Falsifications bring change in child abuse cases
By JOSH POLTILOVE
jpoltilove@tampatrib.com
Published: February 7, 2010
TAMPA - The resignation of a child protection investigator accused of falsifying documents has prompted changes in how the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office handles child abuse cases.
An internal affairs probe found that investigator Heather Stokes falsified and/or fabricated 25 investigations, seven of them completely.
Stokes said she made up details and forged signatures on one investigation because she was "overwhelmed" with cases, according to an internal affairs report. The seven-year veteran resigned a day after being confronted by investigators.
Stokes was one of two child protection investigators to resign since April after being accused of falsifying documents.
No children or families were harmed as a result of any of the fabrications, according to documents obtained by The Tampa Tribune.
But every child protection investigator must now photograph the child at the child's home, and that information goes in a case file, sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon said Friday.
Supervisors also now are tasked with randomly reviewing cases and making 25 to 30 quality assurance checks each month; investigators aren't alerted beforehand to which families will be contacted.
"We're imperfect," McKinnon said. "We try to police our own. And when we find errors, we're going to obviously try to correct them."
He said there's no indication of a deeper problem with the department's child protection services.
The sheriff's office assumed responsibility for child abuse investigations less than 10 years ago after state Department of Children & Families employees were accused of shocking shortcomings, including falsifying records.
The sheriff's office has about 85 child protection investigators and handles roughly 1,100 cases a month.
McKinnon said investigators' caseloads should not be considered overwhelming, despite the recent misdeeds.
"There's no excuse for inappropriate behavior, regardless of whether you're overworked or not," he said.
Not just a local issue
Investigators falsifying records isn't just a local concern. In a two-year stretch, more than 70 child welfare workers in Florida were caught lying about their efforts to protect children, according to an Orlando Sentinel report in July.
When questioned, those workers generally complained they had too many cases.
The internal affairs probe of Stokes revealed that in one case she fabricated what she documented concerning visiting a family on four occasions. The mother told investigators she had never met Stokes, or signed a child safety plan or a consent form for medical treatment.
Stokes admitted she had never visited the mother, father, children or home, saying she was "overwhelmed with her cases," the report states. She also said she forged the signatures of the mother and father.
Field training officers were assigned to audit Stokes' 59 cases from December 2008 through April, and found seven to be completely fabricated.
The internal affairs report does not identify the families involved.
Taking her medicine
Stokes resigned in April.
The sheriff's office forwarded its findings to the state attorney's office.
Stokes avoided criminal charges by entering a pretrial diversion program. She performed more than 200 hours of community service, said her attorney, Fred Carrington.
"Heather took her medicine, lost her job, her career and moved on with her life," Carrington said.
Another child protection investigator, Jerimee Joyner, resigned in June after nearly three years with the sheriff's office.
A colleague who was straightening documents on Joyner's desk found a piece of paper bearing the signature of Joyner's supervisor that had been taped to a form, a report states.
Joyner told investigators he didn't realize the form could be considered a falsified document. He said his supervisor wasn't available to sign the form, so "what I did was I kind of just made the forms and put them in the file so I could close the file."
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/07/na-falsifications-bring-change-in-routines/
Isabella Brooke Knightly and Austin Gamez-Knightly
In Memory of my Loving Husband, William F. Knightly Jr. Murdered by ILLEGAL Palliative Care at a Nashua, NH Hospital
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A spanked child may be a better adult:study
A spanked child may be a better adult: study
Critics disagree, say it's diffcult to learn when afraid
Shirley Lin, National Post
Published: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
More On This Story
Father charged with assault after spanking son
Spanking: There is such a thing as reasonable force
Related Topics
Marjorie Gunnoe
Wayne Cuddington/Canwest News Service A U.S. study states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life than their never-spanked counterparts.
Young children spanked by their parents may perform better at school later on and grow up to be happier, according to a controversial new study that is drawing scorn from critics.
The U.S.-based research states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life, more likely to take voluntary work, and more keen to attend university than their never-spanked counterparts.
The findings were drawn from interviews of more than 2,600 people, including a core group of 179 teenagers. The teens were asked how old they were when they were spanked and how often it happened. Their answers were compared with information they gave about their behaviour that could have been influenced by smacking.
Lead researcher Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychology professor at Michigan's Calvin College, said her research is not a green light for parents to spank their children, but rather a red light for those groups who want corporal punishment banned.
"There isn't enough evidence that kids who are not spanked look better than kids who are spanked," said Prof. Gunnoe, a mother of two children (she has spanked only one). "Some need the extra deterrent ... for young children, the external motivator is more effective."
However this latest research, which Prof. Gunnoe admitted was previously rejected by two professional journals, including the Journal of Family Psychology, contradicts other findings that spanking is counterproductive.
Dr. Diane Sacks, former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society, says research has proven that spanking, whether short or long-term, leads to "bad, physical behaviour."
"Many studies show that when children are spanked in order to teach, they don't learn," said Dr. Sacks, a pediatrician with 35 years experience. "When afraid, children learn poorly. Fear is a very bad teacher."
Instead, Dr. Sacks suggests non-physical methods to control the child. Time-outs, keeping the child out of the situation, or a firm "no" are much better forms of discipline.
Grant Wilson, president of the Canadian Children's Rights Council, suggested that the study's results may have been influenced by Calvin College's Christian affiliation, adding that some religious groups have opposed abolition of corporal punishment.
"People get confused over what discipline is -- it's not hitting children," Mr. Wilson said. "There are better methods of parenting rather than hitting.... It's not OK to hit children."
The spanking study had Prof. Gunnoe interviewing teenagers between ages 12 and 18. Their answers to a questionnaire about their childhood discipline was compared with their current behaviour, possibly affected by spanking. These measures covered topics around good behaviour such as academic aspirations, doing well in school and optimism for the future. The bad outcomes included violence, depression and anti-social behaviour.
Teenagers who had been spanked between ages two to six performed slightly better on the positive behaviors, but no worse on the negative measures than those who had never been spanked, the study found.
Only the teenagers who were still being spankYoung children spanked by their parents may perform better at school later on and grow up to be happier, according to a controversial new study that is drawing scorn from critics.
The U.S.-based research states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life, more likely to take voluntary work, and more keen to attend university than their never-spanked counterparts.
The findings were drawn from interviews of more than 2,600 people, including a core group of 179 teenagers. The teens were asked how old they were when they were spanked and how often it happened. Their answers were compared with information they gave about their behaviour that could have been influenced by smacking.
Lead researcher Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychology professor at Michigan's Calvin College, said her research is not a green light for parents to spank their children, but rather a red light for those groups who want corporal punishment banned.
"There isn't enough evidence that kids who are not spanked look better than kids who are spanked," said Prof. Gunnoe, a mother of two children [she has spanked only one]. "Some need the extra deterrent ... for young children, the external motivator is more effective."
However this latest research, which Prof. Gunnoe admitted was previously rejected by two professional journals, including the Journal of Family Psychology, contradicts other findings that spanking is counterproductive.
Dr. Diane Sacks, former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society, says research has proven that spanking, whether short or long-term, leads to "bad, physical behaviour."
"Many studies show that when children are spanked in order to teach, they don't learn," said Dr. Sacks, a pediatrician with 35 years experience. "When afraid, children learn poorly. Fear is a very bad teacher."
Instead, Dr. Sacks suggests non-physical methods to control the child. Time-outs, keeping the child out of the situation, or a firm "no" are much better forms of discipline.
Grant Wilson, president of the Canadian Children's Rights Council, suggested that the study's results may have been influenced by Calvin College's Christian affiliation, adding that some religious groups have opposed abolition of corporal punishment.
"People get confused over what discipline is -- it's not hitting children," Mr. Wilson said. "There are better methods of parenting rather than hitting.... It's not OK to hit children."
The spanking study had Prof. Gunnoe interviewing teenagers between ages 12 and 18. Their answers to a questionnaire about their childhood discipline was compared with their current behaviour, possibly affected by spanking. These measures covered topics around good behaviour such as academic aspirations, doing well in school and optimism for the future. The bad outcomes included violence, depression and anti-social behaviour.
Teenagers who had been spanked between ages two to six performed slightly better on the positive behaviors, but no worse on the negative measures than those who had never been spanked, the study found.
Only the teenagers who were still being spanked showed clear behavioural problems, receiving the worst scores.
However, the results were less clear for the teenagers spanked between ages seven to 11. Against the never-spanked group, they scored slightly worse on the negative behaviours, being more prone to violence and anti-social behaviour. But they also scored well on the positive measures.
The study also compared teenagers from different ethnic groups and genders, but found little difference between them.ed showed clear behavioural problems, receiving the worst scores.
However, the results were less clear for the teenagers spanked between ages seven to 11. Against the never-spanked group, they scored slightly worse on the negative behaviours, being more prone to violence and anti-social behaviour. But they also scored well on the positive measures.
The study also compared teenagers from different ethnic groups and genders, but found little difference between them.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409510#ixzz0enQ7HaWo
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409510#ixzz0er6TYG6M
The National Post is now on Facebook. Join our fan community today.
Critics disagree, say it's diffcult to learn when afraid
Shirley Lin, National Post
Published: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Father charged with assault after spanking son
Spanking: There is such a thing as reasonable force
Related Topics
Marjorie Gunnoe
Wayne Cuddington/Canwest News Service A U.S. study states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life than their never-spanked counterparts.
Young children spanked by their parents may perform better at school later on and grow up to be happier, according to a controversial new study that is drawing scorn from critics.
The U.S.-based research states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life, more likely to take voluntary work, and more keen to attend university than their never-spanked counterparts.
The findings were drawn from interviews of more than 2,600 people, including a core group of 179 teenagers. The teens were asked how old they were when they were spanked and how often it happened. Their answers were compared with information they gave about their behaviour that could have been influenced by smacking.
Lead researcher Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychology professor at Michigan's Calvin College, said her research is not a green light for parents to spank their children, but rather a red light for those groups who want corporal punishment banned.
"There isn't enough evidence that kids who are not spanked look better than kids who are spanked," said Prof. Gunnoe, a mother of two children (she has spanked only one). "Some need the extra deterrent ... for young children, the external motivator is more effective."
However this latest research, which Prof. Gunnoe admitted was previously rejected by two professional journals, including the Journal of Family Psychology, contradicts other findings that spanking is counterproductive.
Dr. Diane Sacks, former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society, says research has proven that spanking, whether short or long-term, leads to "bad, physical behaviour."
"Many studies show that when children are spanked in order to teach, they don't learn," said Dr. Sacks, a pediatrician with 35 years experience. "When afraid, children learn poorly. Fear is a very bad teacher."
Instead, Dr. Sacks suggests non-physical methods to control the child. Time-outs, keeping the child out of the situation, or a firm "no" are much better forms of discipline.
Grant Wilson, president of the Canadian Children's Rights Council, suggested that the study's results may have been influenced by Calvin College's Christian affiliation, adding that some religious groups have opposed abolition of corporal punishment.
"People get confused over what discipline is -- it's not hitting children," Mr. Wilson said. "There are better methods of parenting rather than hitting.... It's not OK to hit children."
The spanking study had Prof. Gunnoe interviewing teenagers between ages 12 and 18. Their answers to a questionnaire about their childhood discipline was compared with their current behaviour, possibly affected by spanking. These measures covered topics around good behaviour such as academic aspirations, doing well in school and optimism for the future. The bad outcomes included violence, depression and anti-social behaviour.
Teenagers who had been spanked between ages two to six performed slightly better on the positive behaviors, but no worse on the negative measures than those who had never been spanked, the study found.
Only the teenagers who were still being spankYoung children spanked by their parents may perform better at school later on and grow up to be happier, according to a controversial new study that is drawing scorn from critics.
The U.S.-based research states that spanking children up to six years old made them more successful in school, more optimistic about life, more likely to take voluntary work, and more keen to attend university than their never-spanked counterparts.
The findings were drawn from interviews of more than 2,600 people, including a core group of 179 teenagers. The teens were asked how old they were when they were spanked and how often it happened. Their answers were compared with information they gave about their behaviour that could have been influenced by smacking.
Lead researcher Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychology professor at Michigan's Calvin College, said her research is not a green light for parents to spank their children, but rather a red light for those groups who want corporal punishment banned.
"There isn't enough evidence that kids who are not spanked look better than kids who are spanked," said Prof. Gunnoe, a mother of two children [she has spanked only one]. "Some need the extra deterrent ... for young children, the external motivator is more effective."
However this latest research, which Prof. Gunnoe admitted was previously rejected by two professional journals, including the Journal of Family Psychology, contradicts other findings that spanking is counterproductive.
Dr. Diane Sacks, former president of the Canadian Paediatric Society, says research has proven that spanking, whether short or long-term, leads to "bad, physical behaviour."
"Many studies show that when children are spanked in order to teach, they don't learn," said Dr. Sacks, a pediatrician with 35 years experience. "When afraid, children learn poorly. Fear is a very bad teacher."
Instead, Dr. Sacks suggests non-physical methods to control the child. Time-outs, keeping the child out of the situation, or a firm "no" are much better forms of discipline.
Grant Wilson, president of the Canadian Children's Rights Council, suggested that the study's results may have been influenced by Calvin College's Christian affiliation, adding that some religious groups have opposed abolition of corporal punishment.
"People get confused over what discipline is -- it's not hitting children," Mr. Wilson said. "There are better methods of parenting rather than hitting.... It's not OK to hit children."
The spanking study had Prof. Gunnoe interviewing teenagers between ages 12 and 18. Their answers to a questionnaire about their childhood discipline was compared with their current behaviour, possibly affected by spanking. These measures covered topics around good behaviour such as academic aspirations, doing well in school and optimism for the future. The bad outcomes included violence, depression and anti-social behaviour.
Teenagers who had been spanked between ages two to six performed slightly better on the positive behaviors, but no worse on the negative measures than those who had never been spanked, the study found.
Only the teenagers who were still being spanked showed clear behavioural problems, receiving the worst scores.
However, the results were less clear for the teenagers spanked between ages seven to 11. Against the never-spanked group, they scored slightly worse on the negative behaviours, being more prone to violence and anti-social behaviour. But they also scored well on the positive measures.
The study also compared teenagers from different ethnic groups and genders, but found little difference between them.ed showed clear behavioural problems, receiving the worst scores.
However, the results were less clear for the teenagers spanked between ages seven to 11. Against the never-spanked group, they scored slightly worse on the negative behaviours, being more prone to violence and anti-social behaviour. But they also scored well on the positive measures.
The study also compared teenagers from different ethnic groups and genders, but found little difference between them.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409510#ixzz0enQ7HaWo
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409510#ixzz0er6TYG6M
The National Post is now on Facebook. Join our fan community today.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Motion to Reconsider in the Adoption of Austin Knightly in The NH Supreme Court
I filed a motion with the NH Supreme Court on October 14th, 2009 Challenging the Adoption of my grandson, Austin Knightly. It was objected to by the States Attorney Generals office on December 23rd, 2009. Sixty day's late. NH Supreme Court rule 22 states the opposing party has ten day's to respond, not sixty!
I filed a motion to have the objection stricken, but of course was denied. I am just a peon and have no rights. The state is obviously "above the law", just as they keep telling us! DCYF keeps drilling this into our heads, along with, they have "the power of God", and they "walk on water." I was told I have no standing as a grandparent. It's funny the NH Supreme Court ruled grandparents DO have standing. They DO have rights to custody of their grandchildren, yet for some odd reason, I don't!
I felt like just giving up. The NH courts don't listen to us. They only listen to DCYF, but a good friend hand delivered my motion to the drop box last night at 9:31.
She convinced me not to give up. She traveled all the way from Massachusetts to help me fight for my grandson. We were told the motion had to be in by midnight. I was given ten day's, period, unlike the state, who can file whenever they feel like it!
When will the people of this state be recognized as a part of this state? What will it take to be treated fairly where justice is concerned? Are we not the people who pay these peoples salaries? If it were'nt for us, they would all be out of job's.
My grandson belongs with us,not with stranger's. It's not up to our government to pick and choose a childs parents. Because I've given DCYF and the court's a run for their money and fought since DCYF threw themselves into our lives, am I not worthy to raise my grandchildren? Because I love my family more than life itself and would protect any one of them with my life, does that make me a bad person?
I have met many people in my lifetime. Some even in state government, who can't figure out why my grandchildren were not placed with me. They have seen the way I protect my family and don't understand how my grandchildren could be placed in foster care when they have a grandmother who will protect them with her life.
All it takes is one false report to DCYF to have your whole world turned upside down. A report proven false before you even end up in court. A report that needs no evidence of innocence to steal a child. Heresay is all in takes in Nashua District Court by DCYF.
I will never give up on my grandchildren and I Will expose the corruption within Nashua,NH DCYF and the courts! I don't just live for my family anymore. I now have a mission in life! We can Not and will Not let the state win! Our children and grandchildren depend on us to fight for their precious lives!
I filed a motion to have the objection stricken, but of course was denied. I am just a peon and have no rights. The state is obviously "above the law", just as they keep telling us! DCYF keeps drilling this into our heads, along with, they have "the power of God", and they "walk on water." I was told I have no standing as a grandparent. It's funny the NH Supreme Court ruled grandparents DO have standing. They DO have rights to custody of their grandchildren, yet for some odd reason, I don't!
I felt like just giving up. The NH courts don't listen to us. They only listen to DCYF, but a good friend hand delivered my motion to the drop box last night at 9:31.
She convinced me not to give up. She traveled all the way from Massachusetts to help me fight for my grandson. We were told the motion had to be in by midnight. I was given ten day's, period, unlike the state, who can file whenever they feel like it!
When will the people of this state be recognized as a part of this state? What will it take to be treated fairly where justice is concerned? Are we not the people who pay these peoples salaries? If it were'nt for us, they would all be out of job's.
My grandson belongs with us,not with stranger's. It's not up to our government to pick and choose a childs parents. Because I've given DCYF and the court's a run for their money and fought since DCYF threw themselves into our lives, am I not worthy to raise my grandchildren? Because I love my family more than life itself and would protect any one of them with my life, does that make me a bad person?
I have met many people in my lifetime. Some even in state government, who can't figure out why my grandchildren were not placed with me. They have seen the way I protect my family and don't understand how my grandchildren could be placed in foster care when they have a grandmother who will protect them with her life.
All it takes is one false report to DCYF to have your whole world turned upside down. A report proven false before you even end up in court. A report that needs no evidence of innocence to steal a child. Heresay is all in takes in Nashua District Court by DCYF.
I will never give up on my grandchildren and I Will expose the corruption within Nashua,NH DCYF and the courts! I don't just live for my family anymore. I now have a mission in life! We can Not and will Not let the state win! Our children and grandchildren depend on us to fight for their precious lives!
The right decision
Editorial
The right decision
February 03, 2010 - 7:18 am
The words of New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick should be cast in bronze and hung in every town and city hall and posted in every government agency.
"Public access can expose corruption, incompetence, inefficiency, prejudice and favoritism . . . In short, knowing how a public body is spending taxpayer money in conducting public business is essential to the transparency of government, the very purpose underlying the Right-to-Know Law," Broderick wrote in a decision ordering the New Hampshire Local Government Center to provide records sought by the state's professional firefighters association.
The center, which manages the health insurance premiums of municipal employees and provides a host of other services to cities and towns, had refused for eight years to provide information the firefighters believed might prove that the center was using employee insurance premium funds for other purposes.
The center, citing the need to protect proprietary information, refused to provide the information the firefighters sought. It declined to provide its staff's salaries on the grounds that they didn't perform essential government services. But the workers are paid with public money, said the court, which rightly disagreed.
"Public access to specific salary information gives direct insight into the operations of the public body by enabling scrutiny of the wages paid for particular job titles, " Broderick wrote. It is only through "direct insight" that taxpayers can decide whether their money is being spent wisely or squandered. Which is why the court was unanimous in upholding the Right-to-Know Law.
http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100203/OPINION/2030322/1027/OPINION01
The right decision
February 03, 2010 - 7:18 am
The words of New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick should be cast in bronze and hung in every town and city hall and posted in every government agency.
"Public access can expose corruption, incompetence, inefficiency, prejudice and favoritism . . . In short, knowing how a public body is spending taxpayer money in conducting public business is essential to the transparency of government, the very purpose underlying the Right-to-Know Law," Broderick wrote in a decision ordering the New Hampshire Local Government Center to provide records sought by the state's professional firefighters association.
The center, which manages the health insurance premiums of municipal employees and provides a host of other services to cities and towns, had refused for eight years to provide information the firefighters believed might prove that the center was using employee insurance premium funds for other purposes.
The center, citing the need to protect proprietary information, refused to provide the information the firefighters sought. It declined to provide its staff's salaries on the grounds that they didn't perform essential government services. But the workers are paid with public money, said the court, which rightly disagreed.
"Public access to specific salary information gives direct insight into the operations of the public body by enabling scrutiny of the wages paid for particular job titles, " Broderick wrote. It is only through "direct insight" that taxpayers can decide whether their money is being spent wisely or squandered. Which is why the court was unanimous in upholding the Right-to-Know Law.
http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100203/OPINION/2030322/1027/OPINION01
Saving The State Money
Friday, February 5, 2010
Saving The State Money
Dear friends,
I was talking with one of the governor's liaisons about money. We were talking about YOUR money.
I suggested that we were spending too much of our money in the courts, with "free" attorneys for young mothers, supervised visits, inventing stories to justify taking kids...etc.
At the same time....ONE CHILD A MONTH...dies under the auspices of CPS.
Shouldn't we be taking the "go for the throat" emphasis in stealing kids and putting those efforts into saving them? No employees lost, transfer the duties. But, we relieve the courts for the 30% of those kids taken that really need to be placed elsewhere. Win. Win.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/02/saving-state-money.html
Saving The State Money
Dear friends,
I was talking with one of the governor's liaisons about money. We were talking about YOUR money.
I suggested that we were spending too much of our money in the courts, with "free" attorneys for young mothers, supervised visits, inventing stories to justify taking kids...etc.
At the same time....ONE CHILD A MONTH...dies under the auspices of CPS.
Shouldn't we be taking the "go for the throat" emphasis in stealing kids and putting those efforts into saving them? No employees lost, transfer the duties. But, we relieve the courts for the 30% of those kids taken that really need to be placed elsewhere. Win. Win.
Posted by State Senator Pam Roach
http://pamroachreport.blogspot.com/2010/02/saving-state-money.html
Foster parent's arrest raises doubts about system
Foster parent's arrest raises doubts about system: Swann
Calgary man accused of sex offences against children
Last Updated: Friday, February 5, 2010 | 5:44 PM MT
CBC News
There are some serious problems with Alberta's foster system, the province's Liberal Party leader said Friday while discussing sex-related charges laid against a Calgary foster parent.
David Swann said the charges against the man, accused of offering three boys in his care money in exchange for sexual acts, are very disturbing.
Swann said he has some doubts about the competency of the Department of Children and Youth Services.
"We need more consistent and thorough reviews of foster parents," he said. "We need a monitoring process in place. We need to be very clear when there are concerns that those are dealt with immediately, and we're not sure that's happening."
Rare occurrence
Children and Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz defended the system on Friday, saying there are 4,000 children in foster care in Alberta.
"It's really important that people realize this is an unusual situation, that it rarely happens. We have excellent foster care in our province," she said.
Still, Fritz said, she wants every aspect of the case scrutinized.
"I can tell you that if there are any changes that are recommended, I will ensure that they are acted upon very quickly. This is an important review," she said.
"It's an internal review, and it's to ensure the protection and safety of youth in our care."
Tom Baker, a manager with Aspen Calgary, which has contracts with the Alberta government to provide foster homes for 60 children, is worried about how the case will reflect on other foster families in the city.
"It's horrifying to hear that something like this could happen," he said. "It raises the anxiety for people that there aren't adequate kinds of checks and balances and monitoring and so on."
Screening process
But, Baker said, that's not the case.
Foster parents go through a rigorous screening process, he said, including criminal record checks, intensive training, and home visits before they are licensed.
Swann said Children and Youth Services should do more to implement eight recommendations contained in a report into foster care completed nearly two years ago.
That review was prompted by the death of a three-year-old foster boy in an Edmonton home in January 2007. The child was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma and died after being taken off life support the following day.
The report called for increased monitoring during the first six months of a foster home's operation, and more consistent assessment guidelines for evaluating new foster homes.
Fritz said changes were made in 2007, including more intense home studies for foster families.
Garry Prokopishin, 51, was charged Thursday with one count of luring a child via a data device, three counts each of obtaining or attempting to obtain sex from a person under the age of 18, and sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority.
The charges are in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred between January 2006 and April 2008.
Police believe that 55 foster children, all boys, have lived under the care of Prokopishin and his wife over the past 20 years.
At any given time, police said, between one and five boys lived in the home, and they ranged in age from 14 to 17.
The Calgary Police Service said Thursday that officers have spoken to 13 of the boys who lived in the home, and the investigation is ongoing.
This story is closed to commenting..
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/02/05/calgary-foster-system-problems-sex-abuse.html#ixzz0elI3dgnF
Calgary man accused of sex offences against children
Last Updated: Friday, February 5, 2010 | 5:44 PM MT
CBC News
There are some serious problems with Alberta's foster system, the province's Liberal Party leader said Friday while discussing sex-related charges laid against a Calgary foster parent.
David Swann said the charges against the man, accused of offering three boys in his care money in exchange for sexual acts, are very disturbing.
Swann said he has some doubts about the competency of the Department of Children and Youth Services.
"We need more consistent and thorough reviews of foster parents," he said. "We need a monitoring process in place. We need to be very clear when there are concerns that those are dealt with immediately, and we're not sure that's happening."
Rare occurrence
Children and Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz defended the system on Friday, saying there are 4,000 children in foster care in Alberta.
"It's really important that people realize this is an unusual situation, that it rarely happens. We have excellent foster care in our province," she said.
Still, Fritz said, she wants every aspect of the case scrutinized.
"I can tell you that if there are any changes that are recommended, I will ensure that they are acted upon very quickly. This is an important review," she said.
"It's an internal review, and it's to ensure the protection and safety of youth in our care."
Tom Baker, a manager with Aspen Calgary, which has contracts with the Alberta government to provide foster homes for 60 children, is worried about how the case will reflect on other foster families in the city.
"It's horrifying to hear that something like this could happen," he said. "It raises the anxiety for people that there aren't adequate kinds of checks and balances and monitoring and so on."
Screening process
But, Baker said, that's not the case.
Foster parents go through a rigorous screening process, he said, including criminal record checks, intensive training, and home visits before they are licensed.
Swann said Children and Youth Services should do more to implement eight recommendations contained in a report into foster care completed nearly two years ago.
That review was prompted by the death of a three-year-old foster boy in an Edmonton home in January 2007. The child was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma and died after being taken off life support the following day.
The report called for increased monitoring during the first six months of a foster home's operation, and more consistent assessment guidelines for evaluating new foster homes.
Fritz said changes were made in 2007, including more intense home studies for foster families.
Garry Prokopishin, 51, was charged Thursday with one count of luring a child via a data device, three counts each of obtaining or attempting to obtain sex from a person under the age of 18, and sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority.
The charges are in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred between January 2006 and April 2008.
Police believe that 55 foster children, all boys, have lived under the care of Prokopishin and his wife over the past 20 years.
At any given time, police said, between one and five boys lived in the home, and they ranged in age from 14 to 17.
The Calgary Police Service said Thursday that officers have spoken to 13 of the boys who lived in the home, and the investigation is ongoing.
This story is closed to commenting..
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/02/05/calgary-foster-system-problems-sex-abuse.html#ixzz0elI3dgnF
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)