The family is the basic unit of social structure. Families define and shape the individuals that are a part of the family unit. Parents teach their children their values, and teach them a moral value of what is right and what is wrong. Parents set boundaries as to what is acceptable behavior and what will not be tolerated. These are basic and fundamental rights given to parents. They are recognized by the highest court in America to be the responsibility of the parents, not the job of the government. - Dawn Michelle Irons, BSW

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Foster Care System Failing To Protect Those Who Need It The Most

Posted by Jonathan Rosenfeld on November 29, 2010

In the United States, there are more than 500,000 children living in foster care. Foster care is the temporary placement of children because of abuse, neglect, family problems, or dependency.

WHOOOOOPS!!!!!!!

Na'dasia, 6, and her sister Dari'jae, 8, were taken by mistake from Muldoon Elementary School by the Office of Children's Services on Wednesday, November 17, 2010. They were returned to the school, and their mother, after 45 minutes.

Social worker picks up wrong kids at elementary school

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ERIK HILL / Anchorage Daily News

Na'dasia, 6, and her sister Dari'jae, 8, were taken by mistake from Muldoon Elementary School by the Office of Children's Services on Wednesday, November 17, 2010. They were returned to the school, and their mother, after 45 minutes.

Aging out of System, Sacramento county, Results are stunning!!!

IN EL DORADO COUNTY THAT IS

(01-17) 04:00 PST Sacramento — 2007-01-17 04:00:00 PST Sacramento -- The state of California neglects foster care children once they turn 18, turning them out onto the street with nowhere to live, no way to support themselves and nobody to turn to for support, according to a new report by the Children's Advocacy Institute.

Parentalrights.org - Protecting Children by Empowering Parents --

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

National Center for Adoption Law and Policy

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE..AS ONE LIFE INTERSECTS ANOTHER

A SPECIAL THANKS...

to a select few, who have taken me under their wing, treated me as family and most importantly, NEVER abandon me, nor judged me, NO MATTER WHAT.

MY ATTORNEY.. JIM BRUNELLO.

If you ever read this, You must know...You saved my life, taught me through your experiences and never forgot to remind me of my talents and the lives I have touched. When I feel down, I think of what you always told me..."You're ok Kid".

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU

MY PARTNER IN CRIME...PENNY ARNOLD (AKA) TRIPPLE "C".

We were two moms waiting to be seen at the court house that lonely morning. Fate brought us together, and together we stood through fear, disbelief, pain and sorrow. I will always cherish our nights of wine, crying, studying case law, but more importantly, when I stood alone and faced Pure Evil, I was not alone, as you were always there, when I turned around.

THAT FEELING IS PRICELESS

I LOVE YOU FRIEND

ROBERT SAUNDERS.
(Never judge a book by its Cover) YOU ARE AWESOME!!
YOU GAVE US HOPE, AND THE DRIVE WE NEEDED TO FIGHT
WHEN OUR MOMENTUM ALMOST CAME TO A STAND STILL

FATHERS FOR JUSTICE and JUSTICE REFORM COALITION.

MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER..CHLOE

I watch you unfold and am amazed every day, as I now learn much from you. Your calling is much bigger, as you will soon realize.

MY QUIET WARRIOR..MY LEGACY...

NEVER OF ME, BUT THROUGH ME...
THAT IS U MY DEAR.. MISS CHLOE

VOICES

*VOICES*

Can't they hear? Can't they see? This sweet, soft voice beckons for help, "Please Hear Me". One small mouth is never a match for the selective listening social worker, Indeed.
Sad eyes, stay there and don't despair, Your voice, it pierces me as it sailed through the air. This soft voice that I did hear, will now be delivered with Power, and very Clear.
Relax little one, breathe deep with no fear, your pain we will carry, your message "They" will hear.
I won't stop, I won't, as God as my witness, and now my carreer....Then off in the distance, soft voices, they wander.....It's ok little one, ...I'm coming "My Dear"

Yes We are Coming
Justice is Here!!

(This came from deep in my gut one night that I just could not sleep. I wept uncontrollably as I heard their voices in my head; I sat down to console them and gave them my promise, for which you've just read.

MORE CPS STATS!!!!!

Based on statistics, children are physically abused 3 times more while in DCF Custody
Based on statistics, children are sexually abused 8.6 times more while in DCF Custody
Based on statistics, children suffer neglect two times as much while in DCF Custody
Based on statistics, children suffer medical neglect 17% more while in DCF Custody
Based on statistics, children DIE at a rate FIVE times greater while in DCF Custody
Based on statistics, most 18 year olds released from DCF Custody have no life skills

Interesting facts

7 Year old Hangs himself in Foster Home after
Broward Circuit Judge Lisa Porter Orders
Unapproved Psychiatric Drug
from Doctor on "Watch List"

GABRIEL MYERS, BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEATH
AT THE HANDS OF FLORIDA CIRCUIT JUDGE LISA PORTER

Weeks before his death, Gabriel Myers, the 7-year-old Broward boy who hanged himself in the shower of his foster home, had been prescribed a powerful mind-altering drug linked by federal regulators to an increased risk of suicide in children.

In all, Gabriel had been prescribed four psychiatric drugs, two or three of which he was taking at the time of his death, said Jack Moss, Broward chief of the State Department of Children & Families. Moss said he is not sure which medications the boy was taking because Margate police took the foster home's medication log as part of an investigation into Gabriel's death last week.

Three of the psychotropic drugs carry U.S. Food and Drug Administration ''black box'' label warnings for children's safety, the strongest advisory the federal agency issues. Three of the medications are not approved for use with young children, though they are widely prescribed to youngsters ''off label'' -- meaning doctors can prescribe the drug even if not formally approved for that use.

Out of 17,000 doctors, Dr. Sohail Punjwani is one of about 300 who has been on a "red flag" list for (excessively) prescribing certain psychotropic drugs.

And though Florida law requires that either a parent or judge consent to the use of psychotropic drugs on foster children, a source with knowledge of the boy's case said Gabriel already had been taking a three-drug cocktail. Broward Circuit Judge Lisa Porter was informed of this at a March 11 hearing, but the judge approved the medications over the objection of a court-appointed guardian, the source said.

3 QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE MANDATORY BEFORE REMOVING A CHILD....

CPS SHOULD, my opinion, ASK THESE 3 QUESTIONS BEFORE THE TRAUMATIC REMOVAL OF A CHILD!!!

1.) Is there any real conclusive reason why the child should not stay where it is??
2.) What is lacking in his/her present home which we deem necessary for the childs care, and just how is that particular thing going to be provided under our proposed plan???
3) . How much will our proposed plan cost and would that sum, if used to assist the child in his/her own home, secure better results???