Judge orders Michigan to release documents in foster care case
8/17/2007, 6:02 p.m. EDT
By JOHN FLESHER
The Associated Press
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-46/118738863678460.xml&storylist=newsmichigan
(AP) — A federal judge Friday ordered Michigan officials to let an
advocacy group examine case files involving foster children who have
died in recent years while under state care.
The Michigan Department of Human Services said it would obey the order
by Donald A. Scheer, a U.S. District Court magistrate judge in Detroit.
Scheer approved a motion seeking the information, filed by New
York-based Children's Rights.
"The court's ruling today tells the state that it cannot hide behind
confidentiality laws designed to protect children in order to shield
itself from public scrutiny," said Sara Bartosz, attorney for the group.
Children's Rights is suing the state over the quality of its child
protection program, contending it is riddled with inadequate resources
and poor services. That has resulted in substandard physical and mental
care and foster children repeatedly being moved between homes, the
August 2006 complaint says.
The group requested records involving six living children named as
plaintiffs, in addition to 68 children who have died while in state care
since 2004, a spokeswoman said. The class-action lawsuit represents all
19,000 Michigan children in the system.
State officials argued that privacy laws required them to withhold or
edit documents to prevent release of information that could identify
children, foster parents and biological parents. Case files typically
include material such as Social Security numbers and medical and
psychological records, said Maureen Sorbet, spokeswoman for the
Department of Human Services.
In his ruling, Scheer said the advocacy group's need to evaluate the
department's performance outweighed the state's confidentiality concerns.
The law allows release of personal information when doing so "will
promote the best interests of the children involved, the proper function
and oversight of the system, or the interests of justice," Scheer said.
In a separate order, he instructed all those involved in the suit to
protect confidential information from leaking.
"We will, of course, comply with the order," Sorbet said.
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*
Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
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