Kick-ass poetry talent from a teen in foster care… « I Was A Foster Kid
I was “introduced” to the talent of a young woman who is currently in foster care through another blog called Foster Parenting Adventures. FPA is a blog written by a clinical psychologist who is currently a foster parent, but also works with “at-risk teens,” many who are in foster care. One of the teens that the blogger works with is a young women, “K,” who is in foster care and has had a rough time, but is now making amazing progress in a stable home with a good foster mother.
Through all the shit that “K” has been through in her short-life, she has an amazing gift to write and when I read her poem(s), I was blown away.
So, here are two of “K’s” poems.
Please feel free to comment, because this teenager in foster care has a gift that can take her places. I will make sure she gets all the comments.
.
“K” – Poem #1
do you see me? I am here
do you hear me? I am loud
do you hear my cry? I am sobbing
do you feel me? my presence
do you feel my pain? it hurts
do you know me? my name
do you want to know me? my childhood
man this is insane
what’s my favorite color? hot pink
what’s my favorite song? Hold On
who do I long to hold? my mom
do I want to see her? yes
did she give me up? yes
do I want to change that? yes
but can I do that? no
man, I am riding solo
do you understand my story?
do you want to understand?
do you want to learn more?
what am I telling you this for?
do you think it’s fair?
oh, one more question, do you even care?
man this is crazy
life is a dare and not always fair
“K” – Poem #2
One day I will find her
I guarantee
One day I will find her
and keep her company
One day I will find her
and make her proud
One day I will find her
and tell her I love her
One day I will find her
and tell her that I miss her
One day I’ll find her
and tell her how much it hurt
One day I’ll find her
and tell her how I went berserk
One day I will find her
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
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Cranmer: Our children are not the property of the state
Cranmer: Our children are not the property of the state: "There is a tendency, developed or made more palpable over the past 50 years, that our children are first and foremost a state acquisition. The belief has perhaps been in greater evidence nowhere more than in the state education system, with its national curriculum designed to inculcate whatever values a passing government stipulates, and teachers trained in accordance with a prescriptive code which none dare abjure and no headteacher dare repudiate, lest they fall foul of the Gestapo at Ofsted. Any parental assertions of ownership, as with homeschooling, are increasingly viewed with suspicion, with such parents made subject to a level of monitoring usually reserved for suspected paedophiles. And the absurd belief that a parent ought to be informed about their child’s acquisition of contraception or their 14-year-old daughter’s application for an abortion is viewed as an unacceptable incursion into the child's 'right' to privacy, of which the state is now the self-appointed guardian."
UK Finally Makes Smart Decision to Protect Children… Why Doesn’t the US?
foodconsumer.org - UK Finally Makes Smart Decision to Protect Children… Why Doesn’t the US?: "Ministers of parliament and senior advisers in the UK government ruled against the flu vaccine for children under 5. This decision comes even though a flu epidemic is currently striking the UK.
Possibly they took a look at what Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, one of the world's leading immunologists, has had to say on the flu vaccine. Fudenburg found that anyone who had more than two flu vaccines between 1970 and 1980 has a far higher chance of having Alzheimer's in old age."
Possibly they took a look at what Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, one of the world's leading immunologists, has had to say on the flu vaccine. Fudenburg found that anyone who had more than two flu vaccines between 1970 and 1980 has a far higher chance of having Alzheimer's in old age."
Bill would overhaul Texas foster care
Bill would overhaul Texas foster care: "When Donna Loden was placed in foster care at age 5, she was shipped from her family's Lubbock home more than 450 miles across the state to Houston.
It might as well have been Mars.
Separated from her younger sister, she traded a trailer park in the middle of nowhere for an urban home in a city that seemed as big as the entire world.
'It's traumatic enough to be taken away from home, but when you add more distance and strange people and you have no idea where you are, it just adds more trauma,' said Loden, now 29 and an employee of a Goldthwaite residential treatment center for foster children. 'I became emotionally blocked off as a child because of that.'"
It might as well have been Mars.
Separated from her younger sister, she traded a trailer park in the middle of nowhere for an urban home in a city that seemed as big as the entire world.
'It's traumatic enough to be taken away from home, but when you add more distance and strange people and you have no idea where you are, it just adds more trauma,' said Loden, now 29 and an employee of a Goldthwaite residential treatment center for foster children. 'I became emotionally blocked off as a child because of that.'"
What Now?: The United States foster care system has a higher turnover rate than most fast food industries.
What Now?: The United States foster care system has a higher turnover rate than most fast food industries.: "I read an article today that begins with this statement: 'The United States foster care system has a higher turnover rate than most fast food industries. Of the estimated 200,000 licensed foster homes, from 30 to 50 percent drop out each year...Why are foster parents leaving? Of all the reasons, the biggest by far is that they are treated poorly.'"
Saturday, January 15, 2011
State Sued Over Toddler's Death
State Sued Over Toddler's Death - News Story - KXLY Spokane
COEUR D'ALENE -- A lawsuit filed against the State of Idaho has alleged it's responsible for the death of a Post Falls toddler. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court Tuesday just days before the two year anniversary of 2 year old Karina Moore's death. Karina died from a massive head injury while in foster care in January of 2009. KXLY.COM VIDEO EmbedSharePurchase Parents Sue State Over Toddler's Death January 13, 2011 A lawsuit filed against the State of Idaho has alleged it's responsible for the death of a Post Falls toddler. KXLY 4's Annie Bishop reports. » More KXLY.com Video Her foster parents told investigators she died after she accidentally fell down a short flight of carpeted stairs inside their home. A few months later however, the Spokane County Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as homicide. The foster parents have not been criminally charged with Karina's death, although sources tell KXLY the case is still open and is now in the hands of the Kootenai County Prosecutor. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Karina's biological family, has accused the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare of failing to protect Karina and ignoring reports of alleged abuse inside the foster home.
COEUR D'ALENE -- A lawsuit filed against the State of Idaho has alleged it's responsible for the death of a Post Falls toddler. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court Tuesday just days before the two year anniversary of 2 year old Karina Moore's death. Karina died from a massive head injury while in foster care in January of 2009. KXLY.COM VIDEO EmbedSharePurchase Parents Sue State Over Toddler's Death January 13, 2011 A lawsuit filed against the State of Idaho has alleged it's responsible for the death of a Post Falls toddler. KXLY 4's Annie Bishop reports. » More KXLY.com Video Her foster parents told investigators she died after she accidentally fell down a short flight of carpeted stairs inside their home. A few months later however, the Spokane County Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as homicide. The foster parents have not been criminally charged with Karina's death, although sources tell KXLY the case is still open and is now in the hands of the Kootenai County Prosecutor. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Karina's biological family, has accused the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare of failing to protect Karina and ignoring reports of alleged abuse inside the foster home.
Proof Nashua DCYF IS the Worst in the State! NH Statewide Assessment
Now Will Anyone Listen?????
State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families Child and Family Services Review Statewide Assessment July 2010
Proof Nashua DCYF IS the Worst in the State!
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/documents/childfamilyservicesreport112010.pdf
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/documents/childfamilyservicesreport112010.pdf
Federal CFSR:
http://basis.caliber.com/cwig/ws/cwmd/docs/cb_web/Blob/945.pdf?w=NATIVE%28%27DT+ph+is+%27%27CFSR+Final+Report%27%27+and+STATE+%3D+%27%27New+Hampshire%27%27+and+RPERIOD+%3D+%27%271st++Round+CFSR%27%27%2C%27%272nd++Round+CFSR%27%27+and+DOC_AVAILABILITY+%5E%3D+%27%27Not+publicly+available+on+the+Children%27%27%27%27s+Bureau+website%27%27%27%29&m=2
Nashua rates low and lowest in these area's:
Item 3: Services to family to protect children in the home and prevent removal or re-entry into Page 74
foster care
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 83.3-One of the lowest in State
Item 4: Risk assessment and safety management Page 79
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 66.7 One of two lowest in State
Item 6: Stability of foster care placement Page 100
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 77.8 One of the lowest in State
Item 7: Permanency goal for child Page 104
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 44.4 Lowest in State
Item 8: Reunification, guardianship, or permanent placement with relatives Page 109
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 66.7 Lowest in State
The Nashua District Office continues to display inconsistent reunification practices. Extensive office
reviews have identified training and practice issues that are being addressed relative to achieving more
consistent approaches. Nashua has a history of being more compliance focused than other offices and this
is being included in their ongoing practice improvement initiatives, as it is not consistent with the
performance in other offices
Item 9: Adoption How effective is the agency in achieving timely adoption when that is
appropriate for the child?Page 114
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 25 Lowest in State
As a result of the previously mentioned initiatives the number of adoptions in New Hampshire has
steadily increased. There has also been an increase in adoptions of children age 12 or older from 17% in
2007 to 22 % in FFY 2009. Last year 16 children were featured on the "waiting children‖ DVD initiative
and of those, 12 were placed or matched in permanent homes
Item 11: Proximity of out of home placement Page 123
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 88.9 One of two Lowest in State
Item 12: Placement with siblings Page 125
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 75 Lowest in State
Item 13: Visiting with parents and siblings in foster care Page 129
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 55.6 One of three lowest in the State
Item 14: Preserving connections Page 131
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 55.6 Lowest in the State
Item 15: Relative placement Page 135
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 33.3 Lowest in the State
Item 16: Relationship of child in care with parents Page 139
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA RATED 55.6 One of two lowest in the State
Item 17: Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents. How effective is the agency in
assessing the needs of children, parents, and foster parents, and in providing needed services to
children in foster care, to their parents and foster parents, and to children and families receiving
in-home services?
Pages 145-147
Data Considerations
Item 17: Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 33.3 Lowest in the State
The Case Practice Review data below identifies inconsistency in New Hampshire‘s rating of this item.
Item 18: Child and family involvement in case planning Page 151
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rating 50-one of four lowest in State
Item 20: Worker visits with parents Page 159
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 50-One of lowest in State
Item 23: Mental/behavioral health of the child Page 167
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 63.6 Lowest in State
State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families Child and Family Services Review Statewide Assessment July 2010
Proof Nashua DCYF IS the Worst in the State!
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/documents/childfamilyservicesreport112010.pdf
Federal CFSR:
http://basis.caliber.com/cwig/ws/cwmd/docs/cb_web/Blob/945.pdf?w=NATIVE%28%27DT+ph+is+%27%27CFSR+Final+Report%27%27+and+STATE+%3D+%27%27New+Hampshire%27%27+and+RPERIOD+%3D+%27%271st++Round+CFSR%27%27%2C%27%272nd++Round+CFSR%27%27+and+DOC_AVAILABILITY+%5E%3D+%27%27Not+publicly+available+on+the+Children%27%27%27%27s+Bureau+website%27%27%27%29&m=2
Nashua rates low and lowest in these area's:
Item 3: Services to family to protect children in the home and prevent removal or re-entry into Page 74
foster care
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 83.3-One of the lowest in State
Item 4: Risk assessment and safety management Page 79
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 66.7 One of two lowest in State
Item 6: Stability of foster care placement Page 100
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 77.8 One of the lowest in State
Item 7: Permanency goal for child Page 104
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 44.4 Lowest in State
Item 8: Reunification, guardianship, or permanent placement with relatives Page 109
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 66.7 Lowest in State
The Nashua District Office continues to display inconsistent reunification practices. Extensive office
reviews have identified training and practice issues that are being addressed relative to achieving more
consistent approaches. Nashua has a history of being more compliance focused than other offices and this
is being included in their ongoing practice improvement initiatives, as it is not consistent with the
performance in other offices
Item 9: Adoption How effective is the agency in achieving timely adoption when that is
appropriate for the child?Page 114
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 25 Lowest in State
As a result of the previously mentioned initiatives the number of adoptions in New Hampshire has
steadily increased. There has also been an increase in adoptions of children age 12 or older from 17% in
2007 to 22 % in FFY 2009. Last year 16 children were featured on the "waiting children‖ DVD initiative
and of those, 12 were placed or matched in permanent homes
Item 11: Proximity of out of home placement Page 123
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 88.9 One of two Lowest in State
Item 12: Placement with siblings Page 125
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 75 Lowest in State
Item 13: Visiting with parents and siblings in foster care Page 129
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 55.6 One of three lowest in the State
Item 14: Preserving connections Page 131
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rated 55.6 Lowest in the State
Item 15: Relative placement Page 135
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rated 33.3 Lowest in the State
Item 16: Relationship of child in care with parents Page 139
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA RATED 55.6 One of two lowest in the State
Item 17: Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents. How effective is the agency in
assessing the needs of children, parents, and foster parents, and in providing needed services to
children in foster care, to their parents and foster parents, and to children and families receiving
in-home services?
Pages 145-147
Data Considerations
Item 17: Needs and services of child, parents, foster parents Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 33.3 Lowest in the State
The Case Practice Review data below identifies inconsistency in New Hampshire‘s rating of this item.
Item 18: Child and family involvement in case planning Page 151
Percent Rated as a Strength- NASHUA Rating 50-one of four lowest in State
Item 20: Worker visits with parents Page 159
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 50-One of lowest in State
Item 23: Mental/behavioral health of the child Page 167
Percent Rated as a Strength - NASHUA Rating 63.6 Lowest in State
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