We are failing our children

We are failing our children:

The statistics hit like a kick in the gut: 1 in 14 Shasta County children will be put into foster care before their 5th birthday. One in four — that's 25 percent — of Shasta County children will be suspected of being abused or neglected. In 88 percent of the cases where children are taken from their homes, it's due to substance abuse. All this adds up to a dubious dishonor: Shasta County has the state's second highest rate of children in foster care.

Teen taken by CPS for alleged "medical neglect" says she isn't being reunited with mother

Teen taken by CPS for alleged "medical neglect" says she isn't being reunited with mother - WXYZ.com:

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) - Just over a year ago, 17-year-old Leiani McMichael says she was living the life of a normal teen. She played sports, drove a car and went to school. Then, she says something happened to her that could happen to anyone.

State officials blast Monterey County CPS handling of abuse case leading to two child deaths

State officials blast Monterey County CPS handling of abuse case leading to two child deaths - San Jose Mercury News:

SALINAS -- The tragic deaths of Shaun and Delylah Tara, whose bodies were found last December in a Northern California storage locker, again have thrust the state's Child Protective Services departments into a harsh spotlight, raising questions about whether the agencies can truly protect the state's most vulnerable children.

Sponsor of vetoed grandparents bill working to refine legislation

Sponsor of vetoed grandparents bill working to refine legislation | KSL.com:

SALT LAKE CITY — The sponsor of a grandparents' rights bill vetoed by Gov. Gary Herbert over concerns it could jeopardize adoptive parents' rights said Thursday he is willing to work with the governor to refine the legislation.

So many Dallas CPS investigators have quit, state has to bring in backups from other areas

So many Dallas CPS investigators have quit, state has to bring in backups from other areas - Texas News:

AUSTIN — Unusually large numbers of child-abuse investigators in Dallas County are quitting, which has forced Child Protective Services to bring in scores of workers from other parts of Texas to temporarily handle cases and ramp up recruitment for replacements.

DCYF review will include cases of children who died

DCYF review will include cases of children who died | New Hampshire:

CONCORD — An outside review of the state’s child welfare agency will include the cases of two children who died while the Division of Children, Youth and Families was investigating allegations of abuse, according to a spokesman for Gov. Maggie Hassan.
William Hinkle issued the statement hours after receiving a letter from the attorney representing the estates of 3-year-old Brielle Gage of Nashua and 21-month-old Sadie Willott of Manchester, both of whom died while their neglect and abuse cases were under DCYF review.
Comment: I agree that the cases of these two children should definitely be included in the review. It would also make sense to include the cases of other parent's whose children were never returned, even after Criminal abuse charges (child endangerment) were dropped after their innocence was proven in Criminal Court, yet the Family Court and DCYF refused to drop the charges in Family Court. The children adopted out to stranger's, never to be seen again. Why should these families be denied their children and a Mother facing felony child abuse charges has her children returned before trial? Why are DCYF and the Family Court's allowed to use double standards?

Texas Attorney: CPS is Too Powerful – Has Become an “Adoption Mill”

Texas Attorney: CPS is Too Powerful – Has Become an “Adoption Mill”:
Gutsy Attorney Outs a Too-Powerful Texas CPS Baby Mill Agenda

“The role of CPS has changed over the years,” (Julie Ketterman of KHA Lawyers, PLLC) said. “They have become too powerful and have shifted their focus from offering guidance and support to acting as a punitive force.” Historically, CPS would provide in-home services to help stabilize families in need of assistance and maintain children in their home. Preventing child abuse and ensuring a safe home environment was the ultimate goal.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a marked increase in public awareness of child abuse. This led to amendments to the Social Security Act, which expanded the scope of CPS nationwide. In 1974, Congress passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which provided federal funds to the states for the prevention of physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse. Then, in 1997, Congress passed the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which established strict timelines for returning children in foster care to their parents or for terminating parental rights, thus freeing the children for adoption. In some cases, states are authorized to dispense with efforts to reunify the family and move directly to termination of parental rights.