Parents, Sons Must Prove They Want to Be Reunited

Parents, Sons Must Prove They Want to Be Reunited

By Josh Farley

Monday, September 17, 2007

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/s...o-be-reunited/

port orchard

Kitsap County Superior Court Commissioner Thurman W. Lowans acknowledged
Monday that the Wolcott boys have given him "writer's cramp" with all
the orders and warrants he's had to sign to bring them into court in the
past six years.

Lowans may have to sign one more court document pertaining to the
15-year-olds — one that will send them home with their parents.

The boys, Jesse and Tim, have lived in and out of foster homes since
Child Protective Services removed them from their parent's care in 2001.
When they weren't in foster homes, they were homeless or in juvenile
detention.

The state Legislature this year passed a law that made it possible for
teens like the Wolcotts to petition the courts to return home to their
biological parents if at least three years in state care have proven
unsuccessful. The boys' mother, Elaine Wolcott-Ehrhardt, lobbied for the
bill.

On Monday, attorneys for the boys and their parents — Wolcott-Ehrhardt
and their father, Robert Wolcott — were in Kitsap County juvenile court
to argue before Lowans what "threshold" needs to be proven for the boys
to go home.

Lowans determined that burden of proof to be "prima facie" — or the
facts on their first appearance.

In other words, if the parents can show they will be fit parents, and
the sons show a desire to be reunited, the burden of proof will have
been met.

"I am confident that they're going to go home to one parent or the
other," said Stephen Greer, Tim's attorney.

The boys were removed from their parents' care following the state's
determination that Wolcott-Ehrhardt, who was charged at the time with
driving under the influence, and Wolcott, enrolled in Kitsap County drug
court, were unfit parents.

Now that Lowans has determined what the burden of proof will be for the
boys to go home, a three-day trial will be held and the commissioner
will ultimately decide if the Wolcotts will be reunited as a family.

Greer said that while they've had to be patient, it may be worth the wait.

"They've been on the run for three years," Greer said. "They can wait
another month or two."







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...