Social Worker Guilty In Caging Case...

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html



NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

On Feb 22, 9:41 am, fx wrote:
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html

NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

Interesting questions arise.

These children appear to have needed to be confined to a secure
facility with 24/7 worker supervision. I wonder why they were not?

Could it be a lack of money, and foster and adoptive parents being
saddled with the responsibility they are not prepared for, by training
or experience as a way to save money?

Interesting the "cages," unlike children's rooms in secure facilities,
were unlocked.

It's beginning to appear as though the hyperbolic use of the word,
"cages" had a lot more to do with the outcome of this case than any
possible real abuses.

What if the secure isolation rooms (for safety) in a treatment
facility, say a mental hospital that takes children, were called....as
they certainly appear to be, "cages."

In fact, LOCKED CAGES.

Hmmm....thought provoking, isn't it?

UNLOCKED cages...hmmmm...now that's quite a trick, eh?

Kane

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html

NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

Interesting questions arise.

These children appear to have needed to be confined to a secure
facility with 24/7 worker supervision. I wonder why they were not?

Could it be a lack of money, and foster and adoptive parents being
saddled with the responsibility they are not prepared for, by training
or experience as a way to save money?

Interesting the "cages," unlike children's rooms in secure facilities,
were unlocked.

It's beginning to appear as though the hyperbolic use of the word,
"cages" had a lot more to do with the outcome of this case than any
possible real abuses.

What if the secure isolation rooms (for safety) in a treatment
facility, say a mental hospital that takes children, were called....as
they certainly appear to be, "cages."

In fact, LOCKED CAGES.

Hmmm....thought provoking, isn't it?

UNLOCKED cages...hmmmm...now that's quite a trick, eh?

WHY were these kids removed from their real parents?
WHY weren't the real parents SUBSIDIZED and HELPED to keep them?

On Feb 22, 5:55 pm, "Greegor" wrote:
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html

NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

Interesting questions arise.

These children appear to have needed to be confined to a secure
facility with 24/7 worker supervision. I wonder why they were not?

Could it be a lack of money, and foster and adoptive parents being
saddled with the responsibility they are not prepared for, by training
or experience as a way to save money?

Interesting the "cages," unlike children's rooms in secure facilities,
were unlocked.

It's beginning to appear as though the hyperbolic use of the word,
"cages" had a lot more to do with the outcome of this case than any
possible real abuses.

What if the secure isolation rooms (for safety) in a treatment
facility, say a mental hospital that takes children, were called....as
they certainly appear to be, "cages."

In fact, LOCKED CAGES.

Hmmm....thought provoking, isn't it?

UNLOCKED cages...hmmmm...now that's quite a trick, eh?

WHY were these kids removed from their real parents?

Can't you read, Greg?

FAS, HIV, autism, and pica.

WHY weren't the real parents SUBSIDIZED and HELPED to keep them?

On 22 Feb 2007 14:55:52 -0800, "Greegor" wrote:

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html

NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

Interesting questions arise.

These children appear to have needed to be confined to a secure
facility with 24/7 worker supervision. I wonder why they were not?

Could it be a lack of money, and foster and adoptive parents being
saddled with the responsibility they are not prepared for, by training
or experience as a way to save money?

Interesting the "cages," unlike children's rooms in secure facilities,
were unlocked.

It's beginning to appear as though the hyperbolic use of the word,
"cages" had a lot more to do with the outcome of this case than any
possible real abuses.

What if the secure isolation rooms (for safety) in a treatment
facility, say a mental hospital that takes children, were called....as
they certainly appear to be, "cages."

In fact, LOCKED CAGES.

Hmmm....thought provoking, isn't it?

UNLOCKED cages...hmmmm...now that's quite a trick, eh?

WHY were these kids removed from their real parents?
WHY weren't the real parents SUBSIDIZED and HELPED to keep them?

Evil CPS workers were out to steal them for profit, Greg. Didn't you
know that?

The truth?

Greg, if you bothered to learn as much about this subject as you seem
to do in practicing lies and deceit you'd know that children such as
these are at far higher risk of abuse than normal children.

Or doesn't that compute for you?

"... afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV and pica, an
eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as dirt and
rocks. "

I have stated, and YOU have denied, along with other ignorant lying
twits, that the majority of children in state custody are as these
children are.

That list, by the way, is a short one.

Dad pointed out the issue of RAD, reactive attachment disorder, and
it's accompanying problems.

The idea that these were fine healthy normal little children stolen by
CPS and okay until CPS got ahold of them is a lie.

They come to CPS in this condition.

They are extremely high maintenance. Their behaviors alone enough to
exhaust the normal set of parents in a week, Greg.

You wouldn't last 10 minutes.

A family with normal kids has enough going on that now and then they
use babysitters, a few days with 'grandma' and other ways to get a
break.

Try finding someone safe to leave a RAD child with, dummy. Anyone that
does respite for foster and adoptive families gets paid...dummy. BY
THE FAMILY, not CPS.

Subsidies are high for developmentaly disabled kids...you know, the
ones in body appliances and unable to even feed themselves.

They are notoriously low for the "invisible" problems, like RAD. FAE
(one of the most challenging of all issues) and similar.

Yet these are the kids that unlike the physically disabled, will burn
your house down around you, kill you pets, attack you in your sleep,
and sexually molest the neighbors kids and your relatives, IF you
don't manage a 24/7 supervision.

Like I said, you wouldn't last 10 minutes, because you are a shallow,
stupid, selfish, self centered little creep that continually questions
others motives and abilities that you have NO knowledge of first hand.

Take your 'marriage' and the difficulties involved, Greg.

A family that adopts get FAR MORE PROBLEMS and they cannot run from
them like YOU DID.

**** off, sucker.

0:-]

"Greegor" wrote in message
ups.com...
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/a...agingCase.html

NORWALK, OHIO---A week after the parents of 11-special needs adoptive
children were sentenced to two years in prison for forcing their
children to sleep in cages, a social worker who was aware of the
situation pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors of failing to report a
crime.

Elaine Thompson, 64, of Elyria, was a private social worker who first
contacted Sharen and Michael Gravelle in 2000. Sharen Gravelle had
testified that she had located Thompson through the Internet when she
was seeking help to control unruly children. Gravelle had testified that
Thompson was aware of the sleeping arrangements and had approved the
wire and wood enclosures.

Had Thompson not decided to accept a plea deal which dismissed 29
charges, Judge Earl McGimpsey had already stated that he intended to
move the venue of the trial and to appoint Judge Ronald Bowman as a
visiting judge to preside. Sixteen felony counts of aiding child abuse
and 13 misdemeanor counts of complicity to child abuse and failure to
report child abuse were dismissed.

Bowman, like retired visiting judge Richard Markus, seems to be the
handpicked choice to adjudicate high profile cases.

Thompson could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail on each count when
she's sentenced on April 10.

Following a three week trial, the Gravelles were found guilty of four
felony counts of child endangering, two misdemeanor counts of child
endangering and five misdemeanor counts of child abuse. The couple had
pleaded not guilty, saying that they needed to keep some of the children
in enclosed areas with an alarm in order to stop them from wandering
around the house at night.

The Gravelle's 11 adopted children, aged one to 14, were removed from
their Huron County home in September 2005 after sheriff's deputies found
that 3 ½ foot tall cages had been built around some of the children's
bunk beds. The cages, painted bright blue, red and yellow, were
surrounded by chicken wire and plywood and equipped with alarms to
signal when the cages were opened.

Defense attorneys said that Thompson had recommended his clients build
the structures to protect the children. Thompson had testified at a
custody hearing that the children's behavior improved with the use of
the cages. The Gravelles lost custody of all the children.

Some of the children had been placed in the home as foster children
before the couple adopted them. The Gravelles had adopted black
youngsters who were afflicted with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, HIV
and pica, an eating disorder in which children eat nonfood items such as
dirt and rocks. 2-21-07

Interesting questions arise.

These children appear to have needed to be confined to a secure
facility with 24/7 worker supervision. I wonder why they were not?

Could it be a lack of money, and foster and adoptive parents being
saddled with the responsibility they are not prepared for, by training
or experience as a way to save money?

Interesting the "cages," unlike children's rooms in secure facilities,
were unlocked.

It's beginning to appear as though the hyperbolic use of the word,
"cages" had a lot more to do with the outcome of this case than any
possible real abuses.

What if the secure isolation rooms (for safety) in a treatment
facility, say a mental hospital that takes children, were called....as
they certainly appear to be, "cages."

In fact, LOCKED CAGES.

Hmmm....thought provoking, isn't it?

UNLOCKED cages...hmmmm...now that's quite a trick, eh?

WHY were these kids removed from their real parents?
WHY weren't the real parents SUBSIDIZED and HELPED to keep them?

Does everything boil down to money with you?

Would a subsidy save the life of a parent dying of AIDS?
Would it bring back a parent who died in an auto accident?
Would it prevent a parent from abusing alcohol or drugs?
Woudl it suddenly make a parent who didn't want their child feel all warm
and fuzzy inside at the thought of taking care of them?
Would a subsidy change anything?

Likely not.

Susidies aren't the cure all, they aren't meant to be ongoing, and they
aren't meant to be relied on in place of personal responsibility.

In your case you expected the state to use funds to pay for storage of your
property for an extended period of time.
Rather than seeking out other alternatives and taking responsibility for
yourself and your possessions, you chose to place that task on the state.
That money is not meant to pay for something as trivial as storing the
property of a grown man who can work and pay for his own needs.
If I had heard about the state paying for your storage with tax money I
would have been outraged.

The money is meant to HELP FAMILIES in TEMPORARY crisis. (notice I say
HELP, not give a long free ride to)

A few examples would be paying the utility bill of someone who was out of
work for several weeks due to injury and has children to care for. One
month, maybe two max.
Another example would be the state using a subsidy to pay for meds for a
child who is awaiting coverage on his/her parent's health insurance.
Another would be paying a security deposit on an apartment for a single
parent who was homeless and would remain homeless without the security
money.

It's meant for people who help themselves, not those who wish to abuse the
system.

Paying a parent to keep their own child would be a gross abuse, not only of
the system, but the child as well.

Do not always think that money will cure it all and keep kids out of foster
care Greg. It's not so. Foster care has it's merits. I wish the young
lady who let her newborn baby die in the bathroom trash can because she
didn't want to miss the prom had thought of foster care. With that kind of
lack of human compassion not a million dollars in subsidy would have made
that young lady (using 'lady;' loosely here) love that child and provide a
good home to it.

It's not always about money, and it's not always about forced removals.
Many parents just give their kids up. Many aren't around to take care of
their kids, and many simply can't.

Don't blame it all on the state failing to provide cash grants and subsidies
to keep the family unit together.

Betty wrote
Does everything boil down to money with you?

Our caseworker picketed in front of our local offices - about money.

Concannon was hired by Governor whose sole comment was
about him bringing the state more Federal dollars.

Have you missed Kane's comments blaming
every problem on money shortages?

In your case you expected the state to
use funds to pay for storage of your
property for an extended period of time.

The state's contractor suggested it. She now works for DHS.

Rather than seeking out other alternatives and taking responsibility for
yourself and your possessions, you chose to place that task on the state.
That money is not meant to pay for something as trivial as storing the
property of a grown man who can work and pay for his own needs.
If I had heard about the state paying for your storage with tax money I
would have been outraged.

The CONTRACTOR that suggested that is now a DHS employee.

On Feb 23, 3:08 am, "Greegor" wrote:
Betty wrote

Does everything boil down to money with you?

Our caseworker picketed in front of our local offices - about money.

Concannon was hired by Governor whose sole comment was
about him bringing the state more Federal dollars.

Have you missed Kane's comments blaming
every problem on money shortages?

In your case you expected the state to
use funds to pay for storage of your
property for an extended period of time.

The state's contractor suggested it. She now works for DHS.

Do you still have all the property that should have been in storage
rather than in the little girl's single wide prefab home?

The stuff YOU admitted should have been in storage for two years.

Rather than seeking out other alternatives and taking responsibility for
yourself and your possessions, you chose to place that task on the state.
That money is not meant to pay for something as trivial as storing the
property of a grown man who can work and pay for his own needs.
If I had heard about the state paying for your storage with tax money I
would have been outraged.

The CONTRACTOR that suggested that is now a DHS employee.

YOU'RE the one who put their head on the chopping block by asking for
tax money to pay for the storage of your crap when you weren't then,
and still aren't, related to the little girl or her mother.

And I'll bet they're still laughing at your totally ridiculous
request.

After SIX YEARS do you still not realize you were the brunt of a self
inflicted practical joke?

On 23 Feb 2007 00:08:00 -0800, "Greegor" wrote:

Betty wrote
Does everything boil down to money with you?

Our caseworker picketed in front of our local offices - about money.

For what? Salary? Staffing?

Concannon was hired by Governor whose sole comment was
about him bringing the state more Federal dollars.

You are lying. That was not his sole comment and I've proven it to you
with quotes from that time.

Have you missed Kane's comments blaming
every problem on money shortages?

You are lying again, Greg. Not "every problem," just specific ones
that seem to be connected to reality.

What would you think of the airline industry if because of money
shortages they dropped co-pilots from the aircrews?

In your case you expected the state to
use funds to pay for storage of your
property for an extended period of time.

The state's contractor suggested it. She now works for DHS.

So what?

Rather than seeking out other alternatives and taking responsibility for
yourself and your possessions, you chose to place that task on the state.
That money is not meant to pay for something as trivial as storing the
property of a grown man who can work and pay for his own needs.
If I had heard about the state paying for your storage with tax money I
would have been outraged.

The CONTRACTOR that suggested that is now a DHS employee.

Greg. I have had this conversation with you before. Don't you come up
with anything new when you have been roundly defeated with your sappy
excuses?

YOU don't have to do what the contractor suggested -- stupid!

It likely was a test to see just how low you could sink....and you
bit.

Wasn't it in fact the child's support money from the father you were
after for "storage?"

0:-]

"Greegor" wrote in message
oups.com...
Betty wrote
Does everything boil down to money with you?

Our caseworker picketed in front of our local offices - about money.

Concannon was hired by Governor whose sole comment was
about him bringing the state more Federal dollars.

So?
How does this, in any way, relate to the abuse of government funds by
individuals involved with DFS?


Have you missed Kane's comments blaming
every problem on money shortages?

I must have. I see Kane mention often that more money is needed to pay for
certain services such as proper training.
I don't see him blame every problem on money shortages.


In your case you expected the state to
use funds to pay for storage of your
property for an extended period of time.

The state's contractor suggested it.

How does a SUGGESTION from a state contracted worker release you from your
personal responsibility for yourself and your possessions?

She now works for DHS.

This has bearing how?


Rather than seeking out other alternatives and taking responsibility for
yourself and your possessions, you chose to place that task on the state.
That money is not meant to pay for something as trivial as storing the
property of a grown man who can work and pay for his own needs.
If I had heard about the state paying for your storage with tax money I
would have been outraged.

The CONTRACTOR that suggested that is now a DHS employee.

I don't get how your mind works.
A state contracted employee suggested that the state pay for storage of your
property, and now she/he is a DFS worker with the state and that means WHAT?
I just don't understand how that is relevant.
During a case many alternatives are considered by the family support team.
My guess is that this was but ONE of the many that were suggested.
And yet, your focus lies with the ONE possible solution.
You seem to think that because this suggstion was made by a state contracted
worker that it's some kind of golden egg.

Honestly, Greg, it all comes back to what I'm saying about taking
responsibility for one's own self.
If you never thought of storing your things then the suggestion made by the
worker should have clued you in, and if the state was not willing to pay for
it, then you should have taken it upon yourself to store your things on your
own dime.

Of course, that's all long gone in the past, and really doesn't matter now.
What does matter is that I often see you, and others that I know personally,
having very high expectations when it comes to the use of government funds.
I've known many who expected the state to pay for their needs, when in
reality they show themselves incapable of caring for a child by being unable
to care for themselves.

It honestly makes my teeth grind when I hear of someone abusing the system.
It happens. Believe it or not, it DOES happen.
I know people who spend their earnings on trivial things, and then expect
the state to cover their needs.

Tell me if that is fair to the rest of us? Those of us who are responsible
for ourselves and our children?

I remember a guy, some years back, getting snotty with me about the fact
that I had medicaid and had just had some expensive dental work done.
He said so many nasty things to me about being a lazy welfare mother, etc.
I paid for that dental work myself, and he shut up real quick when I showed
him the receipts for it.
I didn't expect the state to pay. My medicaid, IMHO, was to cover things
that I could not pay for myself, not to be used and abused at every turn.

I many times paid for my own medical when I was eligible for medicaid. I've
many times been eligible for food stamps but didn't get them and chose to
pay for what my family ate from my earnings. And there have been many times
that I have been eligible for cash assistance and didn't take it.

You have to take responsiblity for yourself and the needs of your family.
Expecting the state to cover everything doesn't cut it.
I don't know why people involved with DFS cannot understand that when they
expect the state to pay for things that they are capable of covering
themselves they are doing nothing but showing the state that they can't take
care of their responsibilities...children included.

I suspect that was one aspect of your case that blew it for you.