Politics > Politics-USA > Nebraska and Iowa both ranked among the worst for the numbers ofchildren placed in foster care and left at risk of growing up without permanentfamily connections.
| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"fx" |
| Date: |
25 Jul 2007 09:33:40 PM |
| Object: |
Nebraska and Iowa both ranked among the worst for the numbers ofchildren placed in foster care and left at risk of growing up without permanentfamily connections. |
Report finds increases in child poverty
BY MARTHA STODDARD
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Nebraska and Iowa share top rankings on many measures of child
well-being included in a national report to be released today.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10086888
But both states saw increases in child poverty during the first years of
this decade.
And both ranked among the worst for the numbers of children placed in
foster care and left at risk of growing up without permanent family
connections.
The report was compiled from data reported in 2004 and 2005, the latest
figures available.
The 2007 Kids Count Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
in Baltimore, reported that 19 of every 1,000 Nebraska children spent
time in the foster care system during 2004. That equaled 8,278 children
younger than 18.
In Iowa, the rate was 15 of every 1,000 children — or 10,075 total. The
national average was 10 of every 1,000.
Casey Foundation President Douglas Nelson said the numbers raise concern
because children who spend extensive time in foster care wind up at high
risk of "lousy life outcomes" such as early parenthood, poverty, crime,
drug abuse and homelessness.
Children suffer trauma when removed from their families, even if the
removal is done for their protection, he said.
Removal can actually worsen the situation if the child welfare system
does not provide the protection, nurturance and stability children need
to grow up healthy and successful, he said.
"While keeping children safe is an essential role and responsibility of
our child welfare systems," Nelson said, "the full measure of success
should be how fully the systems assure strong and safe lifelong families
for every child they serve."
The foster care numbers aren't the only troubling indicator, Nelson said.
The annual report shows what he called an "alarming" increase in
children across the country living in poverty and in the number of
families in which no parent has full-time, year-round employment. The
increases reverse trends seen during the 1990s.
"In some key areas, it appears we are losing ground," he said.
Nebraska and Iowa lost ground on those indicators, but both remained
better than average.
On the measure of child poverty, Nebraska was ranked 16th best, with 15
percent of children living in poverty. Iowa ranked 11th best, with 14
percent of children in poverty. The two states tied for top place on the
number of children living in families with stable employment.
Together, the indicators show most Nebraska parents are working but have
jobs that don't pay enough to keep their families out of poverty, said
Annemarie Bailey Fowler, research coordinator for Voices for Children in
Nebraska.
Michael Crawford, director of Iowa Kids Count, said the growth in child
poverty is disturbing because poverty is associated with many other
problems.
Overall, Iowa and Nebraska remained among the best states for child
well-being. Iowa ranked seventh best in the nation, and Nebraska ranked
10th best.
Along with its annual state-by-state rankings, this year's Kids Count
report featured an essay on child welfare, in which Nelson challenged
the nation to preserve, strengthen, rebuild or find new permanent
families for all children.
Todd Landry, children and family services director for the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services, said Nebraska needs to do
better at keeping children safe with their own families or moving them
into permanent family relationships quickly.
He said the state is testing a new method of deciding which children
need to be removed from home because of abuse and neglect and which can
stay with their families if they have help. He said he expects the
method will lead to fewer children in foster care.
Vern Armstrong, protective services bureau chief for the Iowa Department
of Human Services, said the state has just contracted with two providers
to work with families in the child welfare system. The contracts offer
incentives to keep children with their families and to reunite families.
"Removing a child is a very serious decision," he said. "We err on the
side of child safety."
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 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.
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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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Nebraska and Iowa both ranked among the worst for the numberso... |
25 Jul 2007 10:06:27 PM |
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the left wingers target the "heartland"....
" YOU ARE EITHER WITH US, OR AGAINST US "
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