| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"fx" |
| Date: |
01 Oct 2007 01:46:52 AM |
| Object: |
Utah -- Do kin background checks hurt kids? |
Do kin background checks hurt kids?
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695214678,00.html
By James Thalman
Deseret Morning News
Published: Oct. 1, 2007 12:34 a.m. MDT
A new Utah law that does away with emergency placement of abused or
neglected children with relatives is sharpening criticism from two
national child-protection advocacy groups and fraying family ties of
those caught in the middle.
Advocacy groups over the weekend publicly called for the state's child
welfare system to be put back under federal court oversight — a sanction
that was lifted just this past May after 14 years of litigation and
significant reforms in Utah's child protection services. Dozens of
grandparents and other family members of children taken into state
protective custody, instead of being placed with them, are also voicing
their own complaints.
"I don't really understand what's going on," a Davis County grandmother
told the Deseret Morning News. "All I know is, my 3-year-old grandson
who's been living with me his whole life is down there where he doesn't
know a soul and just thinks I don't love him anymore."
The child was taken into emergency shelter five weeks ago today when
police arrested his mother for investigation in the possession of
illegal and prescription drugs at the grandmother's house. On the advice
of her attorney, who has requested a special custody hearing today, the
grandmother does not want to be identified publicly.
"I guess the state and everybody is trying to do what's right; that's
what I hope, anyway," she said. "But what's happening to my grandson is
anything but right. When I see him, he won't even sit on my lap. All he
asks is, 'Can I please come home, Grandma?' Can you imagine how much it
hurts to tell him he can't?"
The child's mother, who had been at the house occasionally to change
clothes and shower in the basement, was released on bail the day after
her arrest and has not returned to the house. The 3-year-old was living
upstairs and rarely if ever was in the basement, his grandmother said.
"They (the police and child welfare) know my situation — that I was
trying to keep my family together as much as possible and protect him
from a mom that kept promising she would get treatment. I didn't know
what else to do, but I knew if I kicked her out, she would take (the
child) with her."
Until a few months ago, the woman would almost automatically have been
given temporary custody of her grandchild, and she will likely have him
back eventually. But because the state is requiring criminal background
checks on all potential foster or adoptive parents, the meantime
continues. Another grandparent in almost the identical situation said
she has been waiting since April for clearance.
State child protective services managers and case workers don't like the
situation either, and they are conducting the checks as fast as they
can. The extra step before placement is a by-product of the new Adam
Walsh Child Safety Act passed by Congress in 2006 and state lawmakers
taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach when drafting a bill
implementing the act earlier this year.
A legislative subcommittee is figuring out how best to undo the tighter
regulations and make recommendations to lawmakers in two weeks.
Child protection reform advocates, who have been watching Utah's system
as well as the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed against the
state 14 years ago, are calling Utah's action "more of the same" and "a
disappointment," especially considering the number of important reforms
that have been implemented in Utah.
Adding kinship background checks for emergency placements is "a blunder,
plain and simple," said Richard Wexler, executive director of the
National Coalition for Child Protection Reform in Alexandria, Va.
None of the other 49 states seem to have a problem with implementation,
Wexler said, noting that neither his nor any other other advocacy group
has found another state having the same problem.
"At a minimum, Utah jumped the gun and amended state law based on a
misunderstanding," Wexler said, "with tragic results."
Several studies have found levels of abuse of children in foster homes
with strangers and in institutions far higher than reflected in official
figures that involve agencies investigating themselves. In contrast,
research shows that kinship placements are not just more stable and
better for children's well-being, they also are, on average, safer than
what should properly be called "stranger care."
State Division of Child and Family Services Director Duane Betournay
told lawmakers earlier this month that the state is not anti-relative
placement, as some claim.
"We don't have a bias against kin; we have a bias toward the safety of
kids. It's a trade-off between safety and risk, and lawmakers will have
to determine what that is.
"Some people are rightfully very upset," he added. "If I were kin or
kid, I would be. No amount of time is acceptable away from loving
parents or family."
The grandmother in Davis County couldn't agree more.
"They said he was being endangered by being exposed to drugs," she said.
"The damage that has been done because they took him into custody isn't
just a risk, it's real. I don't know if he'll ever get over this. I know
I won't."
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...
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
