[Iyoba]

Child Protective Services Reform
by: Lawrence P. Adams


I have written a number of articles previously of the need for foster care reform. One area of the system I have not spoken of before is Child Protective Services.

One cannot consider foster care reform without looking at CPS. They need to be considered as one entity. Without reform in this area full reform of the system
is not possible.

I have looked at cases as well as received e-mails from across the country that can only be considered as abuse by CPS. Abuse to children as well as biological parents. Today it seems extremely easy for CPS to be called and have them remove children from a home.

At first CPS contact, a parent enters a distorted mirror image of what our legal system is supposed to be. Everything is backwards. There are no Miranda warnings, yet everything one says will be used against them, and perhaps even some that one hasn’t. The accuser can choose to remain anonymous, which makes little difference, as one has no right to know who is accusing them. The confidentiality of the reporter is guaranteed by law. The parent is presumed guilty and must prove innocence.

"There's definitely an assumption of guilt. People who commit murder have more rights than a family that has its children taken away," said Republican Senator Parley Hellewell, according to a Sunday, January 18, 2003, Salt Lake Tribune article by Kirsten Stewart and Rebecca Walsh.

The entire investigative process is built upon coercion and a deliberate misleading of families as to their rights. CPS workers won’t mention that parents do not have to let them in, nor do they have to submit themselves or their children to interrogation without a warrant and in many systems case workers are directed by superiors to deny that these rights even exist. This, despite Supreme Court constitutional interpretations and rulings to the contrary... Read the rest of this article at http://e-magazine.adoption.com/artic...ces-reform.php

[Outook]

i'm not sure if my reply went through...
but basically i wanted to say that i feel where both side is coming from.
I understand the sadness of foster parents when a sudden seperation occurs, but i don't think they relate to the pain of a biological family when one of their own is taken away.

The aunt, Uncle or distant cousin may or may not have been ready to assume the responsibility of the child at the time of the removal, but i dont' understand how it can be seen as a meanigless gesture if at some point they claim one of their own.
Maybe it took them 3 months or 3years to work up to it.

I think that b4 you guys waist more time battleling eachother, you should understand how the system works.

A case worker gets rewarded points and bonuses for each time they put a child in a foster home. which may also be true for the reverse process. they must do what they have to do so that DSS may receive federal funding by meeting federally mandated adoption quotas.

When Kids get ripped out of their home, they need to be placed somewhere, and what would be a better than coming with the i dea of having foster parents...

While it becomes obvious that the system is not taking into consideration anyone's feelings and emotions, you guys are still engaging into discussion that will get you nowhere unless you start questioning the system itself, your PUPPET MASTER.

Read the link below
http://www.maxpages.com/surefire/Mas...Steals_Newborn

[buzzbee]

I agree CW need to be held accountable for their actions. I know many foster families who are wonderful and I had thought of fostering myself, but I know how much I want a baby right now and I know I would get toooo attached to the babies in my home.

My bestfriend is a foster parent and she does things right. She and her husband had a child from birth to 11 months before a family member said that they wanted him. She didn't fight them on it, the department didn't fight them on it, they did what is required by law and let the child go back to the birth family. Was she hurt YES!! She cried and stayed in bed the rest of the day. Does she still cry Yes! b/c she loved him enough to back off.

What is it with foster families getting lawyers and trying to fight the bio-families for a adoption that is against the family code law in the first place and what is it with CW promising families a child that they are not legally allowed to promise in the first place? I believe in adoption, many people in my family are adopted and I want to adopt a child myself, but I am not going to ripe a family apart to justify my want. I know this is harsh but does anyone ever think about the families of the children in foster care? We are not all bad people and I know that not everyone that is providing foster care has a perfect family tree.

I myself am a at-home mom, got married to my high-school sweet heart my senior year and celebrated 11 years this past September, I Have two bio-sons, I serve as the Primary President in my church, I am all so the cub-master for my childrens cub scout program, We do not drink or smoke, I don't even drink sodas. I have home-schooled my children for the last 3 years and I DO WANT TO ADOPT A CHILD SOMEDAY BUT, I will not tear a family apart in the process!

When these children grow up they may want to find their birthfamilies and what will you tell them when they find out that a good relative wanted to adopt them and you stopped that by hiring an attorney or whatever may be the case, I will have nothing to do with that. Get mad if you like but the truth is the truth. I am trying to get my family member out of CPS right now. CPS tried to throw out our 3rd party intervention, which we should not have had to file if they had followed the law, we have spent $10,000 fighting this and now that the judge ruled against CPS request CPS is taking a neutral standing, and have advised the foster family to "lawyer-up."

We have went through all the proper channels. Obtained our foster/adopt license, went through the ICPC and were approved in both states, had montly visitation and the fp and cw knew we wanted to adopt this child and were also told by the birth parents that they wanted the baby to come home with us and be adopted, but they still have went to great lengths to try and stop us from bringing our family member home.

The foster parents have now gotten a lawyer and are trying to adopt the baby and they have known since he was 5months old that we were here and were trying to finish the paper work so he could come home. What's the deal?

[want2adopt3only]

We also need reform in the ethics of the caseworkers. As a foster parent, I've heard WAY too many lies. Everything from, "he's adoptable" when he isn't, to "No, there is no history of sexual acting out" when there is. CW's have omitted truth, lied directly when asked, but it gets worse. Adoption law calls for full disclosure of all records. But, if they shuffle the really unpleasant stuff to a coworker, then they can truly say they disclosed everything in the file without really telling all. Yes, they lie to bio families also. YUCK! It makes me SICK!