Kinship Foster Care On the Rise

Kinship Foster Care On the Rise - Hartford Courant:

NEW BRITAIN — It boiled down to an emergency.

After the tragic death of her son, Sonia Levy-Reid's twin grandsons, then 3, were on the verge of entering the unpredictable foster-care system. The sister of the children's mother had been taking care of the boys. The sister called Levy-Reid one day in the late winter of 2014 and said she was ending the arrangement.

A Year After Emergency Room Visit, North Carolina Couple Still Fighting for Medically Kidnapped Newborn

A Year After Emergency Room Visit, North Carolina Couple Still Fighting for Medically Kidnapped Newborn:

In what is becoming an all-too-familiar scenario, a young couple living in Fayetteville, North Carolina, took their baby to the emergency room when he was not acting right, only to find themselves almost a year later still battling to try to bring their child home out of Child Protective Services custody. 

Today is the Ten Year Anniversary of Isabella Being Stolen by Nashua, NH DCYF

Ten years ago today, my beautiful Granddaughter Isabella was stolen by Nashua, NH DCYF and handed over to stranger's, because in Nashua, "Relative placement is NOT an option". Hoping one day Isabella will be home to celebrate my birthday with me! I love you Isabella and will never stop fighting for your return.

Governor Hassan Announces State to Initiate Independent Review of DCYF

Governor Hassan Announces State to Initiate Independent Review of DCYF | New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan:

It's about time!

For Immediate Release
October 2, 2015

Contact:
Communications Office
(603)271-2121

Governor Hassan Announces State to Initiate Independent Review of DCYF

CONCORD – In light of concerns raised by law enforcement after the murder of a Manchester toddler – and an initial review by the Department of Justice – Governor Maggie Hassan announced today that the state will initiate a comprehensive, independent review of the child protective services of the Division of Children Youth and Families (DCYF).

“We deeply grieve the loss of any child,” Governor Hassan said. “If as a state we missed any opportunity to save a child’s life, it is a tragedy and a failure – one that we must do everything possible to prevent in the future. Our society rests on the fundamental principle that all children must be able to grow up in a safe environment, and in the rare instances where their families harm them, we must protect them.” “That is why, based on Attorney General Joseph Foster’s initial review and recommendations, I am ordering an independent, top-to-bottom, expert review of New Hampshire’s child protective services.”

After the death of 21-month-old Sadie Willott in Manchester in early September, law enforcement raised concerns about DCYF’s involvement in the case. As a result, the Attorney General began a review, looking at the Willot case and other cases the Attorney General’s office had handled. The Attorney General also reached out to county attorneys to review cases that had been handled at the county level. Based on his initial review, the Attorney General recommended a thorough, independent review of DCYF.

“This independent review will examine DCYF’s handling of the cases of concern, but also their processes, staffing, training, caseloads, and the laws that they operate under,” Governor Hassan said. “And as findings and recommendations come forward, we will implement them as soon as possible.”

The Department of Justice will play an active role in the review and will also make recommendations to the commission headed by Senator David Boutin, which is looking at how to improve state laws to better protect children.

“Our preliminary review of Sadie Willott’s death and other homicide and assault cases involving child victims raised significant concerns about DCYF’s prior contacts with those families,” said Attorney General Foster. “We welcome the assistance of an outside expert to conduct a review and determine what steps can be taken to better assure the safety and security of New Hampshire’s smallest and most vulnerable citizens. We remain committed to assisting the Executive Branch and the Legislature as they continue to address this critical and fundamental issue.” 

Report: Auburn children suffered heat stroke; DCF policies not followed

Report: Auburn children suffered heat stroke; DCF policies not f - 7News Boston WHDH-TV:
AUBURN, Mass. (WHDH) -
According to a Department of Children and Families report released on Thursday, 2-year-old Avalena Conway-Coxon, who died while living at an Auburn foster home, suffered a heat stroke.

Gov cites DCF’s ‘blatant lack of oversight’ in Auburn foster child’s death

Gov cites DCF’s ‘blatant lack of oversight’ in Auburn foster child’s death | Boston Herald:

Child welfare bosses moved to discipline two state workers after an internal investigation revealed multiple agency missteps before the death of a 2-year-old and the hospitalization of a 22-month-old living in an Auburn foster home. Gov. Charlie Baker called the case a “blatant lack of oversight” by the Department of Children and Families at a midday press conference.

Manchester chief: DCYF failed to protect child

Manchester chief: DCYF failed to protect child | New Hampshire:

MANCHESTER — New Hampshire social workers failed to protect Sadie Willott, the 21-month-old child whose mother faces homicide charges in connection with her death over the Labor Day weekend, the city’s police chief said Wednesday.
“In the Willott homicide, DCYF failed to protect Sadie,” Police Chief Nick Willard said during an interview with a New Hampshire Union Leader reporter. He also said DCYF did not initially cooperate in the investigation, unlike in previous investigations into similar child abuse cases.
My comment:
"In the past, DCYF Administrator Lorraine Bartlett has said that family reunification is the first and foremost goal of her agency." Is that a fairly new concept?
“We want to be able to continue to provide the support and services to that family, so whenever possible children can be returned to their parents,” she told the Union Leader last December. Is this also a new concept? Maybe Lorraine Bartlett is much better qualified as DCYF Administrator than her predecessor Maggie Bishop. While Bishop was at the helm, at risk families never received any services or support from DCYF. The norm was to take the child and run. Evidence of innocence wasn't allowed. A false report was all it took to steal a child. Even a "Proven" false report. Does DCYF even look for relatives for placement of the stolen children, or is it still the same? "Relative placement is not an option. The child is going into Foster care, period."
Why in the world was Brielle and her siblings returned to their Mother, while felony child abuse charges were pending? While Bishop was at the helm, parent's whose criminal charges were dropped,(only because evidence of innocence was allowed in Criminal Court), still never got their children back. And the charges were for child endangerment, not mental or physical abuse. And what about the Mother's in NH who have lost children to the State, for prescribed medication while pregnant? Or almost lost the child because DCYF protocol is for Hospital's to report Mother's whose children show symptom's of withdrawl from prescribed medication given to the Mother?What about Medication, given in labor, that spill's into the unborn child? These children are stolen and never returned.
How about the Police taking over like they did in times past? They know REAL abuse when they see it. These children would probably be alive today. If DCYF wasn't so busy railroading innocent parent's AND their families, with frivolous nonsense accusation's, they may have had the time to save these children. This is REAL abuse! REAL abuse that took the lives of these two beautiful children!