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Missed reasons why children die in Foster care

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Contributed by: S. Johnson on 9/13/2008

When a parents complaints about "obvious" signs of abuse or neglect. They would think to tell social services, local law enforcement or their attorney.
If they have a state appointed attorney(public defender) its a loss cause because more often than not, these "defenders' won't rock the boat. If they tell the child's attorney(guardian at litem) it can be looked over. It will be more work and "all" parents are liars.
To these agencies they are just "another "parent,mad at social services".
In their eyes the parent had to have done "something" to be in the system. So then the parent losses their voice. When and if they continue to speak up, they are called"advocates" for their OWN children! Absurd!? yes, but true.

Lets say a parents has been said to have done something, in additional to why they are in the system. Lets say it comes from a foster parent who is in it for the money. Lets not be niave, that does go on! This foster parent tell Jefferson County or another county, they suspect abuse or neglect. Then all of the resources and powers that be come into play. The parent is sent through all the nit picking, then the child is fee;ling "unsafe" around the parent. Then come to find out it wasn't true.

So who put this word "Unsafe" in the child's mouth. Should not the county deal with the environment that put those words and ideas in the childs mind and heart?!

This is about the best interests of children right? Should a county pick and choose whats in the best interest?

Where are the child advocacy agencies?

The county workers need not to take this personal. Someone should be checking into the departments practices,policies and procedures.

Often the case worker and people in social services think they are "THE DEPARTMENT!" Which is obvious a sign of insecurity. It should be scary that this insecurity in the lifestyles or behaviors of the very ones that dictate other people lives.

What actually gets missed in this ordeal and is a huge KNOWN fact, is the State of Colorado Human services allows the county to look into abuse and neglected that has happened under their own "protective" orders. In essence they are asking the county first to be objective and admit they are NOT doing their "protective" job. That's a bold step for many case workers and departments.
Its like asking them to incriminate themselves, its like Internal affairs being in the same building as the officers they investigate. They all live in the same house.

When this "gift" of objectivity is required of the county, more often than not. Its comes back as "unfounded" or "not reaching to the levels of neglect."

Where are the child advocacy agencies?! Are they not to advocate and protect children from people in positions of trust or are they just parent prejudice!! That's another article.

Maybe when the counties become more about the child in all aspects and treat all parents with respect,check into ALL allegations as though the parent did it, maybe a few more children won't die or be badly abused.

There are many reasons why kids die in foster care, but ONE main reason is. The State of Colorado Human services is allowing the counties to investigate themselves and give themselves their own review of their own protective orders.

That's a gift you don't see under to many departments trees!

Mr. Sharles Johnson

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

S. Johnson

Morrison , CO

S. Johnson has posted 31 stories and 5 comments since joining on 6/20/2007. S. Johnson's average story rating is 4.8.

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