Latest DCFS scandal is a crime against children

Latest DCFS scandal is a crime against children
Article Last Updated: 11/08/2007 08:20:56 PM PST

http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_7409700

IN another shameful episode for the Los Angeles County Department of
Children and Family Services, an audit released this week found that
employees usurped money meant for foster children and spent it on
personal entertainment.

In response, county officials said the employees involved will be
subject to discipline. But that's not enough. Not by a long shot.

Those who misused these funds should be fired at the very least. Perhaps
even prosecuted.

Discipline in this troubled agency charged with protecting children
hasn't seemed to work very well. This is just the latest disturbing
headline in the past few years about the DCFS. In 2005, more than 900
children under DCFS care ran away from their foster homes.

In June, a grand jury blasted the DCFS for not funding an
abuse-prevention program despite rising fears about the safety of
children in foster homes.

In August, an audit found that the agency had lax oversight of a $177
million services and supplies budget.

The audit released this week is certain to increase doubts about the
agency's ability to do its job. A study of DCFS procurement operations
found that tens of thousands of dollars that were supposed to go to
children and foster parents to buy necessities such as food and clothing
were misused. Instead, the funds went toward buying gift cards for
nonessential goods and services from businesses such as the Cheesecake
Factory, P.F. Chang's, Glenn Ivy Hot Springs-Spa, Starbucks and Red Lobster.

Many of these cards were given to DCFS employees, mentors and
volunteers. DCFS funds were also tapped to pay for 160 tickets to a
musical play, at a cost of $14,000. Only 53 of these tickets went to
children, auditors found.

The audit discovered that one DCFS office spent more than $200,000 on
entertainment since March.

This latest controversy creates a double dose of distrust. Not only will
taxpayers view the agency with increasing uncertainty, but events held
in cooperation with the DCFS to raise funds for foster children might
also come to be viewed with suspicion. Corporate and individual
donations could wane.

This is more than just outrageous; it's a crime against children. And
county officials ought to treat it as such.

The money trail ought to provide evidence of fraud and theft of public
funds. The agency must send a clear message that people who take funds
that were meant for some of the most vulnerable people in our society
will be dealt with severely.






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...