TAMPA, Fla. -- DCF Task force says finding missing children a toppriority

DCF Task force says finding missing children a top priority

http://www.bradenton.com/331/story/189131.html

TAMPA, Fla. -- A child protection task force criticized the way
officials handled the case of a 2-year-old old foster girl who was
missing four months, saying they lacked oversight and used ineffective
communication and poor documentation.

The report, released Friday, calls for increased monitoring of private
agencies contracted by the state, including reviewing contracts, and
continued task force meetings to ensure the Department of Children &
Families follows its own rules.

DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth created the Task Force on Child Protection
this summer after public scrutiny over the case of Courtney Clark, who
was missing for four months before police began searching for her.

The panel highlighted confusion involving the way law enforcement
agencies report a missing child alleged to be in the company of a
biological parent who flees during an open child abuse investigation or
protective supervision case.

The missing children are typically entered into state and national
databases, but the parent or guardian is often not entered into the
database. To improve that, the task force recommended better
coordinating efforts and communication between law enforcement and child
welfare groups. They also suggested changing laws to make it easier to
report and find missing children.

Other recommendations include standardizing laws that require background
screenings of caregivers, whether they are relatives, non-relatives or
foster parents, and training law enforcement agencies to file missing
person reports over the telephone to get the word out faster.

The panel plans to continue meeting statewide throughout 2008.

"We've laid the groundwork, but that only further emphasizes that there
is much more work needed," task force chairman Barry Krischer said in a
statement. "Clearly, however, it will be worth it for Florida's most at
risk and vulnerable children."

Butterworth has been an advocate for change after a review found that
DCF and its contractors made a series of errors in handling the Clark's
case. The agency is implementing reforms to prevent similar missteps,
including assigning specific employees to track missing children.

"The development of a system of accountability that guides our work in
child protection will be the legacy that distinguishes you from the many
groups that have addressed children's issues in the past," Butterworth
told the task force in a statement.

Courtney's mother, Candace Clark, 23, violated a court order in
September when she took the toddler from a central Florida foster home,
authorities said. But child protection workers didn't report the
disappearance for four months.

Police eventually found Courtney safe June 14 in a Portage, Wis., home
where a severely injured and malnourished 11-year-old boy was hiding in
a closet. They found the body of the boy's mother buried in the yard.
They also found other endangered children in the home, including
Courtney's sister.

Candace Clark, two other adults and a 15-year-old girl have been charged
with killing the woman and abusing the 11-year-old boy.

Information from: The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com



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...

Missing children should be a top priority. They can't take care of
themselves, after all. Children need more official advocates.
Respectfully, E.B.


On Nov 7, 11:20 pm, fx wrote:
DCF Task force says finding missing children a top priority

http://www.bradenton.com/331/story/189131.html

TAMPA, Fla. -- A child protection task force criticized the way
officials handled the case of a 2-year-old old foster girl who was
missing four months, saying they lacked oversight and used ineffective
communication and poor documentation.

The report, released Friday, calls for increased monitoring of private
agencies contracted by the state, including reviewing contracts, and
continued task force meetings to ensure the Department of Children &
Families follows its own rules.

DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth created the Task Force on Child Protection
this summer after public scrutiny over the case of Courtney Clark, who
was missing for four months before police began searching for her.

The panel highlighted confusion involving the way law enforcement
agencies report a missing child alleged to be in the company of a
biological parent who flees during an open child abuse investigation or
protective supervision case.

The missing children are typically entered into state and national
databases, but the parent or guardian is often not entered into the
database. To improve that, the task force recommended better
coordinating efforts and communication between law enforcement and child
welfare groups. They also suggested changing laws to make it easier to
report and find missing children.

Other recommendations include standardizing laws that require background
screenings of caregivers, whether they are relatives, non-relatives or
foster parents, and training law enforcement agencies to file missing
person reports over the telephone to get the word out faster.

The panel plans to continue meeting statewide throughout 2008.

"We've laid the groundwork, but that only further emphasizes that there
is much more work needed," task force chairman Barry Krischer said in a
statement. "Clearly, however, it will be worth it for Florida's most at
risk and vulnerable children."

Butterworth has been an advocate for change after a review found that
DCF and its contractors made a series of errors in handling the Clark's
case. The agency is implementing reforms to prevent similar missteps,
including assigning specific employees to track missing children.

"The development of a system of accountability that guides our work in
child protection will be the legacy that distinguishes you from the many
groups that have addressed children's issues in the past," Butterworth
told the task force in a statement.

Courtney's mother, Candace Clark, 23, violated a court order in
September when she took the toddler from a central Florida foster home,
authorities said. But child protection workers didn't report the
disappearance for four months.

Police eventually found Courtney safe June 14 in a Portage, Wis., home
where a severely injured and malnourished 11-year-old boy was hiding in
a closet. They found the body of the boy's mother buried in the yard.
They also found other endangered children in the home, including
Courtney's sister.

Candace Clark, two other adults and a 15-year-old girl have been charged
with killing the woman and abusing the 11-year-old boy.

Information from: The Tampa Tribune,http://www.tampatrib.com

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...