Child Abuse Stories, Statistics & Politics In America Today

 

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FL: State needs to use caution with Tampa Bay foster care (Opinion) (Includes video) (May require subscription) Tampa Bay Times – November 22, 2021 The Florida Department of Children and Families is expected any day now to choose a new provider to run foster care services in Pinellas and Pasco counties. The state is up against a deadline, which is fueling a sense of urgency. But this decision is being rushed, and important considerations are being marginalized or ignored. The state needs to slow this process down, open it up and answer some straightforward questions about how a new provider would be an improvement. https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/11/22/state-needs-to-use-caution-with-tampa-bay-foster-care-editorial/

 

FL: Tampa child ‘beat up’ same day he was reunited with mom in Eckerd case; shows system flaws, tough choices (Includes video) WFLA – November 22, 2021 A recent child welfare case that resulted in a mother gaining custody of her son underscores both the difficulty of the reunification process and a flaw in the system, according to a foster mother involved. Savannah Jo Coffey, 27, of Lakeland, was reunited with her toddler Oct. 13. According to court records, that is also the date she allegedly assaulted him, prompting one count of felony child abuse. Statements about the case obtained by 8 On Your Side indicate there were several potential red flags, including another open alleged abuse investigation. https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/tampa-child-beat-up-same-day-he-was-reunited-with-mom-in-eckerd-case-showing-system-flaws-tough-choices/

 

GA: Adoption-matching pilot launches in Georgia (Press release) Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services – November 22, 2021 The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) has announced an innovative pilot program to help match families with children in foster care who are eligible for adoption. The Adoption-Share’s Family-Match pilot is slated to begin on Dec. 1. Officials say the program will utilize technology with predictive models to assist case workers with finding adoptive families for waiting children. With a compatibility assessment developed by the former lead researchers from eHarmony, this program aims to decrease the time for adoption placement, match children to families where they will flourish and improve case worker efficiency. https://dfcs.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-11-17/adoption-matching-pilot-launches-georgia

 

HI: An adopted foster child dies in Hawaii – but nobody seems to be asking the right questions (Opinion) NCCPR Child Welfare Blog – November 19, 2021 In 2019, Hawaii took children from their parents at a rate well above the national average – even when rates of child poverty are factored in. When you tear apart so many families, there is an enormous incentive to rush children into any home with a bed without looking too closely. More than three-quarters of those children were taken not because of abuse, but because of “neglect” – which often is confused with poverty. We also know that abuse in foster care is widespread, and we know that agencies often turn a blind eye to such abuse. https://www.nccprblog.org/2021/11/an-adopted-foster-child-dies-in-hawaii.html

 

IL: CPS knew about sex misconduct claims at school but promoted principal anyway, records show (Includes video) (May require subscription) Chicago Sun-Times – November 22, 2021 Chicago Public Schools attorneys and leaders long had knowledge of an investigation into sexual misconduct and failure to report it by the principal at Marine Leadership Academy, despite claiming otherwise Friday, information obtained by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times shows. And, in the two years the investigation went on, CPS not only kept the principal on staff but also promoted her. The school district has fired 10 employees as a result of the inspector general’s investigation. Some of the staff are accused of grooming students or having inappropriate relationships with three separate students. The school district says the others knew about these situations and failed to report them. Also: 13 adults at CPS school accused of sexual misconduct or covering it up (Includes video) (May require subscription): https://bit.ly/3r1HfjT https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021/11/22/22796551/cps-sex-abuse-marine-leadership-academy-inspector-general-erin-galfer-pedro-martinez

 

MN: New App Part of Effort to End Youth Homelessness in MN (Includes audio) Public News Service – November 23, 2021 Compared with other Midwestern states, Minnesota has some of the highest numbers for those 25 and younger. In the northwestern region, efforts are taking shape to prevent teens and young adults from a lifetime of housing instability. Cory Boushee, community impact program officer for the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, which works with stakeholders in a 12-county region to address the issue, said roughly a quarter of those served by response programs are in the youth demographic, underscoring the need for more prevention work. He pointed out one of their latest efforts to reduce the numbers is a new web app called My Path. It connects at-risk youth with a variety of resources, including housing, to help them gain more stability in their life. https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-11-23/youth/new-app-part-of-effort-to-end-youth-homelessness-in-mn/a76672-1

 

NY: They Wanted to Foster Their Great-Grandson. Why Did New York Say No? (May require subscription) New York Times – November 10, 2021 When a Queens couple applied to be foster parents to their 2-year-old great-grandson, they figured it was a simple formality. But New York City officials told them they could not be certified as foster parents because the great-grandfather had once pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree burglary – in 1995. After initially threatening to remove the boy from the couple’s care, officials with the city’s child welfare agency, the Administration for Children’s Services, allowed him to remain with them as if they were his foster parents – but with none of the support that comes with the certification. Such situations are everyday occurrences in New York, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court on Wednesday by the Legal Aid Society. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/nyregion/foster-care-lawsuit-nyc.html

 

PA: Philadelphia reaches $2 million settlement with Catholic foster-care agency, aiming to prevent future challenges to LGBTQ rights (Include video) Philadelphia Inquirer – November 22, 2021 Philadelphia’s four-year legal battle with a Catholic foster care agency over its refusal to work with same-sex parents officially ended quietly this fall with the city agreeing to pay $2 million in legal fees and to renew the agency’s contract. City officials told The Inquirer that by settling, they avoided opening up a narrow ruling to more sweeping restrictions. “Certainly, this was not the outcome we wanted,” Deputy Mayor Cynthia Figueroa said. “But it was clear if we took this further down the road, we could actually open it up for radically changing other existing constitutional law.” https://www.inquirer.com/news/foster-care-philadelphia-catholic-church-lgbtq-settlement-supreme-court-20211122.html

 

TN: DCS Keeps Asking for More Money Tennessee Tribune – November 22, 2021 In September 2019, DCS began a reorganization to merge CPS Investigations and Assessments under the Office of Child Safety. Under Henry they had been divided between Child Programs and Child Safety. In her 2020 annual message DCS Commissioner Jennifer Nichols noted the change. “This will improve the department’s response to child protection and prevention. It will also lay the groundwork for the new federal requirements under the Family First Prevention Services Act,” Nichols said. There is widespread disaffection in the DCS ranks, arbitrary and vindictive leadership reported in the regional offices as well as in DCS’s central Nashville office. This is the 7th article in The Tennessee Tribune’s series on the Department of Children’s Services. https://tntribune.com/dcs-keeps-asking-for-more-money/

 

TX: Opeeka Announces Membership with Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (Press release) Opeeka – November 23, 2021 Opeeka, an emerging leader in person-centered behavioral health software solutions, announced today their supporting membership with Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS), an alliance whose mission is to strengthen and continuously improve the services, practices, and care for at-risk children, youth, and families throughout Texas. https://www.opeeka.com/opeeka-announces-membership-with-texas-alliance-of-child-and-family-services/

 

TX: Local organizations step up as Texas struggles to find homes for foster youth without adequate placement Community Impact Newspaper – November 22, 2021 The amount of time foster children in Texas are spending in hotels, offices and other inadequate places has risen more than 1,000% since December 2019. Children in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ custody were spending an average of 18.2 days without placement in August 2021 compared with 1.6 days in December 2019, according to a September report by the DFPS. These children are often placed in hotels or DFPS offices, rather than foster homes or residential treatment centers. In September, a report by court-appointed monitors inspecting Texas’ foster system found placing children in these settings poses substantial risks to their safety as these placements lack regulations and resources available in adequate placements. Locally, Harris and Montgomery county organizations have stepped up to try to alleviate the issue. https://communityimpact.com/houston/tomball-magnolia/government/2021/11/22/local-organizations-step-up-as-texas-struggles-to-find-homes-for-foster-youth-without-adequate-placement/

 

UT: Refugee foster care program assists unaccompanied refugee youth in Utah (Press release) Catholic Community Services of Utah – November 23, 2021 Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) helps place those unaccompanied children who enter their program into licensed refugee foster homes in Salt Lake City and offers them the resources they need to build a new life. The United States has a deep, historic tie to refugee and rescue efforts, so it’s no surprise that communities today are opening their homes and arms to people needing sanctuary and support. However, CCS is currently the only program in Utah that prioritizes resettling unaccompanied refugee minors and unfortunately, there are less than 20 similar programs running nationwide. With the limited number of programs and the worsening crisis in Afghanistan, the number of unaccompanied refugee minors is growing rapidly, and refugee foster families are needed more than ever. https://www.sltrib.com/sponsored/2021/11/23/refugee-foster-care/

 

VA: Doorways Receives $2.5 Million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant to Help End Homelessness for Families in Arlington (Press release) Doorways – November 17, 2021 Doorways, a community-based nonprofit providing shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as youth and families experiencing homelessness, today announced that it has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund-the largest private grant in Doorways’ history. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and executive chair Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. https://www.doorwaysva.org/day1/

 

US: Native Americans die younger, CDC study shows. They say it’s proof of ‘ongoing systemic harm.’ (Includes video) USA Today – November 23, 2021 A recent study confirmed Native Americans have lower life expectancies compared to other racial groups. For years, American Indian and Alaska Native people have been misclassified in death records, leading to significant underestimation of death rates and life expectancy. A product of historical traumas, including genocide, colonization and forced removal and assimilation by the U.S. government, the disparities are a reality that echo throughout Indian Country. Also: Report: Mortality Profile of the Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native Population, 2019: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/110370 https://news.yahoo.com/native-americans-die-younger-cdc-100118436.html

 

US: Adoptees nationwide may soon gain access to their original birth certificates (Commentary) Conversation – November 22, 2021 Americans generally take for granted their right to accurate information on their birth certificate. That is not the case for the nearly 5 million adoptees in this country. Once adopted, the courts replace the names of our birth parents with the names of our adoptive parents – and then seal the original record. Access is granted only through a court order. The question then is: Has the importance of sealing original birth certificates and replacing them with amended ones been outstripped by time and cultural change? https://theconversation.com/adoptees-nationwide-may-soon-gain-access-to-their-original-birth-certificates-170165

 

US: Covid-19 cases in children are up 32% from two weeks ago, pediatricians’ group says (Includes video) CNN – November 22, 2021 Covid-19 cases in children are up 32% from two weeks ago, according to new numbers published Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For the week ending November 18, there were at least 141,905 new cases among children, with children making up a disproportionate share of the cases, representing more than a quarter of all new Covid-19 cases for the past week. Children account for 22% of the US population. When the virus first became a known problem in the US in early 2020, kids accounted for fewer than 3% of confirmed cases. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 6.8 million children have tested positive for Covid-19. Also: Report: Children and COVID-19: State Data Report November 18, 2021: https://bit.ly/3l1K68A https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/22/health/covid-19-children-cases-up-again/index.html

 

US: When the Highs Combat the Lows: Substance Abuse and its Impact on Foster Youth (Commentary) Imprint – November 22, 2021 When dealing with adversities, there are many ways we cope with the world around us. Some people find peace and solace in music, exercising, reading or just venting their problems to someone who cares to listen. Unfortunately, those methods don’t always provide the peace and comfort we are looking for. So, people seek other activities to help them escape. A prevalent escape that poses a great threat to the success and prosperous livelihood of many foster youth is drug use. Their introduction to drug use can be by passively seeing it used in the home or having a friend offer it. Some feel like it will be the only way to help alleviate mental, physical or emotional pain. Drug use is most certainly a problem within the foster system and needs to be addressed. https://imprintnews.org/youth-voice/when-the-highs-combat-the-lows-substance-abuse-and-its-impact-on-foster-youth/60571

 

US: Will There Be More Child Brides in the Future? Psychology Today – November 22, 2021 In this country, there is no federal legislation regarding age of marriage, and states have the right to set their own standards, leading to tremendous state-by-state variation. Forty-five states in America continue to allow girls and boys under 18 to wed. Nine states have established no absolute minimum age for marriage. Girls as young as 10 are occasionally married legally in the United States. Nine states have established no absolute minimum age for marriage. Also: Report: United States’ Child Marriage Problem: https://bit.ly/3oSQqR9 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/womans-place/202111/will-there-be-more-child-brides-in-the-future

 

US: The $20 million boondoggle that perfectly illustrates the banality of child welfare thinking (Opinion) NCCPR Child Welfare Blog – November 16, 2021 The money goes to two adoption advocacy groups (reinforcing the bias that permanency equals adoption, not reunification, and prioritizing paper permanence over what has aptly been called “relational permanence”) not one, but two schools of social work, and – I kid you not – a consortium of child welfare system administrators. (After all, social work schools and child welfare administrators have created such a wonderful system, who wouldn’t want to throw an extra $20 million their way?) Also: Grant Funds National Effort to Engage Foster Youth in Decisions About Care (Requires subscription): https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/grant-funds-national-effort-to-engage-foster-youth/60349 https://www.nccprblog.org/2021/11/the-20-million-boondoggle-that.html AZ: Pandemic impacted Chandler foster, adoption agency SanTan Sun News – November 22, 2021 Barb Trella, director of development for Aid to Adoption for Special Kids (AASK), said it is not altogether surprising that the pandemic impacted the availability of foster parents. “Recruiting foster and adoptive families is difficult enough in the best of times,” Trella said. “It’s not what’s right for every family. Families really have to decide if this is what they want.” AASK has three Arizona offices, including one in Chandler that serves the East Valley. Trella said when the pandemic first started, there was a significant decrease in the number of children entering the foster care system. https://santansun.com/2021/11/22/pandemic-impacted-chandler-foster-adoption-agency/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pandemic-impacted-chandler-foster-adoption-agency   CA: ‘The only word I know to call it is hell’: Turpin sisters share the details of their family’s house of horror (Includes video) CNN – November 20, 2021 Jordan Turpin’s bold getaway in January 2018 led to the discovery of her siblings and uncovered what Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin described as one of the “worst, most aggravated child abuse cases” he has ever seen. Despite overcoming a life many could not even begin to imagine, the Turpin children aren’t completely safe yet. ABC reported that a few of the Turpin children were placed with a foster family that was arrested and charged with abusing multiple children in their care, including at least one Turpin child. “They felt betrayed,” Melissa Donaldson, the Director of Victim Services in Riverside County, told ABC’s 20/20 show. “They have been victimized again by the system, and that’s unimaginable to me that we could have the very worst case of child abuse that I’ve ever seen, maybe one of the worst in California history, and that we would then not be able to get it together to give them basic needs, basic necessities,” Hestrin added. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/20/us/turpin-sisters-interview-abc-diane-sawyer/index.html   HI: Isabella Kalua case exposes limits of child welfare system (Requires subscription) Honolulu Star Advertiser – November 21, 2021 The horrific allegations depicting the death of 6-year-old Isabella “Ariel” Kalua has stoked smoldering public anger over her disappearance and highlighted the complexities of Hawaii’s child welfare system and of prosecuting cases of abuse and family violence. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/11/21/hawaii-news/kalua-case-exposes-limits-of-child-welfare-system/   ID: Struggles of Aging-Out Foster Youth in Focus as Holidays Approach (Incudes audio) Public News Service – November 22, 2021 The holidays can be a hard time for foster care youth, especially young people who have recently aged out of the system. Ivy Smith, who is chair of the Idaho Foster Youth Advisory Board, was herself part of the foster care system. This year, Idaho lawmakers passed a bill that extends support for foster care youth from age 18 to 21. Smith said this is an important adjustment, especially with many young people aging out of the system without ever having had a job before https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-11-22/youth/struggles-of-aging-out-foster-youth-in-focus-as-holidays-approach/a76593-1   KY: Want to improve adoption in Kentucky? Listen to those who have been there. (Opinion) (May require subscription) Courier Journal – November 22, 2021 Historically, the collective voice of adoptive youth has been excluded from the lexicon of child welfare services. Too often adoptees are excluded from research studies or in the conceptualization and implementation of adoption programs and interventions. Sure, adoptees are often invited to share stories of their experiences, usually at annual events or fundraisers. Unfortunately, these stories are often relegated to a moment in time that is more about tugging at hearts of potential donors and far less about learning from these experiences as a mechanism for system improvement. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2021/11/22/improve-ky-adoption-listening-kids-who-have-been-there-opinion/8681683002/   MN: Anoka County declares November Adoption Awareness Month (May require subscription) ABC Newspapers – November 20, 2021 Nearly 1,500 children statewide are awaiting adoption, according to a Nov. 9 presentation to the Anoka County Board, which is honoring November as Adoption Awareness Month. In the past 12 years, 111 families adopted 165 children during Anoka County Adoption Days, an annual November celebration for families who are adopting children, Jess Van Kuyk, a manager in the Children and Family Services Department, said. https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/news/local/anoka-county-declares-november-adoption-awareness-month/article_882302bc-495e-11ec-95cd-e7abf1d79fd3.html   NC: Forsyth health-care initiatives gain $93 million in state budget funding Winston-Salem Journal – November 21, 2021 Forsyth County’s health-care sector will receive about $93 million in funding from the 2021-23 state budget, highlighted by $25 million for a crisis behavioral health program. Another state-funded program – without a designated amount disclosed – involves the divisions of Social Services and Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services establishing a two-year child welfare and behavioral health pilot project. Its goal is offering easier access to comprehensive health services for children in foster care by: creating better continuity of care; providing an alternative to therapeutic foster care; and ensuring care and services are available without disruption to a child’s foster care placement while accessing services needed to treat the child’s trauma. https://journalnow.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/forsyth-health-care-initiatives-gain-93-million-in-state-budget-funding/article_b14025ae-48bd-11ec-94bd-ebb5cab92acd.html   NM: 9 ways to improve CYFD’s foster care system (Opinion) Albuquerque Journal – November 22, 2021 As foster and adoptive parents of 13 years, we have had hundreds of children in our home, worked with many social workers, children’s attorneys, advocates and therapists, and mentored numerous biological and foster parents. We are on the front lines and have seen first-hand the personal triumphs and tragic stories of children placed in the care of the state. Over the last few years the previous CYFD secretary presented a narrative that does not reflect reality. https://www.abqjournal.com/2447616/we-can-do-better.html   OK: OKDHS recognizes National Adoption Month (Press release) Oklahoma Human Services – November 20, 2021 November is recognized as National Adoption Month. During this time, Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) and partner agencies celebrate children leaving foster care to find permanency in their forever homes as well as the families and staff who make that permanency possible. https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/okdhs-recognizes-national-adoption-month/article_88d775c8-23d8-5b51-ac05-75498f710559.html   PA: Luzerne County human services departments highlight services in budget presentation (Includes audio and video) Sunday Dispatch – November 21, 2021 The agency is seeking $6.9 million in county funding toward its $45.63 million budget, said county Human Services Program Director John Alunni, who was appointed interim Children and Youth administrator after prior director Joanne Van Saun was arrested in July. Alunni told council the agency has received 6,788 referrals this year through Nov. 10. That includes 812 Child Protective Services (CPS) and 2,721 General Protective Services (GPS) referrals, Alunni said. https://www.psdispatch.com/news/78239/luzerne-county-human-services-departments-highlight-services-in-budget-presentation   TX: Options for growing number of McLennan County children in foster care critically limited Waco Tribune-Herald – November 20, 2021 The growing number of McLennan County children in foster care face an increasingly critical shortage of placement options, compounding already difficult circumstances. Last year, there were about 1,181 children in foster care in McLennan County, said Anna Futral executive director of the local Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children organization, which helps children navigate the child welfare system. The number of children in care has more than doubled since 2011, when 465 McLennan County children were in foster care, said Ferrell Foster, senior specialist for care and communication at Prosper Waco. Despite the growing number of children in need, there are just 17 licensed foster families in the county. Generally, children in care of the state are placed with a foster family, with a relative or in a residential psychiatric care facility. https://wacotrib.com/news/local/options-for-growing-number-of-mclennan-county-children-in-foster-care-critically-limited/article_5dec3bac-4342-11ec-af80-7fbc0336ef26.html   US: Students didn’t return to public schools this year CommonWealth Magazine – November 21, 2021 When the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its enrollment figures for the 2020-2021 school year last fall, it was clear that the pandemic had a huge impact, with 37,400 fewer students than the prior year. Most policy experts and advocates assumed these children would return this fall. They haven’t. Newly released enrollment figures for the 2021-2022 school year show that enrollment remained flat this year, with 911,529 students attending public schools, an increase of just 65 students compared to last year. https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/students-didnt-return-to-public-schools-this-year/   US: The U.S. Should Stop Being Hypocritical When It Comes to Ending Child Marriage (Commentary) Ms. Magazine – November 21, 2021 The U.S. has a well documented child marriage problem. A shocking fact is that in the majority of child marriage cases, it is adult U.S. citizen men petitioning for foreign child brides and fiancés. Many of these adult U.S. citizens are in their 40s and 50s. Bluntly put, our laws facilitate predatory behavior by U.S. citizens and put girls in the U.S. and abroad at risk of child marriage. Also: Report: How the U.S. Immigration System Encourages Child Marriages: https://bit.ly/3HLpATF https://msmagazine.com/2021/11/21/naila-amin-child-marriage/   INTERNATIONAL   Cuba: Cuba studying complete ban of child marriages On Cuba News – November 21, 2021 Cuba is studying the complete prohibition of child marriages through a legal reform that would eliminate an exception that allows girls to marry from the age of 14 and boys from the age of 16. Press media report that the latest version of the draft of the new Family Code eliminates this exceptional authorization contemplated in the 1975 code and that had made dozens of child marriages possible in recent years. https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba/society-cuba/cuba-studying-complete-ban-of-child-marriages/ CA: Child welfare organization saves lives in LA County Pasadena Weekly – November 18, 2021 Los Angeles County accounts for more than 30,000 foster children. Many are victims of abuse or neglect, have physical or learning disabilities, or have been put at risk of ending up in the juvenile justice system or living on the street. It is CASA of Los Angeles’ mission to provide the services, attention and advocacy necessary to drastically improve, and even save, the life of a foster child. “In the child welfare community, they’ve established themselves as an organization that can be counted on and has a voice,” Pasadena CASA volunteer Dave Stein said. “We are advocates, and the No. 1 job is to do our best to help make sure the youth gets what the system is supposed to deliver.” https://pasadenaweekly.com/child-welfare-organization-saves-lives-in-la-county/   CA: SLO County foster kids sometimes sleep in offices as family shortage reaches crisis (Includes video) (Includes audio) Tribune – November 18, 2021 As an unhoused teenager in San Luis Obispo County, Journey Bliven had just two options for shelter: hang out in a social worker’s office, or find someone else to take her in. Typically, a social worker will bring the child into the Department of Social Services offices while they search for a place for the child to stay. “We want to make sure the child is safe and warm,” said Jennifer Finocchio, a placement and foster support supervisor in the Department of Social Services. “We don’t want them to wait in an ER waiting room or the side of the road.” If the Department of Social Services is unable to find a relative or family friend with which to place the child, as was the case for Bliven, the agency turns to its pool of local foster families. Before the coronavirus pandemic, there were roughly 130 households willing to take in foster kids in an emergency, officials said. Today, that number has shrunk to about 95, which leaves more children in jeopardy than ever before. This is the first part of a two-part series on the foster care crisis in San Luis Obispo County. https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article254808357.html   CO: Sexual abuse, misconduct allegations kept quiet for decades at world-renowned Colorado Center for the Blind (Includes audio) Colorado Sun – November 18, 2021 More than a dozen previously unreported instances of sexual misconduct and abuse spanning at least two decades at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton have surfaced during an internal investigation of the school’s parent organization. The allegations were made public in a report released in June by a special committee investigating misconduct claims in the National Federation of the Blind, the school’s parent organization. The investigative findings bolstered the accounts of eight people associated with the center who told The Colorado Sun that leadership at the world-renowned school covered up sexual offenses against children for years or simply ignored them. https://coloradosun.com/2021/11/18/colorado-center-for-the-blind-sex-assaults/   FL: More children are being uprooted, forced out of shelters and homes in Florida (Includes video) WFTS – November 18, 2021 A Florida foster family has been forced to stop caring for unaccompanied children after Florida’s child welfare agency let their state license expire with no explanation. Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone breaks new details on the state’s immigration crisis impacting children in a new way. https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/more-children-are-being-uprooted-forced-out-of-shelters-and-homes-in-florida   ME: Maine Voices: Working together to break the cycle of youth homelessness (May require subscription) Portland Press Herald – November 18, 2021 In November, when the hours of daylight are fading rapidly, and frost and cold nights remind us that winter is near, most of us start to settle into the comforts of our homes. Here in Maine, we are particularly aware that the warm season is ending and feverishly prepare for the long cold months ahead. This is especially – acutely – true for people experiencing homelessness in our community. November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and for good reason. The reality of winter begs us to shift our attention to our most vulnerable neighbors. Youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness not only lose their home, but often also lose their community, friends, family and any sense of stability, predictability and safety in their lives. https://www.pressherald.com/2021/11/19/maine-voices-working-together-to-break-the-cycle-of-youth-homelessness/   NM: CYFD: We need a critical examination of our child welfare system in New Mexico (Includes video) KOAT – November 18, 2021 Target 7 tried to speak to the deputy secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) while he was at an event Thursday. “It should go without saying how seriously we take this situation and look at this very critically from a systemwide perspective,” Vigil said. Vigil says she cannot talk about the specifics of the case involving the death of a one-month-old infant. His mother has been charged with the death. Investigators say one week before the baby died, Kira Milton called 911 saying she was afraid she was going to hurt her children. One week later, she called again. When deputies arrived at the home, the baby was dead. “Let me just reiterate that it does not serve the people of New Mexico to point fingers and to blame. What matters and what serves the people when there is an error in judgment or weaknesses and processes, that we are proactive and addressing that and avoiding that So we can minimize this from ever happening again,” Vigil said. Also: CYFD secretary addresses concerns about death of infant (Includes video): https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/cyfd-secretary-addresses-concerns-about-death-of-infant/6306268/ https://www.koat.com/article/cyfd-child-welfare-system-new-mexico/38295589#   OH: Local organization says need for bilingual foster families is high (Includes video) WKBN – November 18, 2021 A local organization is asking for more bilingual families to volunteer as foster parents. “The need is so great. In Ohio alone, there are 25,000 youth in foster care,” said Courtney Townsend, program director for foster parent growth and retention. The National Youth Advocate Program is an organization that helps match foster families with waiting children. “We actually just started our last virtual training of the year, and there is still time to join that class,” she said. Townsend says the need for foster parents willing to take in teenagers, sibling groups and bilingual children is high. https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/local-organization-says-need-for-bilingual-foster-families-is-high/   SD: New SD Project Builds Foster Homes in Tribal Communities (Includes audio) Public News Service – November 19, 2021 South Dakota has struggled to establish a network of foster parents in tribal communities, but solutions are in play, including a space where Indigenous children can feel as close to home as possible. Over the years, South Dakota has been criticized for often placing Indigenous children with white families through aggressive custody hearing, inspiring outreach efforts to recruit foster parents in tribal areas. Marcella Gilbert, a Lakota and Dakota community organizer on the Cheyenne River Reservation, works with the nonprofit Simply Smiles, which has been building homes for local kids in need of care. Also: In South Dakota, Officials Defied a Federal Judge and Took Indian Kids Away From Their Parents in Rigged Proceedings (Commentary): https://www.aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/american-indian-rights/south-dakota-officials-defied-federal-judge-and-took https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-11-19/native-american/new-sd-project-builds-foster-homes-in-tribal-communities/a76617-1   SD: New Group To Offer Foster Care Adoption Service In SD (May require subscription) Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan – November 18, 2021 Lifeline Children’s Services, a national Christian adoption agency, today announced the expansion of its foster care adoption services to South Dakota. The agency serves vulnerable children through private domestic adoption, foster care adoption and international adoption. November is National Adoption Month, a time set aside to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for children in foster care. Nationally, there are approximately 400,000 children in the foster care system, of which about 120,000 children are in need of adoptive families. In South Dakota, approximately 1,700 children are in the foster care system. Over the last few years, about 190 children have been adopted from foster care annually. https://www.yankton.net/community/article_217b704c-48e3-11ec-a1e6-cf13c533e58d.html   TN: How Child Welfare Was Fixed (Commentary) Tennessee Tribune – November 18, 2021 Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) changed a lot from 2004-2014. It was under a 2001 federal court order to make more than 100 changes in how it managed the state’s child welfare system. By 2010 DCS had made significant progress. According to a 2019 study by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, 77% of children who entered foster care in 2010 experienced just one move compared to 61% of children who entered care in 2001. Fifteen percent of children who entered foster care in 2001 experienced four or more moves, but just 8% of children in foster homes in 2010 moved four or more times. This is the 8th article in The Tennessee Tribune’s series on the Department of Children’s Services. https://tntribune.com/how-child-welfare-was-fixed/   WV: DHHR official says W.Va. Child Protective Services’ caseload becoming unmanageable (Includes video) WCHS – November 17, 2021 The foster crisis in West Virginia is nothing new, but advocates say an online database is leaving out vital information such as the nearest available foster families, how many kids they could care for or what county in which they are located. While the state Department of Health and Human Resources said the website is supposed to be revamped late next year, foster care advocates question what is being done until that time. https://wchstv.com/news/local/pack-wva-child-protective-services-caseload-becoming-unmanageable   WV: W.Va. has removed kids from some out-of-state foster homes; officials offer no plan for broader system fix Mountain State Spotlight – November 17, 2021 The official overseeing West Virginia’s foster care system says the state has removed kids from some out-of-state foster homes identified in a Mountain State Spotlight investigation, but did not provide any details and told lawmakers he still has no proposals for a broader fix for the state’s troubled system. “I wish there were a statute that could be changed or a bill that could be drafted that would make everything better,” Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau of Social Services Commissioner Jeff Pack told state lawmakers on Tuesday. “But I don’t know what that would be.” Also: Foster care: A system in crisis: https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2021/10/01/a-system-in-crisis/ https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2021/11/17/west-virginia-kids-out-of-state-foster-homes/   US: Lori Falce: Treat addicts to save children (Opinion) Tribune-Review – November 19, 2021 Evil is easy to judge. Easy to condemn. Easy to fight. Lock up someone who deliberately hurts a child and you remove the problem. But we can’t lock up a thoughtlessly forgotten danger. It’s harder to combat addiction than it is abuse because it spreads like a contagion and settles in like a deep depression. If addiction were easy to root out, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wouldn’t have reported 100,300 drug deaths between May 2020 and April 2021. Because it’s not an easy fix, it becomes more than an addict’s problem. It’s an addict’s family’s problem. It affects parents and spouses. Most tragically, it affects children – sometimes when they watch Mom go in and out of rehab or when Dad goes to jail for possession or when they are taken away and put in foster care. https://triblive.com/opinion/lori-falce-treat-addicts-to-save-children/   US: Biden administration reverses Trump-era waivers of nondiscrimination protections (Includes video) Hill – November 18, 2021 The Biden administration is reversing Trump-era rules that allowed federally-funded child welfare agencies to bypass non-discrimination rules if they conflicted with providers’ religious beliefs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday said it was rescinding waivers granted to three states that allowed faith-based foster care groups that contracted with state agencies to turn away same-sex and non-Christian couples while still receiving federal money. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/582274-biden-administration-reverses-trump-era-waivers-of-nondiscrimination   US: How to Prepare When Adopted Children Are Ready to Meet Their Birth Parents (Includes audio) People – November 18, 2021 Reunions like Richardson’s may be becoming more common among the estimated 7 million Americans who are adopted, with the advent of DNA testing kits and the increase in open adoptions (today, roughly 9 in 10 domestic adoptions are open). Yet the search for one’s birth parents and the reactions it can trigger can be emotionally fraught, filled with many ups and downs. Experts in adoptee/birth reunions have some suggestions for this process. And, advises Richardson, “Everybody’s experience is different.” https://people.com/human-interest/how-to-prepare-when-adopted-children-want-to-meet-birth-parents/   US: Training Program Addresses Racial Equity Issues in the Adoption Process Associations Now – November 18, 2021 With November being National Adoption Month, the National Adoption Association hopes its racial equity training program will help members improve the adoption process and create stronger bonds in the families they serve. https://associationsnow.com/2021/11/training-program-addresses-racial-equity-issues-in-the-adoption-process/   US: Why Are More Black Kids Suicidal? A Search for Answers. (May require subscription) New York Times – November 18, 2021 Over the past generation, a mental health crisis has been brewing among Black youths like Joe, one that very few people – including Black families – have spoken about publicly. Self-reported suicide attempts rose nearly 80 percent among Black adolescents from 1991 to 2019, while the prevalence of attempts did not change significantly among those of other races and ethnicities. Legislators and academics are now pushing for better research to understand why, especially in light of new evidence that suggests Black children may have unique risk factors for self-harm. Also: Temporal Trends in Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among US Adolescents by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, 1991-2019: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2780949 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/18/well/mind/suicide-black-kids.html?searchResultPosition=1   Child Welfare in the News is distributed at no charge by Child Welfare Information Gateway (https://www.childwelfare.gov), a service of the Children’s Bureau/ACF/HHS (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb). It features news stories on topics of interest to child welfare and related professionals. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of any view expressed in a resource, and opinions or views do not reflect those of Child Welfare Information Gateway, the Children’s Bureau, or staff. We are always eager to get your feedback or to know how you are using Child Welfare in the News. To comment on this service, contact cwn@childwelfare.gov.

 

 

 

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