Having many special-needs kids can weigh on family, marriage...

Having many special-needs kids can weigh on family, marriage
By Josh Brodesky
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.15.2007

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/191875.php

Karin and Larry Wilson had as many as 19 severely disabled kids in their
care at times during their marriage.
Some have lauded them as heroes — others have wondered whether their
resources and energy were stretched too thin to provide a safe, loving home.
"When you have that much pressure on parents, even with the best
intentions, it's a difficult situation," said Ronald C. Hughes, a
psychologist and director of the Ohio-based North American Resource
Center for Child Welfare. "I would say you would almost never place more
than three or four special-needs kids in one adoption or foster home."
Some states, like Ohio, have passed laws that call for more oversight of
families looking to adopt more than five special-needs children.
State Rep. Jonathan Paton, a Tucson Republican who will lead legislative
hearings on Child Protective Services in August, said he would consider
proposing similar legislation for Arizona.
When there are too many special-needs kids in one family, "I think you
are going from being a family to almost a group home sort of situation,"
Paton said.
That isn't necessarily the case, said Laraine Masters Glidden, a
professor of psychology at St. Mary's College of Maryland. She did a
study comparing large and small families with developmentally disabled kids.
"Overall there doesn't seem to be any substantial difference" in the
quality of care, she said. But she noted that, "If you have a very, very
large family, there are many, many more demands on the parents."
Karyn Purvis, a psychologist and director of the Institute of Child
Development at Texas Christian University, said her institute did a
study roughly seven years ago that showed that about one-third of
families who adopt special-needs kids with emotional problems were left
financially insolvent and that there was a significant spike in marital
problems.
"A lot of people who are really good-hearted in their intent to help are
unrealistic about how much time it takes," she said.






CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 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.

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...