DCF letting down the kids?

DCF letting down the kids?

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp...0&nav=menu29_2

by News Channel 8's Alan Cohn
Posted Nov. 28, 2007
10:30 PM

(WTNH) _ A disturbing case of abuse brought to light by a Team 8
Investigation is now prompting the CT Department of Children and
Families to review their policies when it comes to foster care placement.

Team 8 investigator Alan Cohn obtained internal DCF documents that
revealed a shocking case of abuse inside a Stratford foster home. An
investigator at DCF called the abuse of a two year old girl 'cruel'
after she was found in a playpen covered with a wood board, secured by
bungee cords that were hooked into holes on the top and bottom of the
playpen.

The allegations surfaced against foster parents Michael and Theresa
Soltis back in 2001. According to the DCF report, "The child could not
stand up. She napped and slept at night with the device in place."

Theresa Soltis also admitted to at times using medical tape to bind the
child's legs together. She told News Channel 8 that these methods were
used to stop the child from jumping out of the playpen and harming
herself and other foster children.

Gary Kleeblatt is with the Department of Children and Families and said,
"It's clearly unacceptable, there's no question about it. It's
unacceptable, it's against our policies. We will not permit it. When we
find out it happens we will act swiftly to stop it."

DCF did act swiftly by removing the 2-year old and another foster child
and did not allow any more children to be placed in the home.

But DCF did allow another foster care child to remain in the Soltis home
and allowed them to adopt the child.

Alan Cohn questioned the rationale of the move by DCF saying, "I'm
trying to understand when you find a foster parent binding a child's
feet, putting them in a playpen and closing the cover with bungee cords
and DCF determines this was done frequently, how do you ever trust that
foster parent again?"

Kleeblatt responded, "We have to make an assessment based upon all the
information we have together with other professionals."

And complicating that decision was the fact that the adopted child was
considered 'medically fragile' and would be difficult to place in a new
home.

"The decision to place a child with special needs is even more
complicated," Kleeblatt said.

Jeanne Milstein is the state's child advocate and says DCF did not make
the right decision.

"There is such a desperate need for those services that the system which
is designed to protect kids often turns a blind eye to the facility,"
she said.

DCF still stands by their decision but admits that because of what News
Channel 8 uncovered, changes will be made.

"We will be reviewing our policies and procedure to make sure when we
make decisions we're considering different children in different ways
and we have a sound basis for that," Kleeblatt said.

The adopted child is still in the Soltis home, but because of privacy
reasons, DCF will not say whether or not there are open cases involving
the family.



CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.


CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...