DCYF Envisions Overhaul

DCYF Envisions Overhaul

Friday, Sep 07, 2007 - 10:17 AM

http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/ja...9-07-0006.html

By Associated Press

PROVIDENCE -- The state's child welfare agency is seeking four private
companies to oversee social services for children in their own families
and communities rather than placing them in residential foster care.

Patricia Martinez, executive director of the Department of Children,
Youth and Families, said the restructuring should improve the
beleaguered agency's performance and save money.

"Rhode Island has relied on many residential programs for too long," she
said. "Kids need to be in the community, provided that you have the
right services for the children."

The goal is to offer families assistance before problems become so
severe that DCYF must remove children from their homes, said Benedict
Lessing Jr., executive director of Family Resources Community Action. He
assisted Massachusetts authorities during a similar overhaul in 1998.

Under the new system, DCYF employees would identify families with
problems in their homes and assign them a private-sector caseworker. The
caseworker would then help each family develop a plan to solve the
problems, which could include counseling, housing assistance and support
groups.

DCYF would continue to investigate complaints of child abuse, Martinez said.

Jametta Alston, the state's child advocate, filed a class-action lawsuit
against DCYF this summer, accusing it of failing to prevent the abuse of
children in state care. Alston said she supported the changes in theory
but was worried the plan was rushed.

State lawmakers cut $60 million from the DCYF budget this year.
Widespread cuts remain possible next year, as officials predict a $300
million budget deficit.

"They're saying let's do this and work out the kinks later," Alston
said. "That's all well and good if I'm knitting. It's not good if I'm
dealing with someone's life."







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...