[bluelidded]

That's all well and good they promised to change, but it's too late. It's not like accidentally dropping a penny on the floor and a kid swallowing it. We're talking about an intentional act that went on for months or years. Perhaps they would be better off with houseplants for a few years.

[ajjhmf]

I had a feeling when I read the latest new report that this was how the thread was going to turn.

I know I will be flamed for this, but here goes anyway...

Why shouldn't they get another chance?

Are we saying now that it's one shot and then BAM! TPR and the kids are adopted by new families?

Isn't the POINT of foster care reunification and the healing of familes?

Getting them the help and resources they need to make it?

Or is it for foster families to be able to adopt the children in their care?

People, including parents, make mistakes. Foster care is about second chances for the familes should the families choose to take them. Not taking kids and keeping them to be adopted by new familes.

Ok, go ahead... flame away.

[bluelidded]

I don't feel like flaming you. You overestimate how lazy I am. Seriously.

However, I don't know how to feel about your post. I advocate second, third, and forty-second chances. I can't readily say these people need children though. Certainly, they don't need a whole bunch of them. Maybe reunification of their adopted children should be a goal, but not their foster children. I don't think they're EVIL people, but they were not capable of handling the situation. They do not need to foster. At least not until they've proven they're emotionally and physically ready.

[numbr1dbcksfan]

I think they were all adopted.

I guess.. like any other family.. they should have to show that they have the proper space to have all those children. Step 1.

I suppose, actually... that before reunification... shouldnt they wait and see what charges are going to be brought against them? And the outcome of that....??? How does that all work?

[Lorraine123]

I may be wrong, but I thought all the children were adopted. They had been foster parents in the past, but no more.

I agree with Jenny. I look at the many many chances my daughter's birthmom was given. My daughter was taken and returned over and over. She was given a reunification plan to follow. That is what the foster care system is all about. Keeping families together. Our government should not be able to go into someones home and just take their kids without working with them. That is what our Social Services system is for. I know that in many cases the parents are given too many chances or too long to work on the plan, however, that is how it is set up.

In this case, the parents were found of one thing (granted its a large thing), but now the children will be TPRed and given to another family. That is wrong and its a failing of our system. If the parents say they will change, they should be given the chance to prove it.

While I agree that children should not be kept in cages, much worse was done to my daughter and her birthmom was given a chance to prove herself (many chances actually). Where is the justice for these parents?

I sure hope I don't mess up and then everyone condemns me a bad mother. I should be given the chance to to learn the proper way to deal with the situation. Now, if these parents don't change, by all means terminate their rights.

[bluelidded]

Ah. I misunderstood. *Big surprise.* Guess I'll have to be an antagonistic jerk on another thread.

[Lorraine123]

Guess I'll have to be an antagonistic jerk on another thread.

I hope your meant that to be funny, becuase it made me laugh. I like that term "antagonistic jerk". I'm going to file that away and use it again when appropriate!!!!

[bluelidded]

Oh yeah. I wasn't being serious!

[tlc4kidz]

I don't even know how to feel about this. I guess the part that bothers me the most is that these were parents who supposedly went through training, home studies, and really should have known better. I don't in any way excuse what many kids birthparents that are in the system do to them, but at least they didn't have all the up front resources handed to them BEFORE they got the kids.

Please don't think I'm flaming anyone.....I'm just as angry (probably angrier) with all the workers who were in and out of their home and did nothing.

[happygmom]

Wanted to bump this one up with a prayer for all of us who work hard to be good parents. Not a foster parent but ran across this thread, and needed to end a hard day with a positive note!

When our children present us with problems, let us hold them gently in our arms and hearts. If we cannot hold then in our arms and hearts, they should not be our children and be graced with parents with open arms and hearts.

To all all of us who have held hurting children in our arms - even though our arms ached with weariness.

Happy G'Ma

[MarKan]

I live in Ohio and the news has covered this story almost daily over the past few months. The parents were recently charged with a load of child endangering charges. The social worker was also charged with the same charges. I believe TPR has been recommended for all 11 children. It also goes way way beyond the "cages" The disipline practices of the parents were awful and cruel. One of the fathers bio daughters testified against him for sexual abuses also. As far as changing, all they did was remove the chicken wire from the cages and say they are now bunk beds or "boxes" as they called them.........This case will go on and on for many more months, but it doesn't look like this couple will be getting any of the children back and quite possibly they will be behind bars themself in the near future, along with the SW. I have no idea how 11 special needs children were even placed with these people. Reunification is not even an option right now and all visitation has been stopped. Several of the children have come forth and stated they did not want to see the parents. It's just a very sad situation and I sincerely hope these kids find loving homes and get some good therapy to cope with the damage these people have done to them.

[AmyAnne]

NORWALK, Ohio - A couple accused of abusing their 11 adopted special-needs children by making them sleep in cages lost permanent custody Monday.

Huron County Juvenile Judge Timothy Cardwell awarded custody to the county, which had placed the children in foster care last fall after a social worker discovered the enclosures.

The judge ruled earlier that Michael and Sharen Gravelle had abused the children, and he said evidence showed there was a good chance they would repeat the behavior.

The couple have pleaded not guilty to several charges, including child endangerment, in a separate criminal case. They deny abusing the children, ages 1 to 15, and say the beds were necessary to protect the youngsters, who suffered from psychological and behavioral problems.

They can appeal Monday's ruling.

Sharen Gravelle testified at an earlier custody hearing that she and her husband built bunk beds and attached a wooden playhouse the family called a clubhouse for some of the children's toys. The other children then requested and got them.

The couple eventually added wire enclosures and alarms to help corral what the mother described as uncontrollable wandering at night. The couple felt the cage-like, brightly painted enclosures helped keep the children from getting dangerous kitchen utensils and into other trouble, the mother testified.

Prosecutors accuse the couple of locking the children in cages to discipline them.

The couple said during the custody hearing that they love the children and can provide a proper, permanent home, which they argued the children are unlikely to find in the custody of the county.

The judge said that among the factors that weighed into his decision was Sharen Gravelle's testimony during the custody hearing in which she acknowledged that some of the adoption paperwork she and her husband signed contained untrue information, though she said the couple never saw the documents that contained their signatures.

Cardwell wrote that the testimony was "troubling to the court and certainly reflects adversely on Mrs. Gravelle's credibility."

Charges against the couple, who live a few miles south of Norwalk in northeast Ohio, include falsifying adoption applications and lying under oath when being qualified for adoption funding.

Cardwell ordered 10 of the children placed in the permanent custody of the Huron County Department of Job and Family Services. The eleventh child, a 2-year-old girl, was placed in temporary custody with the department because the Illinois adoption agency that placed her with the Gravelles has asked that she be returned.

___

[Kate1129]

I pray the TRUTH comes out! If justice is needed, let the children find justice!

[punchkin]

Praise God for victory in round one for these children. I pray for them every night. Just the thought of what these kids might have gone thru makes me ill. Needless to say i hug my kids a little longer and tighter these days!