DAYTONA BEACH -- New law targets false reporting of child welfareworkers
New law targets false reporting of child welfare workers
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI Staff Writer http://www.news-journalonline.com/Ne...ST01102507.htm DAYTONA BEACH -- An adult investigator for the state Department of Children & Families details in a report that he talked to two suspected victims of abuse. The only problem is the victims said they never spoke to him. In another local case, a state investigator writes in a report that he spoke to a Port Orange police officer about a child being abused. But, turns out, the officer said he was never contacted and wasn't even on duty at the time the DCF investigator said the conversation took place. Those are two of several cases in recent years where state officials found child welfare workers falsified records. But rarely in such cases locally or statewide do workers face prosecution, according to a recent report by the DCF Inspector General's Office. State officials hope that will change after legislators earlier this year made it a felony not only when a worker alters an existing document, but creates a false one -- which the old law didn't address. John Tanner, state attorney for the local judicial circuit, said the change "is appropriate and necessary" to protect children and senior citizens. Clearing up the language, Tanner said, will give the cases "more weight" for prosecution. DCF Inspector General Sheryl Steckler said she hopes as word spreads about the change, more state attorneys will be willing to prosecute. "It's simple now -- if you falsify, you commit a crime," Steckler said. Statewide, the DCF Inspector General's Office referred 42 state DCF employees and private contractors last fiscal year, Steckler said. Eight were prosecuted and 15 were not. Nineteen are still pending review by law enforcement or state attorney offices. Andrea Moore, an attorney and executive director of Florida's Children First, a statewide nonprofit children's advocacy group, said, "When you have crimes of violence versus this type of crime, it's hard to convince prosecutors to take it seriously." Reggie Williams, local DCF circuit administrator, said two of his employees have falsified records since he took over in March 2006. The two resigned and the reports were sent to the Inspector General's Office. Both said they visited families about alleged abuse, but they had not. "When you falsify, it ruins the credibility of the organization," Williams said. Community Partnership for Children, which provides local foster care for the state, was close to losing its contract in 2004 after several workers lied about checking on foster children. The agency now requires the foster parent and child to sign a form when visited. The key, according to Ron Zychowski, CEO of Community Partnership for Children, is to ensure workers have reasonable caseloads and know they can go to their supervisor for help. "Case managers should never feel (lying) is the only option I have in order to get the bureaucrats off my back about getting my work done," Zychowski said. Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, is glad Florida closed the loophole but doesn't think it will make a big difference. He said the state needs to remove fewer children from their homes so workers are not overloaded and "have more time to find the children in real danger." 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... |
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