[lucyjoy]

I don't buy that a therapist told them to put their kids in cages with no blankets or bedding.

I can't figure out how the SW missed this-they check my house, interview my kids alone every time I add a child. I also have a therapist who comes in my home every week.

There are many parents who can handle large numbers of special needs kids. I have 9.

I also wouldn't just do what a therapist said.

[momofmykids]

Originally Posted by melliemoo

the first thing I said to DH was that those kids were going to end up in foster care. Broke my heart.

The children were IN a licensed foster/adopt home! That's what's SOOOOOO bad!

[diane beth]

This all sounds a little fishy to me. I think we may not be getting the whole story. Some of these kids were school age, why didn't they tell anyone? A child say over 4 would tell. Especially a 14 yr old would not keep quiet unless they had severe special needs. What about parent visitation? I find this story a little hard to believe. Those kids couldn't of slept well and that would show over time. Maybe I am wrong but this sounds really weird to me. I think there is enough regulation in place already. Obviously if this was really what happened the sw was not doing her job.

[MamaTo6]

We are on adoptive placement. Our sw hasnt walked through our house since the homestudy..Scary isnt it? Our son is 18 months old and doesnt talk enough to complain or explain. These people should be caged just like their kids.

[PAmomof1]

It sounds to me like a lot of people should lose their jobs over this one.


First of all, I'm amazed that they allowed 11 children, special needs at that to be placed with one family. Here in PA you can only have 6 and that includes your own children. I'm sure there are probably "special circumstances" but IMO 11 children with special needs is too much for anyone.

Also about the caseworker. My caseworker does a walk through once per year and also whenever a new child is placed she makes sure that I have adequate room, bed, crib ... whatever for that child.

My foster daughter's mother's caseworkers supervisor (follow that) has also been out to my home. Not to mention my foster daughter's attorney and now CASA.

WHERE WERE ALL THESE PEOPLE?

The only thing that I don't necessariily agree with is that a four year old would have told. That's not necessarily true, especially when and if there was brainwashing going on. Remember.. some kids are raised in the "do not tell our familie's business" environment. That's how a lot of children end up raped and molested in their own homes by relatives... sad but true.

At any rate, I hope everyone involved in this case that should have been doing their job and failed these children pay. And I hope they throw the book at these creeps.

[stephieb4]

I so don't agree that these 11 children should have slept in cages.. But I wonder if any of these children were sexually abused and this was the only way the foster/adoptive family could think of keeping 11 children safe at night from each other. I just read they had alarms hooked up to the cages that set off a central alarm.. This was something that was suggested at our adoption classes (the alarms on bedroom doors) to keep children sexually abused from abusing others. I also remember at classes being suggested that sexually abused children have their own rooms.. I can't imagine that these 11 children had their own rooms.. So maybe this was the best this family could do. I don't say it was right.. But maybe a best misguided effort...

[PAmomof1]

Cages are not rooms. I'm not trying to offend anyone or come off harsh... but there's no way in the world this can be justified.

If they did not have the space for 11 kids, they should not have been given to them! If they did not have the space and were given to them anyway... that is wrong wrong wrong.

I can see an alarm on the door... maybe, but an alarm on a cage? No. And a cage period? Absolutely not.

[mlbsands]

I will be very interested to hear the rest of this story.. it seems that we are not getting all the information. While I do not think this is something I would do. forthe younger kids I don't see how it is much different than putting them in a crib?

Anyway.. I will wait to hear more before making a final judgement.. But the one thing I do agree with is that they should not let people adopt (or even have bio kids) for more than the rooms can handle..

we have to prove that we have atleast 80sq feet of space per child in each room and we must show that each have a bed/crib and thier own dresser. I think its a good rule and fine if you want to have 11 kids.. just make sure that you have room for them.

Mandy

[Zoe_B]

I googled the story... and it sounds like they are not foster kids anymore, but all adopted (through fostering), so no longer tracked by the state.

Also, the police were not sure what to make of the whole situation because all of the children are healthy and do not seem to be abused in any way (except for the make shift "cages"). Also, the cages are all painted bright primary colors. Nothing was said about no blankets or being locked in..just alarms.

Weird.

ETA: the police were called out because of one of the older kids had run away, and was found a few blocks away.

[Faith65]

Ok,

IMHO I have really mixed feelings on this.

I know a wonder parent whom has over 12 children and many are SN also a foster/adopt and birth mom.

I care for elderly folks with dementia. These folks wander, are in cribs, alrams on doors and windows and have 24 hr care.

I have seen a wonderful church day care with cribs built into the walls. I thought a bit strange but approved and gave the children more room to play, explore and all. What about bunk beds or beds with tents over them and all?

How about the sleeping quaters for the men and women on a sub? Theres no room there and look like theres no room to even roll over in.

Do we use cribs in our homes or in hospitals?

These children went outside, had food, healthy, clean cloths and such.

Didn't they have to get approved every time they adopted a child? Didn't somone come to their house every now and than? What is the difference locking windows and doors closed vs having a crib type thing? Maybe the word cage is too harsh?

Some of these children my have had some behaviors or health issues that needed a safe haven not just for themselves but the others in the home?

I show and breed Goldens. I use crates( I don't use the word cage because it sounds so nasty and mean) to keep my dogs and puppies safe besides my home from them. Do I have to many no! I have two dogs now. I use an ex pen, kennels for my dogs. Are they crated 24 / 7 no! They get groomed daily, exersiced, feed, snuggled, and lots of love daily but at night or when I am not home or at shows they are crated for a period of time. They are let out on regular times they are never left in crates for punishments ect.

Would I have a place for sleeping a small enclosed area like a crate for a child or want to care for a child that I would need to keep windows or doors locked for their or my saftey I don't believe so. But, I don't have a child like that so that is not a choose I have to make./

Do we know the whole story yet about this family? No. There are many missing peices yet. Let's not judge to hastly until we have all the answers.

[wish41more]

We may not know the whole story but they were locked in CAGES, not cribs or even cribs built into the wall. If the whole story is true, who knows? But the media said CAGES! It's repulsing!

[shycar]

Ok I have to reply. How can one say crib and cages are the same. A crib is a bed with rails so a BABY does not fall and hurt themselves. A cage is to lock someone, so they can not get out. A baby in a crib gets their needs met by the parent. I dont know how a child gets their needs met at night in a cage, unless they wear diapers. In a crib there is a mattress. The media says that there was no blanckets or pillows. How confortable would one sleep in a cage. When the baby grows they are moved out of a crib and put in a bed. You dont put a 14 year old in a crib. Yes I understand that maybe it was to keep everyone safe. I have been a foster parent for a while and I have had children that were unsafe to other children, but I have never put them in cages and I still managed to keep everyone safe. Putting children in cages is unacceptable for me.

[RiverGal]

I also saw the news coverage and was sickened.

What I find even more shocking is that anyone here could actually look for loopholes to explain this type of abuse. There is NO EXCUSE for an adult to cage children before climbing between their own soft sheets.

I have animals that I treat with more respect than those freaks treated children.

JMO.

~Deb

[PAmomof1]

I too am shocked and dismayed that it appears people are trying to rationalize or even "understand" where these people were coming from.

We are supposed to love these children and provide a better life for them than where they came from. Cages are not acceptable for any reason. And from what I'm reading they weren't large enough for them to even move around in.

I can't wrap my mind around this at all.

[Luvbeingmommy]

I agree, there is absolutely no excuse for this type of behavior. No wonder foster/adoptive parents have such a bad name. It only takes one "bad" incident to tarnish the rest of us.
Just think what would have happened if there had been a fire....the cages were on the second floor...I assume the parents were on the ground floor. The oldest child I believe is 14... and the size of the cages was not that large how on earth can they try to justify any of this?
I didn't see any of the tv coverage of this, did they actually show one of the cages? I can't imagine comparing it to a crib or play pen. These are made and used to keep an infant or toddler safe from falling etc. A cage is used to imprison!
This is totally inexcuseable!