Night Of The Living CPS Agent - Baby LK Report For May 5th 2013

A Critical Look at Foster Care: How Widespread a Problem?

A Critical Look at Foster Care: How Widespread a Problem?:

HOW WIDESPREAD A PROBLEM?

One of the most comprehensive surveys of abuse in foster care was conducted in conjunction with a Baltimore lawsuit. Trudy Festinger, head of the Department of Research at the New York University School of Social Work, determined that over 28 per cent of the children in state care had been abused while in the system.

Reviewed cases depicted "a pattern of physical, sexual and emotional abuses" inflicted upon children in the custody of the Baltimore Department.

Cases reviewed as the trial progressed revealed children who had suffered continuous sexual and physical abuse or neglect in foster homes known to be inadequate by the Department. Cases included that of sexual abuse of young girls by their foster fathers, and that of a young girl who contracted gonorrhea of the throat as a result of sexual abuse in an unlicenced foster home.[1]

In Louisiana, a study conducted in conjunction with a civil suit found that 21 percent of abuse or neglect cases involved foster homes.[2]

In another Louisiana case, one in which thousands of pages of evidence were reviewed, and extensive testimony and depositions were taken, it was discovered that hundreds of foster children had been shipped out of the state to Texas.

Stephen Berzon of the Children's Defense Fund explained the shocking findings of the court before a Congressional subcommitte, saying: "children were physically abused, handcuffed, beaten, chained, and tied up, kept in cages, and overdrugged with psychotropic medication for institutional convenience."[3]

In Missouri, a 1981 study found that 57 percent of the sample children were placed in foster care settings that put them "at the very least at a high risk of abuse or neglect."[4]

A later report issued in 1987 found that 25 percent of the children in the Missouri sample group had been victims of "abuse or inappropriate punishment."

Children's Rights Project attorney Marcia Robinson Lowry described the findings of the Missouri review before the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families:

The most troubling result of the Kansas City review was the level of abuse, undetected or unreported, in foster homes. 25% of the children in the sample were the subject of abuse or inappropriate punishment. 88% of those reports were not properly investigated.[5]

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Critical Look at Foster Care: Foster Care Financing

Critical Look at Foster Care: Foster Care Financing:

Old article but worth the read.

FOSTER CARE FINANCING

The Federal government provides tremendous financial incentives to maintain foster care programs. One Federal program that helps states cover the cost of foster care grew from about $300 million in 1981 to nearly $2.7 billion in 1991.[1]

According to the General Accounting Office, in 1993 nearly $1.3 billion Federal dollars went to foster care maintenance, while an additional $1.1 billion in reimbursements went to states for foster care related administrative activities.[2]

According to the GAO report, while states provide the majority of funds for foster care and child welfare services, by 1995 the Federal share of expenditures for these services reached $4.1 billion.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the Federal government will spend over $9.2 billion between fiscal year 1991 and 1996 for foster care programs.[3]

In 1995, states received more than $2.8 billion in federal assistance for approximately half of the estimated 494,000 children in foster care.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2001, federal costs will rise to $4.8 billion with caseloads of federally assisted foster care children increasing by almost 26 percent.[4]

According to an analysis done for TIME Magazine by the Child Welfare League of America, the annual welfare cost of one child living with his or her mother is $2,644, while the average cost for the child's care in residential group care is $36,500.[5]

The best estimates currently available of the total of all annual expenditures on foster care services nationwide is in the range of ten to twelve billion dollars.[6]

These are national averages. For a closer look at how these funds are being disbursed, we turn to the States.

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7,000 Fewer Children in Pennsylvania Foster Care

7,000 Fewer Children in Pennsylvania Foster Care | NorthCentralPA.com:

On any given day six years ago, more than 21,000 abused and neglected children were living temporarily in foster homes throughout Pennsylvania. As a result of efforts led by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in cooperation with the child welfare community, today that number is 14,000, which equates to a 34 percent reduction.

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Tetraplegic mother wins $330K state settlement against CPS

Tetraplegic mother wins $330K state settlement:

Old article but well worth the read.

A woman who claimed that her parenting abilities were unfairly investigated because she is disabled has won a $330,000 settlement from the state.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services paid Geri Glass $50,000 and placed $100,000 into an annuity for her 3-year-old son Gage, officials announced on Friday. When the annuity matures in 2030, it will be worth $380,000.

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Kermit Gosnell Murder Trial Jury Now Considering Murder Charges

Kermit Gosnell Murder Trial Jury Now Considering Murder Charges | LifeNews.com:

The Common Pleas Court jury of seven women and five men have finished their deliberations for the week in the murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell.

They will return on Monday, but not before having apparently moved on from considering charges against Gosnell’s co-defendant (according to multiple news sources including the Philadelphia Inquirer and CNN) and on to the 72-year-old abortionist charged with five counts of murder.

Eileen O’Neill, 56, is charged with six counts of theft by deception (she is accused of posing as a licensed doctor) that form the basis of racketeering and conspiracy counts for her alleged role in a “corrupt organization.” The jury, CNN reported.

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Social worker pleads guilty to trying to kill autistic boy

Social worker pleads guilty to trying to kill autistic boy | Ontario | News | Toronto Sun:

LONDON, Ont. — A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty to attempted murder Friday in the savage beating of an autistic boy in his care.

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