Now, make full amends for failing abused boys
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2007/10/27/a12a_leadedit_adopt_1027.html
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Imagine that you want to adopt children, and the state of Florida offers
you three adorable brothers.
There's just one problem. Those brothers come with this label:
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"WARNING: THESE BOYS LIVED WITH AN ABUSIVE MOTHER, THEN A PEDOPHILE
FOSTER PARENT WHO MOLESTED THEM AND FORCED THEM TO MOLEST EACH OTHER.
SOME THERAPY REQUIRED."
Maybe you still would want to adopt them. But you'd ask lots of
questions. And you'd at least know what you were getting into. A Boynton
Beach couple, though, didn't get any of that information when they
adopted three brothers in 1998. One year earlier, when a therapist
visited the boys' foster home, the youngest had clutched the therapist
so tightly that she had to "peel him off." The little boy begged her to
take him away from the "bad man."
Even after going to their adoptive home, the boys showed the terrible
effects of the abuse that the state's negligence allowed to go on. And
on. And on. In 2002, with the adoptive parents' consent, The Post
reported the family's story. Here is an excerpt: "According to the
parents, the brothers have set fires, molested each other, tried to
molest classmates, tried to commit suicide by drinking cleaning
products, held knives to their throats and broken their adoptive
mother's jaw."
In 2001, the couple sued the state, seeking compensation for the years
of therapy the brothers - now 13, 14 and 15 - will need. But that was
during the administration of Gov. Jeb Bush, who resisted any attempt to
settle such cases, even though the state clearly was at fault. Under a
new governor and a new secretary of the Department of Children and
Families, the state finally admitted blame, and this week agreed to pay
the parents $10 million.
But that isn't the end. Though the couple will get $500,000 now -
providing at least some of the therapy the boys needed years ago - that
$500,000 might be the most the parents ever get. The Legislature has to
approve the balance.
The Legislature could be glad that the case settled, since the trial
that had been set to start next month would have been embarrassing and
probably would have resulted in a much higher verdict. Next year, the
Legislature will consider a claims bill to pay the $26.8 million jury
award in the case of a girl beaten nearly to death and left
brain-damaged because of the state's inaction.
But the Legislature remains reluctant to pay such claims. In this case,
the state's own consultant recommended a settlement because the state
was "catastrophically destructive" to three little boys. Then there are
the parents. Failing to help them would be just as "catastrophically
destructive."
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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