

When smoking pot legally can mean losing your kids

When smoking pot legally can mean losing your kids

Months before she and her husband decided to get pregnant, Maggie stopped using medicinal marijuana to treat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. What do you think?

Child abuse victims face 'postcode lottery' when dealing with Police

Child abuse victims face 'postcode lottery' when dealing with Police

A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children (APPGC) warns that children who have suffered sexual abuse face a 'postcode lottery' in the way that they are treated by police officers.

The group found that many young people's first experience of the police is as a victim or a suspected offender and many children first encounter the police through being stopped and searched.

Insanity defense on tap for teen in foster child's death



Insanity defense on tap for teen in foster child's death

A teen accused of killing a 5-year-old boy and leaving his body at the bottom of a ravine will likely face years in state care, regardless of the outcome of his trial, legal experts said.

Why Baby P: The Untold Story was an uncomfortable lesson in the failings of humanity

Why Baby P: The Untold Story was an uncomfortable lesson in the failings of humanity

His was the face that haunted us for months.

How could the blue-eyed, blond and obviously vulnerable child, known to us all as Baby P, have met such a shocking death at just 17 months?

Dozens Of Homeless Kids Forced To Sleep In Arizona State Buildings

Dozens Of Homeless Kids Forced To Sleep In Arizona State Buildings

Department officials confirmed to CBS 5 News in Phoenix that children with nowhere to stay slept at 12 offices throughout the greater Phoenix area of Maricopa and Pima Counties due to lack of space in group homes and foster families. Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, officials recorded 36 minors sleeping overnight in the facilities -- 10 were between 2 and 5 years old, 11 were between 6 and 12 years old and 15 were between 13 and 18 years old.

Man fights $30K child support; says kid isn’t his

Man fights $30K child support; says kid isn’t his

A bizarre child support case where the state is demanding a man to pay thousands of dollars or go to prison even though everyone agrees the kid is not his.

Falling through the cracks - runaway child case sheds light on Louisiana state policies

Falling through the cracks - runaway child case sheds light on Louisiana state policies

It was the case of a runaway child with a seemingly happy ending. 11-year-old Grayson "Blayne" Bell of Plain Dealing was reported missing October 14th- and found the next day. But on October 16th, Bossier Parish authorities announced the arrest of Grayson's father and his girlfriend on several charges- including cruelty to a juvenile and criminal neglect of family member.  And the more we learn about this family - and state policies - the more troubling this story gets.

UN told of allegations of torture in Australia’s child welfare system

UN told of allegations of torture in Australia’s child welfare system

Allegations of electric shocks and other forms of torture in orphanages and foster properties within Australia’s child welfare technique have been detailed in a submission to the United Nations.

Arizona's foster care system is filling up fast

Arizona's foster care system is filling up fast

On average, 32 children are placed in Arizona's foster care system every day.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Foster care, trafficking examined


The first in a series of conferences aimed at preventing human trafficking features a film that is not about trafficking.

Trial starts for teen who allegedly killed 5-year-old foster brother

Trial starts for teen who allegedly killed 5-year-old foster brother

An Iowan accused of killing a 5-year-old boy and leaving his body at the bottom of a ravine will likely face years in state care, regardless of the outcome of his trial, legal experts said.

More proof that the normal people of Minnesota aren't to bright.

Minnesota Poll: Child protection gets passing grade

Most Minnesotans give the child protection system a passing grade, although a third say officials need to be more aggressive in removing children from abusive homes.

Attack Ads Rile Sacramento State Senate Candidates

Attack Ads Rile Sacramento State Senate Candidates

The race for Sacramento’s open State Senate seat between two assembly members is getting heated as the election nears. Assembly member Roger Dickinson held a news conference to refute a television ad and mailers by supporters of his opponent, Dr. Richard Pan, also an assembly member.

Phoenix mom misses deadline for kids' trust fund

Phoenix mom misses deadline for kids' trust fund

The Valley mother who left her young children in a hot car while she attended a job interview has yet to place $60,000 into a trust fund for her children and is in breach of a deferred prosecution agreement, a judge said Monday.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Indiana rejects fired ex-DCS workers' appeals

Indiana rejects fired ex-DCS workers' appeals

A state agency has rejected the appeals of two former Indiana child-welfare workers fired following the death of a paralyzed young woman.

Murder-Suicide Puts Clark County Welfare System Under Microscope

Murder-Suicide Puts Clark County Welfare System Under Microscope

After 16-month-old Michell Momox-Caselis was killed earlier this month in an apparent murder-suicide involving her foster father, Clark County’s child welfare system is under scrutiny.


Bakersfield couple accused in foster child's death extradited from Mexico

Bakersfield couple accused in foster child's death extradited from Mexico

A Bakersfield couple charged in the death of their 3-year old foster child -- and then fleeing to Mexico -- has been returned to Kern County.

US foster parents seeking to cancel adoption of Russian children knew their diagnoses

US foster parents seeking to cancel adoption of Russian children knew their diagnoses

American foster parents, who are seeking to cancel adoption of their Russian children on the grounds they knew nothing about the children’s health condition, did know their diagnoses, since they had a complete dossier on each child, Russian children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov told TASS on Monday.

Number Of Homeless Kids In NYC Spikes 63 Percent In 5 Years: Report

Number Of Homeless Kids In NYC Spikes 63 Percent In 5 Years: Report

New York City neighborhoods known for their middle-class appeal may be tumbling down the socioeconomic ladder, and children are suffering the consequences.

Orphans without grants

Orphans without grants

Shortages of social workers and children courts are some of the factors behind 1 million orphaned children not getting foster care grants.

Social workers say 1.5 million orphans are entitled to grants.

T-R Special Report: Do laws foster problems?

T-R Special Report: Do laws foster problems?

Accurate, timely reporting of child abuse and neglect in foster care doesn't always happen because federal laws encourage state and local agencies not to report every case of maltreatment — or risk losing federal funding.

Tonight’s Baby P documentary must address the media and political witch hunt against social workers

Tonight’s Baby P documentary must address the media and political witch hunt against social workers

It is seven years since 17-month-old Peter Connelly died and six years since the ‘Baby P’ story was generated by the media.

Mother of group home resident alleges rape of son

Mother of group home resident alleges rape of son

The mother of a teenage boy who says he was raped by a fellow resident of a South Windsor group home is suing the nonprofit that operates the facility, accusing staff of negligence.

DOCTOR tried to suffocate his 10-year-old disabled foster son by putting a latex glove down his throat

DOCTOR tried to suffocate his 10-year-old disabled foster son by putting a latex glove down his throat

A foster father who confessed to multiple instances of abuse against his disabled foster child is set to spend years behind bars.

Mama June’s kids could be taken away by child services

Mama June’s kids could be taken away by child services

There’s a very real chance that June “Mama June” Shannon could lose custody of Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson.

Florida at-risk children left behind in campaign rhetoric, advocates say

Florida at-risk children left behind in campaign rhetoric, advocates say

One group of Floridians whose fate is riding on the upcoming governor’s race is at-risk children.


AZ Child Protective Services left huge pile of clients’ private info in Phoenix alley


Confidential Child Protective Services documents were found dumped in a Phoenix alley — exposing private and sensitive information about children and parents involved in CPS investigations.

Grassroots Effort To Fight Medical Kidnapping Of Baby Kathryn By UMC Children’s Hospital And CPS In Texas

Grassroots Effort To Fight Medical Kidnapping Of Baby Kathryn By UMC Children’s Hospital And CPS In Texas

In what appears to be an alarming trend, a 3-month-old baby girl was seized by Child Protective Services and UMC Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, over a medical disagreement. It has now been three weeks since her devastated mother has been able to see and hold her baby. The once happy baby Kathyrn was despondent when her mom last saw her because at the core of their being, babies NEED their mothers. There is a grassroots effort that has begun to help push back against the system and hopefully #BringKatHome.

Baby P social worker Maria Ward on being 'vilified' by media

Baby P social worker Maria Ward on being 'vilified' by media

The social worker in the case of Baby P, whose death in 2007 sparked a huge public outcry about how the authorities protect vulnerable children, has spoken about the case for the first time.

Couple wants to void adoption of ‘mentally ill’ Russian orphans

Couple wants to void adoption of ‘mentally ill’ Russian orphans

A Long Island couple has asked a judge to vacate the adoption of two Russian-born children who suffer from serious mental disorders and are now living in state institutions.

Fugitive pair returned to Kern to faces charges in foster child's death

Fugitive pair returned to Kern to faces charges in foster child's death

A man and woman wanted in connection with the July 18, 2010 death of a Bakersfield foster child have been returned by the FBI to Kern County to face charges.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Maze frontman Frankie Beverly says 'a little spanking' shouldn't ruin Adrian Peterson's career

Maze frontman Frankie Beverly says 'a little spanking' shouldn't ruin Adrian Peterson's career


From time to time, celebrities have been known to advocate for political causes, raise social issues and generally speak their minds at concerts here. 

Broomfield man found guilty of pimping girl in foster care system


A Jefferson County jury this week found a Broomfield man guilty of prostituting a 14-year-old girl over a period of two years.

Dads protest outside court to see their children

Dads protest outside court to see their children

TODAY marks 12 months since the last time Adam (not his real name) saw his daughter.


Law regulates use of restraint in schools

Law regulates use of restraint in schools

A law that went into effect last week establishes, for the first time, statewide standards for the use of physical restraint and seclusion on students in Alaska public schools.

Missing 11-year-old Avondale boy found safe

Missing 11-year-old Avondale boy found safe

An 11-year-old boy who had been missing since Wednesday morning has been found.

Mother, state senator blast state investigation of child's death

Mother, state senator blast state investigation of child's death

The day after an official report found four Child Protective Services workers failed to do their jobs in the case of 8-year-old Sarah Brasse, who died of untreated appendicitis in 2009, an upset state Sen. Carlos Uresti vowed to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session that targets problems at the agency that may have played a role in her death.

DCS addresses why foster kids are sleeping in state office buildings

DCS addresses why foster kids are sleeping in state office buildings

CBS5 was able Friday to get a first look inside Department of Child Safety offices where children as young as 2 years old are sleeping on some nights.



DCF Employees Switch To Lower Paying Jobs After Bell Tragedy

DCF Employees Switch To Lower Paying Jobs After Bell Tragedy

After the tragedy in bell took the lives of 8 people, including six children, many have wondered if it could have been avoided. Especially since the Department of Children and Families was investigating the case. Two DCF employees have moved to other positions within the agency for half the pay.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Girl, 16, reported missing from DCFS group home

Girl, 16, reported missing from DCFS group home

Police are asking the public’s help to find a 16-year-old girl who went missing from a West Ridge neighborhood group home nearly two weeks ago.


Detroit man fights $30k child support bill for kid that is not his

Detroit man fights $30k child support bill for kid that is not his

The State of Michigan is ordering a Detroit man to pay tens of thousands of dollars, or go to prison. The reason? He owes back child support for a child that everyone agrees is not his.

Missouri Family with Crying Child Escorted Off Plane



A Chesterfield, Missouri couple has filed a complaint with Frontier Airlines and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. They claim they were mistreated because their child was crying on a flight.

Surgeon arrested in Grand Forks receives 43-month prison term for attempted abuse of foster son

Surgeon arrested in Grand Forks receives 43-month prison term for attempted abuse of foster son

A surgeon arrested in Grand Forks after assaulting his disabled foster son in Minnesota received a 43-month prison sentence today.

St. Clair Shores foster mom accused of abusing baby

St. Clair Shores foster mom accused of abusing baby

Janice Nikitin believed her granddaughter Kallee Diggs was in good hands with 27-year-old foster mother Nichole Gomez.

Study reveals state of crisis in Canadian foster care system

Study reveals state of crisis in Canadian foster care system

A new study of foster care in Canada led by a researcher at Western University reveals a shrinking number of foster care providers are available across the country to care for a growing number of children with increasingly complex disorders.

Note: IOW, they're snatching too many kids.

Meck. DSS worker pleads guilty to fraud

Meck. DSS worker pleads guilty to fraud

A Mecklenburg County DSS social worker faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to Medicaid fraud conspiracy and illegal kickbacks.

Note: That's what System Sucks do.

Man Impersonating Social Services Worker Approaches Daycare

Man Impersonating Social Services Worker Approaches Daycare

Bismarck police are looking for a man after he approached a daycare saying he worked for Burleigh County Social Services.

Social workers could only need to visit children in long-term foster care placements twice a year

Social workers could only need to visit children in long-term foster care placements twice a year

The change is one of many set out by the Department for Education in response to its consultation on improving permanence for looked-after children

Boy accused of raping younger child moved to new facility

Boy accused of raping younger child moved to new facility

The youngster accused of molesting an 8-year-old boy in a Buffalo residential facility earlier this month has been relocated to another home for displaced children, Erie County Social Services officials said Thursday.

City man convicted of sexually assaulting four boys under his foster care

City man convicted of sexually assaulting four boys under his foster care

A man who was chosen along with his wife as the local Foster Family of the Year in 2007 now faces a lengthy prison sentence after sexually assaulting four foster boys under his care.

NGOs criticise ministerial committee probing foster care grants

NGOs criticise ministerial committee probing foster care grants

NONGOVERNMENTAL organisations (NGOs) have criticised Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini’s establishment of a ministerial committee to investigate backlogs and lapses in the foster care grant system.

Review of Clark County child welfare system draws state, federal backing

Review of Clark County child welfare system draws state, federal backing

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman Dina Titus pledged federal support Thursday in the push to reform Clark County’s child welfare system, now under scrutiny after a child was killed in foster care.

Changes may ease secrecy in child abuse cases

Changes may ease secrecy in child abuse cases

The special legislative Committee on Child Protection agreed to add several proposals for lawmakers to consider in January in an ongoing effort to boost the state’s child protection laws after the deaths of two toddlers this year.

Obtaining driver's license a rite of passage that eludes most teens in Utah foster care system

Obtaining driver's license a rite of passage that eludes most teens in Utah foster care system

Like any teenager, Sam Carling needed wheels.

But when he was old enough to obtain a driving permit, he was in foster care. Foster families weren't willing to assume the liability of young driver so none would give their consent for him to get a license.

Protection for Orphans and Children Affected by Ebola

Protection for Orphans and Children Affected by Ebola

There is an immediate need for funding to sustain and scale-up programming that supports the special needs of children who have been orphaned by caregivers’ deaths from Ebola, or who are extremely vulnerable because of the disease.

Portland police will be restricted from handcuffing children under 12, under new juvenile custody policy

Portland police will be restricted from handcuffing children under 12, under new juvenile custody policy

The controversial arrest and handcuffing of a 9-year-old girl in May 2013 has prompted Portland police to revise their juvenile custody policies.

Minn. GOP will stop using photo of abused child in TV ad after grandmother complains

Minn. GOP will stop using photo of abused child in TV ad after grandmother complains

The grandmother of 4-year-old Eric Dean, whose death by abuse in 2013 exposed gaps in Minnesota's child protection services, said Thursday that the state Republican Party agreed with her request to remove the child's photo from a TV ad critical of Gov. Mark Dayton.

Colleague Defends Embattled DCF Commissioner - And Her Pension

Colleague Defends Embattled DCF Commissioner - And Her Pension

Controversial former Department of Children and Families Commissioner Olga Roche resigned in May, but her last day on the state payroll was October 17.


Child's death: CPS workers failed to take proper steps, inspector finds

Child's death: CPS workers failed to take proper steps, inspector finds

The state Office of the Inspector General found that four Child Protective Services workers failed to follow state policy in the case of Sarah Brasse, an 8-year-old girl who, while under the watch of CPS, died of untreated appendicitis in 2009.



As Broward child wasted away, protectors looked but didn’t see

As Broward child wasted away, protectors looked but didn’t see

For about nine months, foster care caseworkers and their bosses made 13 visits to the Lauderhill home of Tamiyah Audain, held 30-minute meetings, conferred with other social service workers and filed numerous reports, all of which documented the preteen was in good health. She was actually losing half her body weight and slowly filling with poisons.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The urgent problem facing foster children today

The urgent problem facing foster children today

Most young adults can’t wait to turn 21, but for teens in the foster care system, the freedom that comes with this particular birthday is often coupled with panic and confusion. Finding a place to live, getting a job or continuing school with little help often proves to be too overwhelming.


Abuse charges against social worker dropped

Abuse charges against social worker dropped

The trial of a senior social worker accused of sex attacks on vulnerable boys has been thrown out of court.

As Decades of Korean Adoptions Dwindle, Identity Issues Remain

As Decades of Korean Adoptions Dwindle, Identity Issues Remain

Growing up in suburban Cranbury, NJ, Benjamin Oser, a Korean adoptee, often made fun of himself so he could feel more comfortable around his white classmates.

Social worker accused of raping boys in his care

Social worker accused of raping boys in his care

Brian Tansey is accused of repeatedly abusing a boy at a Wearside school and targeting another youngster during a trip from school on Tyneside, where he later worked.

Funeral held for local toddler killed by foster father

Funeral held for local toddler killed by foster father

A local toddler allegedly killed by her own foster father was laid to rest on Wednesday.

Man charged with killing foster child in court

Man charged with killing foster child in court

Jacob Salas, the man accused of murdering an 11-month-old girl, was set to be in court Thursday morning.

State's lawyers refused to acknowledge sex abuse of Aboriginal girls to avoid liability, royal commission hears


State government lawyers refused to acknowledge that horrific sexual abuse suffered by Aboriginal girls at a western NSW foster home ever took place as they sought to avoid legal liability for the abuse "at all cost", the royal commission into child sexual abuse has heard.

Is the Drugging of Foster Kids the New Norm?

Is the Drugging of Foster Kids the New Norm?

There are a number of parents who are familiar with having been pulled discreetly aside by a teacher or doctor and told that their child’s disruptive behavior needed to be treated with a psychotropic or psychiatric medication.

Three brothers, three different paths out of foster care

Three brothers, three different paths out of foster care

Matt, 14, Terrick, 12, and Joseph, 11 pretended to go to church that day in 2006, but in secret they had planned to run away and never come back. No more living with an angry grandmother who drank. No more beatings with the belt.

NSW government tried to 'wear down' women abused in state foster home

NSW government tried to 'wear down' women abused in state foster home

The NSW government tried to “wear down” 13 Aboriginal women abused at a state foster home to stop them suing, a royal commission has heard.


Father recognizes baby on social media after CPS announces he was abandoned

Father recognizes baby on social media after CPS announces he was abandoned

It was at one post office in southwest Houston that the unthinkable happened.

Ousted DCF chief delayed retirement until after turning 60

Ousted DCF chief delayed retirement until after turning 60

Olga Roche, the disgraced former child welfare chief ousted in April amid a firestorm of criticism, quietly retired as a state employee last Friday — right after she turned 60 — scoring a potentially hefty pension bump in the process, the Herald has learned.




Berkeley-based group speaks out for legal services for unaccompanied minors

Berkeley-based group speaks out for legal services for unaccompanied minors

When Erick, 5, and Ashlin, 3, were abandoned by their mother in their home in Honduras, their father wanted to care for them, but he needed help.

Inspections find vulnerable children had no social worker and waiting lists for assessments of potential and convicted child sex offenders

Inspections find vulnerable children had no social worker and waiting lists for assessments of potential and convicted child sex offenders

Inspections watchdog Hiqa has expressed serious concern over the management of potential child sex abusers in Co Donegal and over some children at risk of harm not having a social worker.

Conduct panel suspends social worker for failing to manage caseload

Conduct panel suspends social worker for failing to manage caseload

A social worker has been suspended from practice by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for failing to manage her caseload.

In Ebola-Afflicted Liberia, Orphanages Make a Tragic Comeback

In Ebola-Afflicted Liberia, Orphanages Make a Tragic Comeback

Feimata Dunoh once operated an orphanage outside Monrovia for children uprooted by years of civil war. Ebola has put her back in business.

NSW government lawyers accused of 'wearing the plaintiffs down' over child abuse allegations

NSW government lawyers accused of 'wearing the plaintiffs down' over child abuse allegations

NSW Government lawyers have been accused of trying to "wear the plaintiffs down" in a case involving children who suffered horrendous abuse in a children's home called Bethcar.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Police ‘put Sheffield youngsters at risk of child abuse’

Police ‘put Sheffield youngsters at risk of child abuse’

HUNDREDS of young people at risk of child sexual exploitation in Sheffield were let down by police, a whistleblower claimed this evening.

Child Welfare Agency Settles Lawsuits

Child Welfare Agency Settles Lawsuits

Five employees who had their names added to a child abuse registry as a form of discipline by Connecticut's child welfare agency will be taken off the list, union officials told The Associated Press.

Adrian Peterson Judge -- I Ain't Goin' Nowhere




Prosecutors in the Adrian Peterson child abuse case have a tough fight ahead of them ... they tried to 86 the judge for trashing them ... and they just failed. Judge Kelly Case will continue to preside in the trial ... even after calling the district attorney and Adrian's attorney "media whores." TMZ broke the story ... the D.A. demanded and got an apology from the judge ... but they wanted more -- they wanted him off the case.



Parents arrested in truancy sweep say there were reasons why their kids missed school

Parents arrested in truancy sweep say there were reasons why their kids missed school

Some of the 18 Jacksonville parents arrested on warrants charging them with repeatedly failing to send their children to elementary school say the officials who filed those got it wrong.

Advocate calls for new leadership for child welfare system

Advocate calls for new leadership for child welfare system

A longtime child advocate is calling for new leadership over Clark County’s child welfare system in wake of the recent death of a 16-month-old girl while in foster care.

Prosecution request to remove judge in Adrian Peterson child abuse case denied

Prosecution request to remove judge in Adrian Peterson child abuse case denied

A prosecution request to remove the judge handling the felony child abuse case against Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson was denied on Wednesday.

Ofsted accused of cover-up over lost Baby P assessment

Ofsted accused of cover-up over lost Baby P assessment

Ofsted has been accused of a staging a “cover-up” by a whistleblowing former employee over its handling of the “Baby P” scandal.


Governors says child abuse deaths have gone down, reports show deaths just kept off the books

Governors says child abuse deaths have gone down, reports show deaths just kept off the books

In Lake County, a disfigured 2-month-old whose mother did not want him is left alone in a motel room for 90 minutes, and is later found smothered. His family had been the subject of 38 prior investigations by the state’s child welfare agency.

Audit finds deficiencies with dozens of Bastrop County investigations

Audit finds deficiencies with dozens of Bastrop County investigations


An internal audit by the Bastrop County sheriff’s office has revealed dozens of cases with deficiencies because of improper record-keeping by one of investigators.

According to a statement issued by the sheriff’s office, 44 of 129 cases assigned to investigator Robert Torres between August 2012 and August 2014 lacked supplemental reports from other agencies — including state Child Protective Services reports — missed files or did not update investigations in the sheriff’s office’s system.

Doctor testifies in Army couple’s trial about suspicions of child abuse

Doctor testifies in Army couple’s trial about suspicions of child abuse

In treating the injured 2-year-old adopted daughter of Army Maj. John E. Jackson and his wife, Carolyn, a doctor testified Tuesday that he was reminded of a patient he had seen two years earlier with similar injuries: the girl’s adopted brother.

Couple say genetic disease is cause of child's injuries, not abuse

Couple say genetic disease is cause of child's injuries, not abuse

A mother of a 6-month-old says the state is wrongly accusing her of child abuse, although a doctor has confirmed her son suffers from a rare genetic disease that makes him prone to broken bones.

DCF boss tied to Spirit massacre also faulted in 2013 death


Last year, Yun Suk “Lee” Manchester was at the center of “a perfect storm”: a 2-year-old boy had become a virtual orphan when his mom, a drug-addicted prostitute, abandoned him to a stranger, but then insisted on taking him back. Child protection administrators left him in limbo, only to see him again months later at the Miami morgue.

Girl, 5, raped and flogged for being late for dinner at foster home, inquiry told

Girl, 5, raped and flogged for being late for dinner at foster home, inquiry told

A girl who was physically and sexually abused from the age of five until 15 by her foster parents at a home for Indigenous children was also lied to and convinced to be so terrified of her biological parents she would not speak to them, the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse has heard.


Foster Parents Sue Social Services For Not Telling Them About Son’s Sexual Past

Foster Parents Sue Social Services For Not Telling Them About Son’s Sexual Past

A Seattle couple plans to sue the Department of Social and Health Services for not telling them their foster son, who they have now adopted, molested children—eventually molesting their own kids.

Officials: Woman exchanged DSS info on children for cash, gifts

Officials: Woman exchanged DSS info on children for cash, gifts

Authorities said personal information for dozens of children was sold for cash and gifts.

Three CAS cases settled

Three CAS cases settled

Three former County foster children have reached out-of-court settlements with the Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society for damages stemming from sexual abuse sustained while they were in the society’s care.

Child ombudsman to investigate Denver newborn's death

Child ombudsman to investigate Denver newborn's death

The state's child welfare watchdog will look into why Denver child protection workers closed an abuse investigation just weeks before a newborn allegedly was beaten to death.

Our View: DCF sidesteps accountability

Our View: DCF sidesteps accountability

State child-protection investigators can’t be expected to predict the future, but they should be able to protect children when there is a history of abuse and neglect.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Lawsuit: Detained transgender teen treated as boy

Lawsuit: Detained transgender teen treated as boy

Lawyers for a 16-year-old transgender girl detained in Connecticut say she’s being forced to wear male clothing and staff members keep calling her by her male birth name.

Ebola hysteria sweeps US schools: Teacher who visited Dallas told not to come to work as hundreds of Mississippi parents pull kids school because principal visited Zambia... 3,000 miles from countries hit by the disease

Ebola hysteria sweeps US schools: Teacher who visited Dallas told not to come to work as hundreds of Mississippi parents pull kids school because principal visited Zambia... 3,000 miles from countries hit by the disease

A Maine elementary school teacher has been barred from school after visiting Dallas, Texas, where Ebola patients have been treated - despite having no contact with any suspected sufferers.


Committee established to probe foster care system issues


Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini on Monday announced the establishment of a ministerial committee to address problems facing the foster care system.

‘Slow’ response to foster care crisis slammed

‘Slow’ response to foster care crisis slammed

THE foster care system is in crisis and non-governmental organisations are questioning the Department of Social Development’s slow and limited response.

Concern over social worker caseloads in Wales

Concern over social worker caseloads in Wales

A warning that some social workers in Wales have workloads which are too high has been raised by unions.


Migrant detention "abuse" can scar children for life

Migrant detention "abuse" can scar children for life

An increasing number of migrant children are being detained in countries where they are seeking asylum despite a growing body of scientific evidence that such incarceration leads to long-term psychological and developmental difficulties.

Family wants investigation into death of foster child


There is heated criticism for a program a local attorney claims is responsible for a child's death. The child was murdered last weekend allegedly by her foster father.

Family says foster home concerns brushed off before toddler’s death

Family says foster home concerns brushed off before toddler’s death

The mother and grandparents of a foster child placed in the same home as 16-month-old Michell Momox-Caselis, who was killed Oct. 12 in an apparent murder-suicide involving her foster father, said they raised concerns about the foster home on numerous occasions, but that authorities didn’t listen.

Couple's adopted son molested their other kids

Couple's adopted son molested their other kids

Parents in Seattle, Wash. are suing the Department of Social and Health Services after they discovered their adopted 12-year-old son had molested their other children. Trish and Steven, who do not want their last names used, have seven children: four biological and three adopted.

Non-Offending Parents’ Prerogatives to Make Medical Decisions for Their Children

Non-Offending Parents’ Prerogatives to Make Medical Decisions for Their Children

After capturing national media attention in September over her right to live and the prerogative of parents to make medical decisions for their children, 16-month-old Aleah Peaslee slipped quietly out of public view when Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court dismissed the case that would have determined who should decide her fate: her mother or state officials.

Ebola ‘False Alarms’ In The US Escalate As Hysteria Spreads

Note: This is off topic, but it does demonstrate just how quick society is to go into a panic over that which they saw on TV.

Ebola ‘False Alarms’ In The US Escalate As Hysteria Spreads

After a resident in Petaluma, California, called 911 to report what she said were two possible cases of Ebola, firefighters responded Sunday evening in full protective gear, including medical goggles and masks. But when they arrived at the home from where the call was made, firefighters found a woman with mild flu systems, no second case and no Ebola, according to the Press Democrat.

Pittsburgh detective thinks outside the box to help foster kids



Jack Mook, a Pittsburgh police detective, took unusual steps when he discovered a troubling truth about two foster children. Steve Hartman reports.

Note: Notice what they leave out of this story.  Nothing about the real parents, nothing about how they ended up in an abusive foster home, just the happily ever after success story that so few experience in the end.

6 Mistakes I’ve Made as a Foster Parent

This is worth reading, not that I expect foster parents to be too bright or anything...

6 Mistakes I’ve Made as a Foster Parent

If I had the time, I could have written this as, “600 Mistakes I’ve Made as a Foster Parent.” I’ve messed up a lot. However, what keeps me going is knowing the significant need for foster parents — and how much more important that is than my ego. I’ve aimed to be as honest as I can with the foster care home-finding caseworkers and if they think I’m a good foster parent for the kids they are helping, then I’m here. Ask any child welfare professional and they’ll tell you that they aren’t looking for perfect parents, they are looking for ordinary people willing to give foster parenting a try. Here are some of my mistakes that I’ve aimed to grow from …

Project for women with repeat children taken into care gains £3m boost

Project for women with repeat children taken into care gains £3m boost

Three-quarters of the women in the Pause project in Hackney have had more than four children removed into care

Lee's story reunites hundreds of families

Lee's story reunites hundreds of families

PHILOMENA Lee (81) has inspired over 100 mothers to successfully locate their birth children taken by forced adoptions to the US and beyond.


Attorney for child allegedly killed by foster father demanding answers

Attorney for child allegedly killed by foster father demanding answers

The court-appointed attorney for the 18-month-old girl allegedly killed by her foster father is now demanding an investigation.

Vague surrogacy laws can lead to heartache

Vague surrogacy laws can lead to heartache

A week after giving birth, a Tennessee woman who agreed to be a surrogate for an Italian couple changed her mind. She wanted to keep the baby girl.

Human-rights tribunal to decide on alleged underfunding for aboriginal child care

Human-rights tribunal to decide on alleged underfunding for aboriginal child care

The First Nations advocate who has been fighting the federal government for nearly a decade over how much money it spends on child welfare says she hopes her experience serves as example. This week marks the final round of Cindy Blackstock’s long battle at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to get aboriginal children the same... Read more »

Trumbull County Children Services zeroing in on dads

Trumbull County Children Services zeroing in on dads

Trumbull County Children Services held a public roll out Monday of a new initiative.  It’s called Father Focus and it aims to increase the role of fathers in the families they work with.

Families facing child protection proceedings to get more time with their legal aid lawyers

Families facing child protection proceedings to get more time with their legal aid lawyers

Starting Nov. 3, 2014, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) will provide more time for lawyers to help clients who are involved in a court proceeding with a child protection agency. Clients and their lawyers may use this additional time to address legal issues by taking steps such as: bringing forward motions, participating in settlement negotiations and conducting in-depth file reviews – all of which support earlier resolution and avoid unnecessary trials. The increased hours for child protection matters is one of a number of programs that LAO is developing with the use of $30 million in additional provincial funding for family law and community legal clinics.

Will child protective services know if I go to different county hospital to deliver newborn

Here is another question asked and answered on AVVO.

Will child protective services know if I go to different county hospital to deliver newborn



Paedophiles Who Download Images of Child Abuse 'Won't All Be Charged'

Paedophiles Who Download Images of Child Abuse 'Won't All Be Charged'

Police can only target the most dangerous abusers among the 50,000 who have viewed child abuse images.

Onslow County couple accused of starving foster children

Onslow County couple accused of starving foster children

An Onslow County husband and wife allegedly starved their foster children --just 4 and 5 years old-- by giving them one meal a day, causing them to require hospitalization, arrest warrants say. The suspects are also accused of causing other injuries to the victims.

CPS Visits Jenelle Evans' Home (Report)

CPS Visits Jenelle Evans' Home (Report)

Whoa! We knew fans had been calling Child Protective Services about Jenelle Evans, but we didn't know they actually made a visit to her house.

After Becoming Part Of A Family In The U.S., Honduran Immigrant Teen Has To Leave

After Becoming Part Of A Family In The U.S., Honduran Immigrant Teen Has To Leave

In 2011, a then-14-year-old orphan fled Honduras for the U.S., fearful that gang members would come after him after he had refused to join them. He'd grown up in an orphanage and on the streets, and thought that if he stayed in Honduras, he would be killed. He'd seen it happen before.

Improving Arizona's new child welfare agency: Schools put DCS to the test

Improving Arizona's new child welfare agency: Schools put DCS to the test

Is our state's new child welfare agency improving? Efforts to revamp the former Child Protective Services is still in the works -- that includes speeding up the reporting process.

Ebola Orphanage Opens in Sierra Leone



Sierra Leone's first Ebola orphanage has opened in the Kailahun district. Hundreds of children orphaned since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak face stigma and rejection with nobody to care for them. Adam Bailes reports for VOA about a new interim care center that's aimed at helping the growing number of children affected by Ebola.

Phoenix man pleads guilty in foster children abuse

Phoenix man pleads guilty in foster children abuse

A Phoenix man accused in the abuse of sex crimes against foster children pleaded guilty Monday to several charges.


Monday, October 20, 2014

New York quietly expands role in caring for immigrant children

New York quietly expands role in caring for immigrant children

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children who fled their violent Central American countries have taken temporarily shelter in 20 New York residential facilities over the last six months while waiting to be reunited with family members.

TURKS PROTEST ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY GERMAN FAMILIES

TURKS PROTEST ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY GERMAN FAMILIES

A Turkish nongovernmental organization is spearheading a protest in Germany's Düsseldorf against the adoption of Turkish children by German families.

Closing arguments in First Nations Child Welfare case start today

Closing arguments in First Nations Child Welfare case start today

Closing arguments on the most important Indigenous children's rights case will be heard from October 20-24, 2014 at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in Ottawa, Ontario.

News Briefs: More NM children suffering repeated abuse

News Briefs: More NM children suffering repeated abuse

New information out this morning shows an unfortunate trend.

More New Mexico children are suffering repeated abuse or neglect even after intervention by the Department of Children Youth and Families.

How we treat children in the UK: the dark side of our soul

How we treat children in the UK: the dark side of our soul

If the Conservatives' plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights are implemented, the fundamental right to a fair trial would be demolished, and the duty to act in the best interest of the child may well be eroded.

Parents' dilemma after adopted son, 12, molests their SIX other children after 'state failed to reveal his troubled past'...but the fiercely devoted couple refuse to give up on the boy


A Seattle couple discovered their 12-year-old adopted son was molesting their other children and are now suing the Department of Social and Health Services, who they say failed to reveal to them the boy's startling past.

Strict rules govern service contractors for illegal immigrant children

Strict rules govern service contractors for illegal immigrant children

Want to bid for a contract to care for the illegal immigrant children coming across the border? Make sure your staff members get Hepatitis vaccines and regular TB tests and can speak foreign languages — probably Spanish but maybe Mandarin, suggesting a surprising number of the children are coming from China.

Couple arrested after drugs found in home with foster children

Couple arrested after drugs found in home with foster children

An Amboy couple was arrested last week after a Converse police officer and Miami County sheriff deputies found marijuana, paraphernalia and synthetic drugs in the house with their three foster children.

Social workers warned to maintain online privacy boundaries with clients

Social workers warned to maintain online privacy boundaries with clients

Social workers on the Gold Coast are being urged to be careful to maintain professional boundaries with clients who want to engage via social media.

Couple fights to adopt kids amid Ebola outbreak

Couple fights to adopt kids amid Ebola outbreak

Another holiday is about to pass for Gretchen Hanna without her girls. She folds a shirt emblazoned with an orange jack-o-lantern that she hoped one of her adopted children would be wearing by now. Dolls lay on the girls' pillows, initials hang over their beds, but there is no rest here. Just another long day in a lifeless room.

The diabolical plot behind companies’ egg-freezing benefit

The diabolical plot behind companies’ egg-freezing benefit

Working women from New York City to Silicon Valley popped Champagne corks in celebration when they heard the exciting news. Sperm-bearing men issued silent sighs of relief.

Fixing Foster Care: Fostering stability

Fixing Foster Care: Fostering stability

As Diana Stegner lay in a hospital bed, alone, homeless and suicidal, she acknowledged her newborn son would be better off with someone else.

State proposes reforms to group home oversight

State proposes reforms to group home oversight

Maryland's top health official announced Sunday that his agency is reforming the way the state regulates group homes for disabled foster children.

More kids found to be repeatedly abused

More kids found to be repeatedly abused

More New Mexico children are suffering repeated abuse or neglect even after intervention by the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Audit questions child abuse recurrence rate in Niagara County

Audit questions child abuse recurrence rate in Niagara County

A state audit of the Niagara County Office of Child Protective Services found about 14 percent of child abuse cases resulted in a recurrent incident of abuse, more than twice the national average.

State probing allegations of sex abuse at children’s facility


State investigators have begun reviewing allegations that a 13-year-old boy sexually assaulted an 8-year-old boy in a residential facility in Buffalo.

Are Hospitals And Child Protective Services Conspiring To Kidnap Children?

Are Hospitals And Child Protective Services Conspiring To Kidnap Children?

A disturbing pattern is beginning to emerge with children being removed from their parents’ custody over differences in medical opinions. The most famous of these is the Justina Pelletier case, where Boston Children’s Hospital fought for and won state custody of her over a disagreement about a medical diagnosis.



Vulnerable children to get extra staff, says Napthine government

Vulnerable children to get extra staff, says Napthine government

Vulnerable children in residential care units will be supervised by at least two staff members during the day and one at night as part of a $55 million Napthine government announcement aimed at improving safety.

In Pennsylvania, what used to be considered corporal punishment is now child abuse

In Pennsylvania, what used to be considered corporal punishment is now child abuse

The latest debate over corporal punishment continues, having been set off by NFL star Adrian Peterson beating his 4-year-old son with a tree branch to the point of bleeding and bruising, reportedly for pushing a cousin off a motorbike video game. Mr. Peterson was charged criminally with child abuse in Texas, where the incident occurred.

Doctor Accused In Child Abuse Case In The U.S. Practising In Australia Untouched by Authorities

Doctor Accused In Child Abuse Case In The U.S. Practising In Australia Untouched by Authorities

A radiologist of Indian origin, who fled the U.S. before facing a court trial on charges of attempted child sex, has been practising in Australia for many years, avoiding action from the legal and medical authorities. Dr. Max Mehta was held in Dallas, Texas, in 2004 on the charge of soliciting a 15-year-old deaf girl for sex during an online chat. What trapped him was that the deaf girl in the chat room was actually a police officer in disguise.


Little nice to say about foster care in L.A. County

Little nice to say about foster care in L.A. County

To the editor: I am somewhat surprised by the letter from Matty Nierenberg, who kindly bought a headstone for a 2-year-old girl beaten to death by a foster parent. I totally disagree with his support for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. ("Helping foster kids before the unthinkable happens," Letters, Oct. 14)

Fixing foster care: ‘Where do I belong?’

Fixing foster care: ‘Where do I belong?’

A social worker found the children wet and desperate to find their dad, running along a stretch of a north Spokane highway. The siblings were split up. Alkala went to a Newman Lake foster home and wouldn’t see her brothers again until they knocked on her door eight years later.

Gov. Rick Scott promised a change at DCF but expert says 'numbers are cooked' as deaths kept off the books

Gov. Rick Scott promised a change at DCF but expert says 'numbers are cooked' as deaths kept off the books

In Lake County, a disfigured 2-month-old whose mother did not want him is left alone in a motel room for 90 minutes, and is later found smothered. His family had been the subject of 38 prior investigations by the state’s child welfare agency.

Adoptees reaching out to Hong Kong birth parents

Adoptees reaching out to Hong Kong birth parents

Almost 50 years ago, two-week-old Serena Sussex was found abandoned in a cardboard box in a Sai Ying Pun stairwell.

Does race influence child protection efforts in Minnesota?

Does race influence child protection efforts in Minnesota?

Is Minnesota’s desire to keep black and American Indian children out of foster care actually putting them in increased danger?

Reconnecting with dad, a mob informant

Reconnecting with dad, a mob informant

Kate Comella knew the day would come when she learned that her biological father was dead.


How To Start Cleaning-Up Texas Family Court Judges

How To Start Cleaning-Up Texas Family Court Judges

If you were a corrupt judge, would you want your misdeeds aired on YouTube minutes after you behaved badly or even criminally while on the bench? That is why judges Texas are fighting against being forced to have audio video recording in their courtroom that is available to anyone who asks.

New law for courts on break-ups

New law for courts on break-ups

Family courts will be required to presume that both parents should continue to play a role in their child's life after they have separated under a new law coming into force this week.

A question.

How common is child abuse in the United States foster care system?

FLAWED POLICIES & CULTURE FAIL TO PROTECT CHILDREN



FLAWED POLICIES & CULTURE FAIL TO PROTECT CHILDREN

Church and faith based organisations need additional support to strengthen their child safer cultures, said leading child abuse prevention agency Child Wise.

Troubles hit Maryland group home for disabled children

Troubles hit Maryland group home for disabled children

When state officials removed several disabled foster children from an Anne Arundel County group home in early July — after a 10-year-old boy died there — they placed most of the children with Second Family, a Prince George's County nonprofit that is Maryland's largest contractor for such care.

Fears for orphaned sisters missing from their foster home



Building a super-prison for children is a terrible idea

Building a super-prison for children is a terrible idea

The Ministry of Justice has come up with the idea of building a super-prison for children as young as 12, at the core of which will be a regime of punishment and physical restraint. The jail will house around 300 boys and a handful of girls, and includes a planned unit for babies in case the girls get pregnant.


Father of two American children to be deported after two traffic tickets

Father of two American children to be deported after two traffic tickets

A 35-year-old Houston father of two young U.S. citizen children who experts say would likely have qualified for immigration relief had President Barack Obama enacted it this summer will be deported to his native El Salvador Saturday, his lawyer and family said.


Good News for Children When Congress Works Together

Good News for Children When Congress Works Together

While we rarely hear good news these days about Congress, I have some to share. Continuing a long tradition of bipartisan leadership on behalf of abused and neglected children, last month both the House and the Senate passed and the president signed into law the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 4980/P.L. 113-183). This new legislation improves the child welfare system to prevent children and youths in foster care from becoming victims of sex trafficking and protects foster care youths who are already victims. It offers new hope of permanent families for children and extra support for those youths who end up aging out of foster care. The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and many other children's advocates strongly supported this bill, and we applaud Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Sander Levin (D-MI), Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Representatives David Reichert (R-WA) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) who led the charge in responding to some of our most vulnerable children's needs.


Teenage son will testify against U.S. Army major and wife accused of abusing adopted children

Teenage son will testify against U.S. Army major and wife accused of abusing adopted children

The teenage son of an Army major and his wife will tell jurors how his parents punished his three adopted siblings with vicious beatings they justified by pointing to the Bible, a federal prosecutor said today.

Rotherham Child Abuse Scandal Intensifies As MPs Urge Investigation Into 'Cover-Up'

Rotherham Child Abuse Scandal Intensifies As MPs Urge Investigation Into 'Cover-Up'

An urgent investigation into whether public officials sought to cover up the extent of the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal has been called for by a group of influential MPs.


Sunday, October 19, 2014

Phasing Out CASA - Baby LK Report For October 19th 2014

TexDigest: Prosecutors to retry woman in foster child’s death

TexDigest: Prosecutors to retry woman in foster child’s death

Prosecutors say they’ll retry a South Texas woman whose capital murder conviction in the 2006 salt poisoning death of her 4-year-old foster son was overturned.

Parents of murdered foster child call for justice

Parents of murdered foster child call for justice

The grieving parents and caregivers of 16-month-old Michell Momox-Caselis, who on Sunday was killed in an apparent murder-suicide involving her foster father, are calling for justice.

5 Hard Truths I Had to Face When I Became a Foster Parent

5 Hard Truths I Had to Face When I Became a Foster Parent

Before I became a foster parent I didn’t really know what I was signing up for.  I wasn’t naive — I knew it would be one of the hardest things I’d ever do — I just didn’t know how exactly. There are some hard truths that every foster parent has to accept when they sign on for the job. These differ from family to family, but here are some that my foster parenting friends and I have encountered. If you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent, don’t let this list discourage you — I can attest that in the end, it IS worth it!

Note: It's an interesting read.  Some criticism of the system.

Orphanage care linked to thinner brain tissue in regions related to ADHD

Orphanage care linked to thinner brain tissue in regions related to ADHD

Under the rule of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, thousands of Romanian children were placed in overcrowded orphanages with bleak conditions and minimal human contact. Even after the 1989 revolution, the legacy of institutionalization continued. Only recently has research and public concern over early childhood environments caused changes in policies.

Nicola Sturgeon claims Scottish children will lose £1 billion through welfare cuts

Nicola Sturgeon claims Scottish children will lose £1 billion through welfare cuts

Around £1 Billion is to be taken away from Scottish children through UK Government welfare cuts, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Schooling the World: The White Man's Last Burden

A good friend just sent this to me.

Foster parents sue after they discover adopted son’s past

Foster parents sue after they discover adopted son’s past

Foster parents who adopted a 12-year-old boy in 2013 and later found out he had molested their other children, are suing the Department of Social and Health Services.

Boko Haram: Nigerian govt. arrests social workers for feeding widows, orphans, By Stephen Davis

Boko Haram: Nigerian govt. arrests social workers for feeding widows, orphans, By Stephen Davis

It is now well known that I have been working for the release of the Chibok girls and the other at least 300 girls who have been captured by Boko Haram in the last 12 months. I have visited many villages and towns attacked by Boko Haram, I have seen first-hand the devastation and talked to families of the attacks. These are tragic stories of loss of life, slaughter, rape and the worst abuses of human life one can imagine. In the mist of this ongoing tragedy there are people who have courageously helped to support the work of finding kidnapped girls and boys and helping them receive medical care and food until a more permanent solution can be found to their situation.

Prosecutors to retry woman in foster child's death

Prosecutors to retry woman in foster child's death

Prosecutors say they'll retry a South Texas woman whose capital murder conviction in the 2006 salt poisoning death of her 4-year-old foster son was overturned.

Another distressing report about Oklahoma child welfare agency

Another distressing report about Oklahoma child welfare agency

WE’VE been down this path before: Out-of-state monitors of Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services issue a report that is highly critical of the agency’s compliance with conditions agreed to as part of a federal lawsuit settlement. DHS officials insist they’re doing all they can to comply.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Unity Rally, Justice for Children who Died in Care



This free news YouTube and Ciactivist.org website is a non profit community based news service in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on First Nations Treaty 6 territory.



Guess what

It Could Happen To You