Abuse in foster homes

Abuse in foster homes

by Jill Johnson
Abuse does occur in foster homes. I have a child who was removed from home at age 18 months and placed in a foster home. The state had made allegations that the mother had placed her children in danger by running an outreach ministry from her home. This precious child - one of five - was sexually abused for a full year in her initial foster home. The state removed her on an emergency basis due to pending charges against the foster father. The child had become very attached to her foster parents. She was taken to a regular weekly visit with her mother and afterwards, two social workers physically forced her into her car seat with a stranger to take her to a new home. She was not told what was going on or even given a chance to say goodbye to the foster mother. She was so terrified, she kicked, scratched, and bit the social workers as they were forcing her into the vehicle. The state left her in her new home without so much as a change of clothes or a familiar toy for two weeks before deciding she needed her belongings. Six months later they placed her with her biological father in spite of having received two separate reports from two minors alleging he had sexually abused them just prior to placing her with him. She remained in her father's care for eight months and the state then gave him full permanent custody and closed the case. Three days later, he abandoned her. He took her to the second foster home she had been in and just left her there. The mother was notified to appear in court and a week later, she won custody back. Within one month, it was apparent that something was not right with the child. Her mother took her to see a private therapist. After six sessions, the therapist determined she could not help the child. The little girl went on vacation with a family friend shortly after her therapy was terminated. At this time, she disclosed that her father had sexually abused her. The mother called social services and demanded an investigation. Over the course of several months, it was found that she had been forced to perform oral sex on her father, sodomized with a popsicle, deprived of food as punishment, forced to drink beer and smoke cigarettes, and that he had beaten her feet with a kitchen spatula until they bled - then beat her again for bleeding on his carpet.

Read the entire article at:http://www.helium.com/items/1945513-abuse-in-foster-care

It's not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you(And they alway's are!)

AFRA EDITORIALS
By Leonard Henderson
September 6, 2010

It's not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you

When I was going through the CPS meat grinder in 1999, I was chatting with the local newspaper editor about my situation. He was super curious and asked a lot of questions.

After a while, he leaned back in his chair and said "It's not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you".

Why should this be such an important event that I still remember it?

Because it was VINDICATION.

After six months of complying with CPS demands, talking with their agents, psychiatrists, and "mental illness clinicians" (yeah, that's what they are), a guy gets pretty burned out.

I was cooperating with them fully, doing EVERYTHING they told me to do.

After months of them blaming every single problem on ME, the light bulbs start going off in my head- "Hey! I think they are screwing with me!"

I had been taking three days a week off from running my THREE businesses. (Drive 200 miles round trip on Fridays to go get the 16 year-old kid from Residential Treatment, drive another 200 miles on Mondays to take him back to Residential Treatment, and AT LEAST one day -Wednesdays- participating in "meetings" with the CPS agents. And then maybe a Tuesday or Thursday being interrogated by Mental Illness clinicians-- to be told how terrible a person I was).

It also bears mentioning that at the same time, one of the businesses I was operating was as a Computer Consultant, and these agencies (the HOSPITAL, the Mental Health clinic, one of the Medical doctors clinics, the county Juvenile Dept AND the county District Attorney's office-- and the local newspaper)- were MY CLIENTS.

I remember the day- THE DAY, the day I really knew I was in a meatgrinder of insanity, surrounded by sociopathic liars and CRAZY people.

The CPS office called a "Special Meeting" one Thursday, and demanded that we get to their office NOW. So the wife and I walked into their office with question marks all over our faces.

The CPS supervisor, (who looked a LOT like THIS) sat down in the conference room and spewed out all sorts of threats. Then each one of the Mental Illness people came in and made weird off-the-wall statements and threats about what they "could" write up about me.

They said the kid was "in really great mental condition and THREATENED ME that I had sure better "reinforce his confidence". EVERYTHING WAS "OK" and I sure had better not "start something with him". OR ELSE!!

Then they brought THE KID in. He was cut up, bandaged and sporting 30 stitches in his foot.

They hurriedly explained that he had "suffered an event" at Residential Treatment. (They had changed his MEDS again). He had "an altercation" with other thugs in Residential Treatment (and the big, burly guards) and he was given a "time out" (locked in the "time out" room that had glass with chicken wire embedded in it). The counselor at the Residential Treatment center later told me the kid "WENT NUTS" on the swill the psychiatrist had "tried out" against all good advice to the contrary.

He kicked the glass window out, putting a huge gash in his foot.

Now, they brought him back from Residential Treatment (saved me the trip a day early?) and said he was "ready to go home for his weekend home visit". (Bear in mind, the reason he was finally removed from our home months earlier in hand cuffs by the Sheriff's department was because he had just tried to DROWN, and then tried to STRANGLE the 3 year old brother.)

As if there was absolutely nothing wrong with this entire dizzying scene.

He was still doped out of his head, bad dangerous goofy, mean, mouthy, cursing and talking evil- and we were supposed to take him home with us so he could "enjoy reintegrating with his little brothers and sisters"?

And that's the day I said- right in front of the gawd-damned completely insane group of state and county employees-

"Am I on Candid Camera? Really seriously, where's Alan Funt? This scene is so absurd that it CAN'T be for real. Is my name WINSTON? Is this the set of 'NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR"?

One of them looked at me with a "shocked" look on her face and asked "Who is Winston? What is 1984?".

I threw up my hands and said "THAT FIGURES! It really does! You STUPID COMMUNIST SONSABITCHES never read George Orwell's 1984, HAVE YOU? You have NO CLUE what I am talking about- DO YOU?"

They admitted that no, they had NEVER HEARD OF ORWELL'S 1984 and they were "concerned" about "the level of anger" I was showing.

After all the hoops I had jumped through, after all the blame and false accusations made at ME, after the months of their insane harassment and threats, now they expected me to think absolutely NOTHING of THIS, and buckle under in FEAR of THEM?

That's why the VINDICATION by the local newspaper editor meant so much to me-

"It's not paranoia if they really ARE out to get you".

COMMENT on this story

"Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own." --Aesop (c. 550 B.C.) legendary Greek fabulist

If CPS hasn't attacked YOUR FAMILY yet, see If you are ever approached by anyone from social services.... and WHEN THEY COME AFTER YOU

Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can at How To Fight CPS

Get YOUR VERSION OF HISTORY ON THE RECORD with your Sworn Declaration

Leonard Henderson, co-founder
American Family Rights Association
http://familyrights.us
"Until Every Child Comes Home" ©
"The Voice of America's Families" ©

I am not a lawyer and I do not pretend to give legal advice. If you need legal advice, see AFRA's Lawyer Friends who certainly are not pretenders (http://familyrights.us/info/law) I merely relate the things I learned in the past that seemed to work in my own case or things that others have related to me that worked in their cases. I provide information for free and do not expect to receive any form of payment or reward on this side of heaven. Therefore, DO NOT rely on this information as legal advice. Real Legal advice would come from a real lawyer who hates CPS and prepares a VIGOROUS DEFENSE against a negative (proving nothing happened) instead of talking you into a plea bargain (http://familyrights.us/bin/The_Problem_with_Plea_Bargaining.htm)


http://familyrights.us / news / archive / 2010 / september / not_paranoia.html

http://familyrights.us/news/archive/2010/september/not_paranoia.html

Joy Heaven, accused of killing foster child, passed foster care licensing review with flying colors, report shows-Another CPS Screw-Up!!!

Another CPS screw-up! A five year old Foster child is dead, because CPS believe's they're alway's right.

Joy Heaven, accused of killing foster child, passed foster care licensing review with flying colors, report shows
Published: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 6:11 AM Updated: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 6:31 AM
Barton Deiters | The Grand Rapids Press

Joy Heaven

GRAND RAPIDS -- When Bethany Christian Services interviewed Joy Heaven about her desire to become a foster parent, the licensing specialist wrote to the Michigan Department of Human Services recommending Heaven be allowed to care for three children as young as 5, with a spectrum of special needs.
"Her patient, loving and compassionate personality will be a tremendous asset in her caring for children," the worker states in a foster home evaluation dated March 3.
Wednesday's hearing in Kent County District Court presented a much different Heaven, -- a foster mother accused of inflicting fatal brain injuries to a foster child. Authorities say Heaven, 30, was frustrated with 5-year-old Emily Meno's behavior in mid-July and violently shoved the little girl, causing the injury.

Read the entire article at:http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/09/joy_heaven_accused_of_killing.html

A reduction in foster care numbers should mean a brighter future for thousands of U.S. children.

Building the future
A reduction in foster care numbers should mean a brighter future for thousands of U.S. children.

September 5, 2010
The recent announcement that the number of U.S. children in foster care had dropped by 8 percent in the last year and 20 percent in the last decade certainly is welcome news.

In Kansas, the number of children in foster care hit a high of 6,631 in 2007. In fiscal year 2009, the state had 5,691 children in foster care, the lowest number since 2002 and 9.7 percent lower than in 2008.

Foster care is a vital service for children who cannot safely be left in their homes, but it is intended to be a temporary measure until a better living situation can be arranged. Long stays in foster care aren’t a desirable goal, especially if those stays involve moves to several different foster homes.

Officials and child-welfare advocates have noted several reasons for the decline in foster care numbers. Key among those are efforts to provide expanded support for troubled families so they can address the problems that might result in children being removed from their homes in the first place.

Read the entire article at:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/sep/05/building-future/?opinion

More grandparents fighting to stay in grandchildren's lives

More grandparents fighting to stay in grandchildren's lives

Amy Crawford can be reached via e-mail or at 724-850-2856.

By Amy Crawford
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, September 5, 2010

When Carolyn and Dennis Konopka made the three-hour drive to McKean County early last month, they were looking forward to a visit with their granddaughter. They hoped it would not be the last.

The Konopkas, of North Huntingdon, had spent much of the previous year in court, fighting first for visitation — then custody — of Michell Hardy, 23 months.

Michell's mother, Megan Konopka, 21, was murdered in a Bradford hotel in September 2009. Michell had been placed in foster care without the Konopkas' knowledge before her mother's death, and the foster family was trying to adopt her — a move that would terminate their legal relationship with their granddaughter.

"After fighting all this time and maybe losing her, we would almost say, 'Go ahead, raise her, but we want to see her,' " Carolyn said before the Aug. 13 court date that would decide their fate.

While their daughter's murder made their case unusual, the Konopkas are not the only grandparents who have gone to court to protect relationships with their grandchildren.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_698096.html

Baby LK Report For September 5th 2010 - Bigger, Longer and Deeper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq_uyDsWT_g

Stephen says politics had no role in HHS

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/215187/stephen-says-politics-had-no-role-in-hhs

Please scroll down to the section;Cost Cutting Campaign-4th paragraph which states John Stephen cut the substance abuse budget while he was DHHS Commissioner, yet DCYF who worked under him, were responsible for the court order of medical methadone
detox in Dec. of 2005, for my daughter, in order to regain custody of her
daughter. Because of John Stephens budget cut's, there was NO Medical
Methadone detox programs in the State of NH, which DCYF should have
known, before the recommendation was made. My daughter was court-ordered
into a program that didn't exist, in an effort to make sure her newborn daughter
was NEVER returned. And she Never was returned.


Stephen says politics had no role in HHS
Ex-commissioner's style questioned
By Daniel Barrick / Monitor staff
September 5, 2010 UPDATED 19 SECONDS AGO

When John Stephen assumed the top job at the state Department of Health and Human Services, one year after a failed run for Congress, he assured his employees he was leaving politics behind. His new job was about following the letter of the law, Stephen said, not partisanship.

"I wanted them to know I didn't wear an R, a D or an I," Stephen said, referring to Republican, Democrat and independent labels.

But in his four years on the job, Stephen regularly clashed with lawmakers and the Democratic governor he's now seeking to replace. Stephen's critics saw his political ambition driving his decisions as commissioner and questioned whether he had his eye on a future run for elected office. Stephen, however, says his only fights were on behalf of taxpayers.

As he runs for governor this year, Stephen, a Republican, puts his term as health commissioner at the center of his campaign. He says the record shows he saved the state money and was innovative. Many Republicans recall his tenure fondly. Some observers, however, remember the period mostly for the unusual rancor between Stephen and key lawmakers and the state's health community - and an atmosphere that often made it difficult for him to advance his policy agenda.

"When John Stephen managed his department within budget, he was following the Legislature's policies, but he was always perceived as somewhat uncaring," said state Rep. Neal Kurk, a Weare Republican. "And that just isn't true. But that was the perception, because he accepted the financial constraints and didn't wear his heart on his sleeve."



Cost-cutting campaign
Stephen wasn't the first choice to take over the Department of Health and Human Services when he was appointed in 2003 by then-Gov. Craig Benson. Nick Vailas, whom Benson had originally appointed, resigned because of perceived ethics conflicts.

Stephen struck many as an odd fit for the job, considering his lack of experience in the health care field. He had worked as a prosecutor at the attorney general's office and as the deputy commissioner at the state Department of Safety. But Benson described Stephen's lack of expertise as a plus.

"Sometimes it's better to come from the outside and not be so tuned in to the industry," Benson said at the time.

It was a steep learning curve for the new commissioner. Within weeks of taking the job, Stephen was told to draw up a plan to cut $20 million from his budget.
"Stephen did so, in part by trimming payments to hospitals, mental health centers, and alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs." The task was an early example of Stephen's term as commissioner. While some lawmakers praised Stephen's approach, others said he seemed uninterested in the effects the cuts to services would have on the people who used them.