Killings highlight danger facing Indiana's foster children
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7088224&nav=9Tai
Sandra Chapman/13 Investigates
Indianapolis - The state is charged to protect foster children from
abuse, neglect and violence. A just-released study shows that most cases
of abuse in Indiana can be prevented.
The Department of Child Services has taken some steps forward. Just last
year, the agency began requiring FBI background checks for foster
parents and those living in their households.
But the state director in charge, Former Marion County Juvenile Judge
James Payne, says two boys removed from their homes by the state for
protection, now victims of deadly violence in their foster home, are a
sad example of the safety issues that remain.
"It's just devastating to all of us. To have something like that happen
to kids who have been so hurt before, it's just awful," said Payne
shaking his head.
It's the kind of tragedy the federal government says Indiana child care
workers must work to prevent.
From all accounts, foster mother Flossie Wright was nurturing. It is
Wright's 35-year-old son Sean, suspected in her stabbing death and that
of the 10-year-old Demonte Norton and 16-year-old Rodney Anderson.
"I've known Flossie. When I was on the bench, I would attend the foster
care appreciation dinner so, it's not only business, it's personally,"
revealed Payne.
In this case, police records show four disturbance runs to Flossie
Wright's home since May, but no reports were taken.
"We don't know that he was living there. We believe that he wasn't. This
is something we need to look at a little bit more. My early information
is Flossie was in constant contact with those who were providing her the
services she needed," Payne told 13 Investigates.
A newly released federal report warns Indiana's Department of Child
Services must confront the serious issue of safety. Specifically the
state did not meet national standards when it comes to re-occuring
maltreatment of children and the rate of child abuse and neglect in
foster care.
Nearly eight percent of the Indiana child cases investigated involve
recurring maltreatment. The government says anything approaching six
percent is unacceptable.
When it comes to child abuse and neglect in foster care, the government
won't accept one percent failure. In Indiana almost five percent of
foster care placements between 2004 and 2005 revealed abuse or neglect
in state approved homes.
"The feds have set this standard for all of us very high," said Payne.
"The goal is doing them right because it's right for kids."
DCS has hired 400 additional caseworkers over the last two years. The
agency promises to hire 400 more by June 30th of next year to help
create more manageable case loads.
The agency will also review Flossie Wright's case to see what if
anything they could have done to prevent the deaths of two children
under the state's watch.
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
Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS 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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