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A grandmother’s fury: When the system to protect families fails and no one pays the price, that's all that’s left...



 
 
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Old August 26th 07, 01:37 AM posted to alt.support.child-protective-services,alt.support.foster-parents,alt.dads-rights.unmoderated,alt.parenting.spanking
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Default A grandmother’s fury: When the system to protect families fails and no one pays the price, that's all that’s left...

A grandmother’s fury
By BOB WHITE
Friday, August 3, 2007 12:10 PM CDT

http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/...ews/news01.txt

When the system to protect families fails and no one pays the price,
that's all that’s left

ELIZABETHTOWN � Grayson County grandmother Bonnie Phillips claims to be
one victim of the misconduct and abuse of power Kentucky’s Office of the
Inspector General found within Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family
Services in recent years.

Phillips became emotional while remembering the last time she saw her
son’s children � a year-and-a-half ago � and expressed a fury at the
state for allowing some social workers to do whatever they choose, right
or wrong.

Phillips said she was victimized when her four grandchildren were taken
from her home without cause, warrant or permission in December 2004.

But since a grand jury announced Tuesday that none of the wrongs
committed by some social workers are punishable under existing state
law, she doubts anyone will pay for the trauma she and her family suffered.

The lack of indictment frustrates Phillips even more.

“This is a bunch of bull for them to be able to do this kind of stuff
and walk away scot-free,” Phillips said. “They acted callously � I have
no peace of mind.”

From May to July, a Hardin County grand jury reviewed evidence of
official misconduct and abuse derived from the OIG’s year-long
investigation of the Hardin County-based Lincoln Trail Department of
Community-Based Services.

During its investigation, the OIG found multiple instances of
fast-tracked adoptions and wrongful custodial termination. The OIG
recommended numerous changes be made in order to protect families and
children from the agency.

Despite the OIG’s confirmation that wrongs had been committed by social
workers, it appears no criminal charges will be filed against any person
for alleged wrongdoings dating back to 2003.

In a signed report, the grand jury expressed a unified belief that DCBS
personnel and the CHFS hierarchy had committed numerous wrongs that
deeply impacted family and children in Hardin and surrounding counties,
but the report also stated that indictment of Cabinet employees was not
possible because Kentucky law provides “no significant criminal
penalties” for their misdoings.

A day no true bills were issued on the 18 cases reviewed, Hardin
Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Shaw said the grand jurors worked hard in
an attempt to prosecute some social workers for wrongdoings, but in the
end, were unable to provide his office with a single indictment to pursue.

In its written report, the grand jury expressed a need for legislative
change.

The state legislature “should have clearly defined felony criminal
penalties � rather than merely minor misdemeanor charges at best that
are time-barred 12 months after their occurrence,” the report stated.

The grand jury is not the only source of calls for legislative help.

David Richart, executive director for the National Institute on
Children, Youth and Families � the group that compiled a scathing report
of Hardin County’s social services prompting the OIG’s investigation �
worried that time may have been wasted in bringing the problems to light.

“I put 19 months into this and I’m still working with clients and the
Lincoln Trail and Salt River regions,” Richart said. “I’m disappointed.
It appears there will only be personnel actions.”

In the best cases, social worker misconduct resulted in parents and
children losing time together, Richart said. In the worse cases, he said
the misconduct and malfeasance led to some getting the “parental death
penalty” � losing custody of their children.

Money spent by people attempting to regain custody of their children was
another issue Richart said needs to be addressed.

Phillips said her daughter spent $5,000 on an attorney to ensure her
children were returned.

Richart said legislators need to examine whether official misconduct
should be considered a felony instead of a misdemeanor offense and
whether a statute of limitations should exist on such crimes.

State Sen. Elizabeth Tori said the issue would be studied by the General
Assembly’s judiciary committee.

“It appears we need to investigate this a little further,” Tori said.

She said it often takes extreme cases, regardless of the topic, to
prompt legislative action.

Some cases brought to light by the NICYF, investigated by the OIG and
reviewed by the Hardin County grand jury were extreme because of the
impact they had on families like the Phillips.

The grandmother said she, her children and the grandchildren have
suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because of what a social
worker did one night in December.

Richart finds it difficult to believe an agency charged with protecting
the young, weak and innocent can employ such callousness.

“Have social workers lost sight of the trauma that’s caused when a child
is taken away from a parent?” Richart asked. “We need to make it clear
that there are consequences other than an employee violating standard
operating procedures.”

While the OIG’s investigation spot-lighted the Hardin County-based
region of DCBS and CHFS services, Richart said nearly identical problems
have been reported to his agency from throughout the state since reports
of Hardin County problems with the system were first made.

“I’m not sure if the Cabinet is taking this seriously,” Richart said.

In a written statement, the CHFS stated administrative actions were
being taken as a result of the OIG’s findings. Cabinet spokeswoman Anya
Weber would not say if any disciplinary action had been taken against
any employee of CHFS since the problems of misconduct and malfeasance
were brought to light.

The CHFS statement said all administrative actions would be finalized
sometime this month.

Richart said the former director of the Hardin County DCBS office, who
was in charge throughout the time period in which the OIG found trouble,
since has been moved to another position in state government.

“She gets the same salary and has since retired, so she’s now
double-dipping,” Richart said.

CHFS would not confirm any personnel changes, Richart mentioned.

Bob White can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 241, or
.



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

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...
 




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