Foster kids over-prescribed ADHD drugs | Courier Mail
DAMAGING: Experts are concerned that children in foster care are being over prescibed ADHD drugs such as Ritalin. Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
TRAUMATISED children in state care are missing out on crucial counselling and other services, says the peak body for child protection in Queensland.
PeakCare executive director Gail Slocombe said the lack of support could be fuelling the high level of ADHD medication among kids under government guardianship.
The Sunday Mail last week reported that the rate of medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among young people in foster homes is more than double the general population.
And the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian has raised alarm that many children under six - some as young as one - are being given the powerful drugs against the advice of the manufacturers.
Ms Slocombe says desperate carers may be turning to medical solutions because there is insufficient access to services such as counselling and remedial education.
"There's a need for any child coming into the care system to have good psycho-social assessment and treatment," she said.
"By the time they get into the care system, they need services that will begin to undo the damage done by the issues in their family that brought them to the system or the trauma of being removed."
But the demand from the growing number of children in care meant it was often difficult to get suitable help.
"I find it very difficult to think there would be a situation where adults who have enough support would need to contemplate behaviour modification or psyotropic drugs," said Ms Slocombe.
"But if you are a parent without a lot of suppport and this very young child is not sleeping, is running around in danger of hurting themselves or others and there does not seem to be any other way and a doctor says 'this might help' they would take medical advice."
Child Safety MInister Phil Reeves said: "The Government does not prescribe any medication. The diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition must be made by a qualified doctor.
"The Government's role is to ensure children and young people in care have access to health services."
But Youth Affairs Network of Queensland director Siyavash Dhoostkhah says the minister is failing in his duty of care to vulnerable children by allowing the high use of medications among young children despite manufacturers' recommendations.
Adelaide Women and Children's Hospital head of psychological medicine Dr Jon Jureidini, a campaigner against the over-prescription of ADHD drugs, agrees.
"The government is completely responsible. Would you let a medical practitioner make whatever decision they wanted for your child?"
Dr Jureidini said there was no evidence of ADHD mediciation having long-term benefits and there could be dangers for young children.
"The brain is still developing and we know these drugs have an impact on neural growth."
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
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Nashua, NH DCYF handled allegations 3 months ago - NashuaTelegraph.com
DCYF handled allegations 3 months ago - NashuaTelegraph.com
By ANDREW WOLFE
Staff Writer
Nashua boy’s death ruled homicide
NASHUA – State child welfare officials investigated allegations that someone was abusing Christian Jackson less than three months before the toddler was murdered, court records show.
Three-year-old Jackson stopped breathing late Saturday night at his father’s house in Nashua, and was later declared dead. Authorities have deemed his death a homicide, caused by blunt force trauma, and police and the attorney general’s office are investigating.
Authorities had investigated Christian’s parents before, family court records show.
On Nov. 29, Shawn Ganley filed emergency petitions in both Nashua District Court and the Hillsborough County Family Court in Merrimack, seeking custody of his son.
Ganley had been taking the boy on weekends, from Friday evening through Sunday evenings, for about a month at that point, while his mother, Latoya Jackson, cared for him during the week, according to court records.
“Since I have separated from my son’s mother I have been taking him every weekend,” Ganley wrote. “He has come with bite marks on his face, choke marks on his neck and this past weekend he has come with a black eye and the whole side of his head and face bruised. He has also in the past year had a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder.”
Ganley asked the court to let him keep Christian, writing, “I’m afraid she’ll take him back and something bad will happen to him.”
The court allowed Ganley to keep Christian for a week while caseworkers from the Division of Children Youth and Families investigated, court records show, and Marital master Alice Love heard testimony on the matter Dec. 6.
“DCYF confirms bruising but is unable to determine the source,” Love wrote after the hearing. “Based upon the testimony, the court is unable to find that the child should be taken from his mother.”
Love, DCYF and the parents agreed to continue the custody arrangement, that Jackson keep Christian during the week, and Ganley take his son on weekends. The case was scheduled for trial in May.
DCYF officials have repeatedly stated that they cannot comment on individual cases or investigations, and The Telegraph did not seek a comment on this one.
The prosecutor in the homicide case, Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati also said he could not comment on the prior DCYF investigation, or whether it had any bearing on the murder investigation.
A friend of Latoya Jackson, Shelly Kendzerski, said she believes Ganley exaggerated Christian’s injuries, and lied about alleged abuse cited in his petition “just to get at Latoya, to hurt Latoya, because she did not want to be with him.”
“That is all a bunch of bull,” Kendzerski said of Ganley’s petition. “Latoya does not beat her children. She may yell at them a little when they are doing something they shouldn’t do.... None of her children are in any danger being with her.”
Kendzerski said she has known Jackson since before any of Jackson’s children were born. Jackson has matured considerably since her arrest as a teenager in 2004, when she was accused and later convicted of helping a boyfriend hide the injuries he’d inflicted on their daughter, Kendzerski said.
Kendzerski said Jackson has always kept a clean home, and kept her children in good health, well-fed and well-clothed.
“Latoya is a great mother, she does everything she can for her kids. She’s a single mother of three. She doesn’t go out, she stays with her kids,” Kendzerski said.
Jackson has been in shock since Christian’s death, and hasn’t been eating or sleeping well, Kendzerski said. Kendzerski recalled at one point she kept repeating, “I want my baby boy back. I want him back.”
“She’s trying her best to keep it together for her other two children,” Christian’s five-year-old brother and infant sister, Kendzerski said.
Family and friends have set up a fund to help pay for Christian’s funeral: donations to the Christian Jackson Funeral Fund can be made at any TD Bank branch.
Andrew Wolfe can be reached at 594-6410 or awolfe@nashuatelegraph.com.
By ANDREW WOLFE
Staff Writer
Nashua boy’s death ruled homicide
NASHUA – State child welfare officials investigated allegations that someone was abusing Christian Jackson less than three months before the toddler was murdered, court records show.
Three-year-old Jackson stopped breathing late Saturday night at his father’s house in Nashua, and was later declared dead. Authorities have deemed his death a homicide, caused by blunt force trauma, and police and the attorney general’s office are investigating.
Authorities had investigated Christian’s parents before, family court records show.
On Nov. 29, Shawn Ganley filed emergency petitions in both Nashua District Court and the Hillsborough County Family Court in Merrimack, seeking custody of his son.
Ganley had been taking the boy on weekends, from Friday evening through Sunday evenings, for about a month at that point, while his mother, Latoya Jackson, cared for him during the week, according to court records.
“Since I have separated from my son’s mother I have been taking him every weekend,” Ganley wrote. “He has come with bite marks on his face, choke marks on his neck and this past weekend he has come with a black eye and the whole side of his head and face bruised. He has also in the past year had a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder.”
Ganley asked the court to let him keep Christian, writing, “I’m afraid she’ll take him back and something bad will happen to him.”
The court allowed Ganley to keep Christian for a week while caseworkers from the Division of Children Youth and Families investigated, court records show, and Marital master Alice Love heard testimony on the matter Dec. 6.
“DCYF confirms bruising but is unable to determine the source,” Love wrote after the hearing. “Based upon the testimony, the court is unable to find that the child should be taken from his mother.”
Love, DCYF and the parents agreed to continue the custody arrangement, that Jackson keep Christian during the week, and Ganley take his son on weekends. The case was scheduled for trial in May.
DCYF officials have repeatedly stated that they cannot comment on individual cases or investigations, and The Telegraph did not seek a comment on this one.
The prosecutor in the homicide case, Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati also said he could not comment on the prior DCYF investigation, or whether it had any bearing on the murder investigation.
A friend of Latoya Jackson, Shelly Kendzerski, said she believes Ganley exaggerated Christian’s injuries, and lied about alleged abuse cited in his petition “just to get at Latoya, to hurt Latoya, because she did not want to be with him.”
“That is all a bunch of bull,” Kendzerski said of Ganley’s petition. “Latoya does not beat her children. She may yell at them a little when they are doing something they shouldn’t do.... None of her children are in any danger being with her.”
Kendzerski said she has known Jackson since before any of Jackson’s children were born. Jackson has matured considerably since her arrest as a teenager in 2004, when she was accused and later convicted of helping a boyfriend hide the injuries he’d inflicted on their daughter, Kendzerski said.
Kendzerski said Jackson has always kept a clean home, and kept her children in good health, well-fed and well-clothed.
“Latoya is a great mother, she does everything she can for her kids. She’s a single mother of three. She doesn’t go out, she stays with her kids,” Kendzerski said.
Jackson has been in shock since Christian’s death, and hasn’t been eating or sleeping well, Kendzerski said. Kendzerski recalled at one point she kept repeating, “I want my baby boy back. I want him back.”
“She’s trying her best to keep it together for her other two children,” Christian’s five-year-old brother and infant sister, Kendzerski said.
Family and friends have set up a fund to help pay for Christian’s funeral: donations to the Christian Jackson Funeral Fund can be made at any TD Bank branch.
Andrew Wolfe can be reached at 594-6410 or awolfe@nashuatelegraph.com.
Oklahoma couple accused in abuse received $4,500 a month from Wisconsin for adopted children, sheriff says | NewsOK.com
Oklahoma couple accused in abuse received $4,500 a month from Wisconsin for adopted children, sheriff says | NewsOK.com
YUKON — The Canadian County couple accused of abusing their three children were receiving $4,500 a month support money from the state of Wisconsin, where they adopted the children before moving to Oklahoma, Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards said Thursday.
Oklahoma couple accused in abuse received $4,500 a month from Wisconsin for adopted children, sheriff says
John Edward Kluth, 50, and Sonja K. Kluth, 57, were charged Tuesday with child abuse and neglect and are accused by prosecutors of severe abuse of their two adopted sons and adopted daughter. They are free on bail.
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-couple-accused-in-abuse-received-4500-a-month-from-wisconsin-for-adopted-children-sheriff-says/article/3543816#ixzz1F6IRpX1o
YUKON — The Canadian County couple accused of abusing their three children were receiving $4,500 a month support money from the state of Wisconsin, where they adopted the children before moving to Oklahoma, Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards said Thursday.
Oklahoma couple accused in abuse received $4,500 a month from Wisconsin for adopted children, sheriff says
John Edward Kluth, 50, and Sonja K. Kluth, 57, were charged Tuesday with child abuse and neglect and are accused by prosecutors of severe abuse of their two adopted sons and adopted daughter. They are free on bail.
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-couple-accused-in-abuse-received-4500-a-month-from-wisconsin-for-adopted-children-sheriff-says/article/3543816#ixzz1F6IRpX1o
Nashua, NH Death of 3-year-old boy ruled homicide
Death of 3-year-old boy ruled homicide
ONLY ON FOX: Interview with boy's father
Updated: Friday, 25 Feb 2011, 12:20 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 24 Feb 2011, 10:58 AM EST
Nikoletta Banushi
Web Producer
NASHUA, N.H. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The death of a 3-year-old boy in Nashua has been ruled a homicide, New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney and Nashua Police Chief Donald F. Conley announced Thursday.
Christian Jackson was rushed to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center from a home on Chestnut Street on Saturday night while in the care of his father. He was pronounced dead on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with the boy’s father, Shawn Ganley tells Fox 25’s Bob Ward that his son stopped breathing around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday. Ganley says he tried to revive his son, but could not. He denies hitting or hurting him and has no idea why his son died.
New Hampshire's Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Jennie D. Duval, completed an autopsy on February 21 and determined that the cause of the boy's death was blunt force trauma.
Meanwhile, FOX 25 has learned the boy's parents have criminal records.
According to police, Christian's mother, Latoya Jackson, was convicted of child abuse in 2005 because the father of another baby she has repeatedly broke their daughter's bones and she later admitted she hid her daughter's wounds from police. She lost custody of that little girl.
Ganley has been convicted of assault and a few drug charges. On Nov. 29, he filed a petition alleging that the mother or someone in her household was abusing Christian. Child Welfare investigated, but never determined the cause of his injuries and did not change the conditions of the custody agreement.
Police say the child was in Jackson's care most of the time, while the father had him on the weekends.
The victim's family set up the Christian Jackson Fund, held by Jennifer Dorval at the TD Bank branch at 191 Main St., to help pay for the funeral expenses.
Death of 3-year-old boy ruled homicide: MyFoxBOSTON.com
ONLY ON FOX: Interview with boy's father
Updated: Friday, 25 Feb 2011, 12:20 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 24 Feb 2011, 10:58 AM EST
Nikoletta Banushi
Web Producer
NASHUA, N.H. (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The death of a 3-year-old boy in Nashua has been ruled a homicide, New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney and Nashua Police Chief Donald F. Conley announced Thursday.
Christian Jackson was rushed to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center from a home on Chestnut Street on Saturday night while in the care of his father. He was pronounced dead on Sunday.
In an exclusive interview with the boy’s father, Shawn Ganley tells Fox 25’s Bob Ward that his son stopped breathing around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday. Ganley says he tried to revive his son, but could not. He denies hitting or hurting him and has no idea why his son died.
New Hampshire's Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Jennie D. Duval, completed an autopsy on February 21 and determined that the cause of the boy's death was blunt force trauma.
Meanwhile, FOX 25 has learned the boy's parents have criminal records.
According to police, Christian's mother, Latoya Jackson, was convicted of child abuse in 2005 because the father of another baby she has repeatedly broke their daughter's bones and she later admitted she hid her daughter's wounds from police. She lost custody of that little girl.
Ganley has been convicted of assault and a few drug charges. On Nov. 29, he filed a petition alleging that the mother or someone in her household was abusing Christian. Child Welfare investigated, but never determined the cause of his injuries and did not change the conditions of the custody agreement.
Police say the child was in Jackson's care most of the time, while the father had him on the weekends.
The victim's family set up the Christian Jackson Fund, held by Jennifer Dorval at the TD Bank branch at 191 Main St., to help pay for the funeral expenses.
Police: Toddler Raped At SeaWorld
Police: Toddler Raped At SeaWorld - Orlando News Story - WESH Orlando
Sick this pedophile should be locked away for the rest of his miserable life!
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 2-year-old was raped at SeaWorld Orlando and the images of the incident were saved on the suspect’s cell phone, investigators said Friday.
Michael Grzybowicz, 26, is accused of raping the girl on Feb. 17, after her mother asked him to watch the toddler.
Sick this pedophile should be locked away for the rest of his miserable life!
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 2-year-old was raped at SeaWorld Orlando and the images of the incident were saved on the suspect’s cell phone, investigators said Friday.
Michael Grzybowicz, 26, is accused of raping the girl on Feb. 17, after her mother asked him to watch the toddler.
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