Sadly, these horror stories happen much more often than people realize, and it is quite common for the abuse to be verified by professionals. Yet, the child is left in the home, or is placed "under supervision" by DCF workers. There is no doubt that DCF is understaffed and overworked - they are doing a job that I personally would never do. I have known MANY excellent CPS workers who put their heart and soul into doing their very best to protect the children on their caseload. Then, unfortunately there are always the few workers who do NOT do their job; lie about seeing the children; etc., and those children are in extreme danger.
In Braddie's case, the worker failed miserably!!! She would make visits to SEE Braddie after he was returned to his birth mom and NOT see him. She would either be "detained" in the yard by bmom and talk to her there - never going inside to see Braddie; or bmom would tell the worker that Braddie was with a g-parent or somebody else. These 'excuses' by parents are called "red flag warnings" and the workers KNOW to see the child "eyeball to eyeball," without exception, when this happens. Braddie's caseworker also lied to the judge on several different issues, and even withheld a psychological report from the judge which stated that Braddie should NOT be returned home.
Due to these facts, plus others, Braddie's caseworker was the 1st caseworker in Florida to ever be charged criminally in a case. She was found guilty by a jury of a misdemeanor and a felony. After appeals the felony was
finally dropped, but the misdemeanor stood.
I personally know of several cases where the caseworker has lied about seeing the child who was "under supervision" in the home (even since Braddie's death). In one of those cases, the child was already dead and dumped on the side of the road DURING THE TIME that the caseworker said she was seeing him face to face. She too was prosecuted. I just wish they would all do their job "to the best of their ability" - that is all we can ask. Sadly, some children would still "slip through the cracks," and be killed or injured, but the numbers would not be nearly as high. I have great respect for the caseworkers who do their very best. How wonderful it would be if every child had a loving, safe home to call their own!!!
I am so thankful that your reunion with your b-family and foster father was such a success. I have been blessed in being able to reunite one of "my" children who was a 15 year old bmom with the daughter she gave up for adoption - I had her baby too which bmom gave up at the age of 5 months because she realized she could not provide for her child. I had contact with each of them, plus the adoptive family, all these years. The adoptive family always told me that when the child was old enough, they wanted me to reunite bmom and daughter That day finally came when the daughter was 19 years old, and what a wonderful day that was. My heart was bursting with happiness for all of them. The 'child' (who now has a child of her own) has met all of her b-family now. I can't even begin to explain the joy in my heart when bmom and daughter were reunited.
Please feel free to write me personally at
Truly-Momma@webtv.net if you care to. I would love to hear from you. Take care and God Bless You and your family.