Child was removed, with no removal hearing. Or should I say, there was
no
"timely" hearing?

A certain State Rep. inquired into the case, after being contacted
with
complaints. Said Rep. sit's in on subsequent hearings. Said Rep.
isn't
at
all impressed with the way statutes were violated. The presiding
Judge
ordered, after apparently deciding that the allegations of spanking
were
without merit, that the child be returned and case closed. Later, CPS
went to A DIFFERENT Judge to seek an order of removal, which was
granted.
The child was returned to bio. father, where it is alleged that sexual
abuse began to occur.

There has to be considerably more to this case we are not privy to.

* Yes indeed there is. I can't wait until the case reaches it's
conclusion so it may be discussed in full. At this time, I have a bias
view in that I haven't heard much of the testimonials by the actual
parties to this case. To say that one party is is right or wrong as to
the specific details, would be premature of me.

My question is this: Why would CPS/FIA seek out an order of removal
from
a different Judge, after the original Judge ruled that the child
should
be
returned to the caretakers?

It was obviously an attempt by CPS to conspire in the sexual abuse of
a child. No doubt workers flocked to the father's home to participate
in the orgy.

** No. But it was an obvious attempt to disregard a court order. This is
why there is another hearing scheduled to go back before the first judge
to explain CPS's position.

A) The 1st Judge really wanted to rule in favor of CPS, but because
of
the technicality, (the timely hearing thingy)
his hands were tied?

What timely hearing thingy?

* Thank you for pointing this out. The timely hearing thing is actually
an issue of the 2nd removal.
In Michigan, a hearing is to be held within 24 hours of an order for
emergency removal, unless the order to remove was issued on a weekend,
then it must be scheduled within 72 hours. This was not done for the 2nd
removal.

So A) Should read. The 1st Judge really wanted to rule in favor of CPS,
but because of a technicality, his hands were tied?

B) CPS tried to manipulate, for whatever reason, to achieve a desired
outcome?

You asked a question that no one has the answer to except to assume
malfeasance or malpractice. Is that the case..and if so why would we
think so?

* That is the intent of the question. Did CPS judge shop? If so, why?

I have personally experienced the state going to a different judge to seek
an order, when the presiding judge said no. I am wondering if this was
unique and case specific, or if it happens more often than one would
think.

We simply haven't enough information. This ng is rife with this kind
of idle and often vicious speculation.

Is CPS to be judged without adequate information on the off chance
they may have been in the wrong?

* I concur. That is why it is my intention to be present at the next
hearing so I my make an informed opinion.

As you ask....what could be their motive?

Could it be the father conned them too? Now are they immune for being
conned? Failed psychic advisors?

Given the level of conning going on with the population that CPS
serves, that MORE DON'T slip by is amazing. Most older workers are
extremely cynical...because of all that...and it's seen by clients as
them being seen as guilty and having to probe their innocence.

* You got that right! It is amazing how some of these workers get
duped.

C) Other?

Are we to assume you are as open to possible answers that did not in
fact make CPS the villian?

* That would be a correct assumption. I would like to know the reasoning
behind CPS's decision to get an order, from a different judge, to remove
this particular child but not the other children. I would like to attend
the hearing so that I have both sides take on this. Why CPS was so
concerned about this particular child and the measure's they took to get
her removed, but not the other children, is confusing to me.

Also at issue, is the way people hope to accomplish real reform.

Yes, that IS a major issue..and sometimes headed down a very dangerous
path. Some "reformers" want to harvest families currently in the
throws of CPS battles to get their children back....exactly when they
need to NOT be focused on windmill tilting and becoming "aborted baby
placard" like fodder.

* The people I've met that champion the cause of reform, have different
approaches and idea's of how to achieve meaningful reform. I am trying to
align myself with those who demonstrate the willingness and the ability to
to effect positive change.

"I contend that knowingly or uncousciously, more likely BOTH, the phony
baloney anti CPS reform crowd WANTS THEM TO FAIL, TO LOSE THEIR
CHILDREN....they make for better press...if it bleeds it leads, I
believe on poster here recently, Mark, remarked."

* See above.

As I stood outside the courthouse, along with approx. 20+ other
people, I
observed that members of the community were curious as to why we were
there. While everyone was there for the common goal of reform, we all
elaborated our individual reasons why reform is necessary. A couple
of
interesting observations occured to me.

I'm not a great fan of picket lines. They have limited use, and
considerable potential to **** uninvolved citizens off. Letters to the
editor, phone calls, email, faxes, letters to legislators and
executive branch folk..governors and such, are I believe more
effective.

* I do all of those things as well.
Additionally, there is the fact that a State Rep. has personally taken
issue with this case.

As far as ****ing the uninvolved citizen off, the only person who wasn't
fond of the line was the 30 yr. veteran officer. Everyone else seemed
very supportive to the idea of reform.

"The MOST effective is to appear in front of hearing committees and
panels and speak.............NO NOT AS THE MEMBER OF A GROUP....but as
Ms Jane Smith, citizen...and tell YOUR story. Nothing is so
newsworthy, nor politico staff attention getting as one single person
that speaks out alone."

* I have done this as well.

"They all know how that looks to the public...in America, at any rate.
WE LOVE the loner, the underdog, and will believe damn near anything
that comes out of their mouth. Look at our entertainment, song,
theater, art.

It's ripe with this theme. Use it. "

* I hope and pray this is true.

1) Of everyone (with the exception of one) that inquired, all had
knowledge of CPS/FIA involvement, (read= child removal) either on a
personal basis or a relative or friend basis. These people had a
highly
undesirable opinion of FIA/CPS practices. Even people who provide
foster
care and related services. The exception, was a retired 30 year
veteran
law enforcement officer who outright told us we were wrong for being
there
and expressing our distrust of the system. His take was; so what if
these
agencies make mistakes, they are actually underpaid for caring about
kids.

"Mmm...I'm not sure he's being accurately quoted...and remember, he got
to see the results of child abuse and neglect up close and
personal...probably way too close for him to sleep well at night...and
is as biased in his way as you folks can be in yours."

* My quotation of him is pretty accurate, he made his sentiments quite
clear..

"If you tried to find families that had benefited by CPS intervention,
and they are certainly out there, and do a balanced assessment of this
agency, you would have more power...much more than you do now, to make
reforms where CPS does fail, and needs change and support."

* Yes. Absolutely.

"It is POWERFUL in argument to point out the good traits of the
opposition before getting around to ONE, and ONLY ONE negative trait
at a time."

* Thank you. That sounds like good advise.

"Going in with nothing be the negative and making EVERYTHING CPS does
wrong, turns off even the most dedicated objective listener. Reformers
have a long way to go...well, those that don't already know and use
what I am telling you.

If the anti CPS phony balonies would learn to tone it down, to study
and use some simple debating and interpersonal communication skills
they would no longer be phonies, in my eyes, or that of the
legislators or the remaining public."

* So does this fit that description?

Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 10:25:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Michelle" nineballgirlXXXX@XX... Add to Address Book
Subject: Child protection reform bill.
To: mmortimer@h...


Mr. Mortimer,

As a constituent in Jackson County, I urge you to stand behind the
following bill, authored by Rep. Fulton Sheen.

This bill will eliminate the neccessity for child welfare workers to
have to interpret what constitute's severe physical injury and assist
them in making better decisions when they are confronted with
removing a child from the home.

As you know, child welfare workers and CPS have a very difficult job
to do.
There are many tragic situations that confront them, that require
them to use judgment calls while trying to carry out their duty to
protect children.

We hear of many horror stories, right here in Michigan, where
children are not removed from abusive situations when CPS is called
to intervene, leading to serious injury or death to the child, while
others are removed from homes for reasons that do not warrant removal.

I believe this is due to the judgement calls that are made by
inexperienced or improperly trained workers and their supervisors who
are charged with intrepeting laws that are too vague in scope. By
better defining child protection laws, we can reach a common goal,
that is to serve "in the best interest of the child" and hold child
welfare workers accountable to the position in which they have been
entrusted.

I believe this bill to be to the benefit of all citizens. Not only
will this offer protections to parents and children, but to the
workers who serve families here in Michigan.

The bill:

HIB 6210 changes ONE LINE in Sec 8(3)(c) in the Child Protection Law
(MCL 722.628) which has already been amended by Sheen in 2004 PA 195
(his previous bill passed into law).

MCL 722.628 Sec. 8(3)(c) is CHANGED as follows...FROM THIS:

(c) Abuse or neglect resulting in severe physical injury to the child
requires medical treatment or hospitalization. For purposes of this
subdivision and section 17, "severe physical injury" means brain
damage, skull or bone fracture, subdural hemorrhage or hematoma,
dislocation, sprains, internal injuries, poisoning, burns, scalds,
severe cuts, or any other physical injury that seriously impairs the
health or physical well-being of a child.

TO THIS:
(c) Abuse or neglect resulting in severe physical injury to the child
requires medical treatment or hospitalization. For purposes of this
subdivision and section 17, "severe physical injury" means brain
damage, skull or bone fracture, subdural hemorrhage or hematoma,
dislocation, sprains, internal injuries, poisoning, burns, scalds,
severe cuts, or any other severe physical injury that threatens the
life of a child.


Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Michelle XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Jackson, Mi 49203

(517) XXXXXXX



Mark, were you the one behind this?

(To be fair, he said that MOST CPS/FIA workers really do care about
kids
and mistakes happen. These workers are paid so very little for what
they
do.)

He is correct. And except for a tiny minority of total ditzes, and all
human organizations or demographics have those, criminals, dummies,
whatever, the real cause of the mistakes is the job characteristics.
People that abuse and neglect their children are, upon exposure,
dedicated to, and able to immediately take on the coloration of the
innocent...CPS then has to sort the two kinds of clients out.

* That's why I am just flabbergasted that these cases of abuse and
neglect, that are criminal acts, are not tried in the criminal courts,
more than they are. If the standards of innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt were employed in these cases, the state would
probably have to rethink it's position on alot of the cases that floods
the courts.

I truly believe that caseworkers would see a reduction in caseloads and be
able to offer more effective services to families, if the criminals in the
real cases of abuse and neglect were criminally prosecuted.

So many resources and man hours are wasted on cases where abuse and
criminal neglect exsists, yet the only place the case is tried is in the
civil court.

If there is evidence of abuse and neglect, misdemeaners at the very least,
then charge them criminally. If found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,
then start the TPR action.

It does absolutely no good to anyone to offer the abusers all these
services, then when the time limit expires, start TPR proceedings, but
nevergo after them criminally. Save those resources for and direct them to
families who are at risk for neglect, by way of prevention services. Let
the scumbags do their time in jail.

"They aren't psychics."

* Nor should they be. Leave it up to the state to make the case of
criminal abuse and neglect in criminal court.

"And the caseloads are horrendous. In 1990, I surveyed one state...and
was assured it was similar across the country, and caseloads were
upwards of 60 per worker, with an occasional 80 here and there, mostly
because some that needed to be closed couldn't be because the worker
couldn't get the time to do all the work required....and the state was
forbidding workers to log and collect for overtime. Even at that,
working off the clock they STILL didn't have enough time to catch up."

* If the decision to remove the child is made and the order is granted,
then place the child. If the state has a case for criminal prosecution
they do. If they don't, they don't. Close the case and move on to the
next one. This removes the burden from the worker to the prosecutors
office. If their is no criminal act, send the kid home, if that's what
the family wants. Offer them services, if that's what they ask for. Then
get the hell out of their business.

"Fortunately the next budget hearing resulted in an increase and they
hired people to do nothing, their first year, but close case...rather
a good way to learn about how to do casework, in fact."

* That's sounds like a sensible approach to me.

*(Maybe if there was more accountability for the ones who don't care
and
just do it to get the check, I would have been a little more consoled
about the "mistakes happen" part.)

The old "accountability" charge. Well, you'll be surprised to know
there IS such accountability. I got a supervisored fired. Took me five
damn years because she kept a letter of intent to sue the state active
for all that time and the state kept blocking any investigation of her
thereby.

* Congratulations. I hope I achieve the same outcome. So far there has
been no accountability for the worker. Just a child who nearly died as a
result of her willful disregard for childs safety, although she was fully
informed of the childs severe medical condition and the consequences of
not having proper medical treatment.

The doctors had professionally consulted her, yet she went againstthe
sound medical advise and acted without regard to the childs best interest.
She should be held accountable, along with those that swiftly moved to
cover her ass.

"Finally caught her at her games and presented evidence,"

I have presented evidence as well. Irrefutable evidence at that, yet no
one seems bothered by it. Just alot of ass covering and hoping it just
goes away. It won't.

"Gone for good."

* Good. Let's get rid of the bad seeds and those who cover for them.

2) Although there were many that came from all around the State of
Michigan for a common goal of educating the masses as to why reform is
necessary, (and the public at large agree's) there is no clear cut
message
that we have as to how to make these changes. (Sorry for the long
winded
observances, it's a product of a public education? That, and I don't
use
spell check)

NO matter. Not imporant. Much more important that you have identified
that block to reform...and it's always the biggie. And here's the
problem in CPS reform that so many face.

A group of disaffected, and otherwise questionable folks, have been
collecting "facts" about CPS for years, out of context, unwilling to
have CPS explain what is standard practice and why those things are
done, monumentally incorrect assumptions as to the motives of workers,
or others involved in child protection.

** I'm glad that you brought this up. What I found interesting how little
some workers knew of their own policy. I could cite their standard
practice and when it applied, yet they knew not. I've never worked in
child protection, but when I got my hands on the policy and proceedures
manual, it seemed pretty clear to me what was and was not acceptable.
How is it that I, with no formal training, was able to recite policy but
the trained & educated could not?
Very strange.

"I keep suggesting people become a volunteer at CPS...you will have, in
short order, the policy manuals not only at your disposal but likely
as part of yoru training. CPS volunteers are bg checked, and trained."

*See above. If I were to try and volunteer at CPS, I may not be accepted.
But I will try and see where it goes. Thank you.

"Here's the final problem....for you to keep your energy and commitment
to reform (and we ALL must as citizens, do this if we want this
government to stay OURS) in the face of findout out all the hot air is
incorrect...or incorrect because it's based on ignorance, and the
ensuing claims and conclusions are piles of manure."

Yes. It is very difficult when first entering this realm, from a parents
perspective. There are many stages that you go thru.


For me, it goes like this:

1) How could this happen to me? I didn't do anything wrong.

2) Try to educate yourself on your States policy and proceedure, because
you know somewhere along the line, they are being violated. They have to
be. This just can't happen.

3) You stumble across support groups and see that you are not alone. You
tell your story and start asking for advise.

4) Advice comes your way, some good, some bad.
You have to decide if it makes sense or not and what course of action you
will take.

5) You get this false sense of security that someone can help you. As
well intentioned as some of the advice givers are, they cannot do anything
that you can't do yourself.

Don't get me wrong. I think the support I received was & is fantastic. I
am very grateful for the people that came to my hearings and guided me to
the right authorities. People who wrote letters and made phone calls.
People who testified before house committee's and have done radio talk
shows dealing with my case. It's absolutely critical to get that kind of
exposure when you are in fact innocent.

We had an interesting conversation with a former Michigan foster child
(whom has authored a book and contributes articles to various adoption
egroups)who knows the system from the inside.

What I found incredible about this individual is his ability to
emotionally detatch (perhaps a trait acquired while being shuttled to
11
different foster homes, "some good, some bad") and not harbor
resentment.
His TRUE objective is to spreahead reform and advocate for the child.
" A
voice for the voiceless" as he puts it.

Ah, now you are getting somewhere. This supposed "victim" isn't doing
the nutcase, "DESTROY CPS" dance. What does that tell you?

* No, he isn't. It tells me that he truly cares about the plight of
children in the system. So do I.
I have been TPR'd. But I still have obtained a prepaid 2 year college
tuition for my son who will "age out" I do not trust the state to provide
him anything. The State of Michigan turned down Millions in "age out"
funds last year.

From what I gathered, this gentleman wants to focus on the positives
that
CPS has done and can do. Yet put emphasis, by way of forming public
policy, on the rights of the child.

Could he be more on target, or more rational?

* No. I think he has hit the nail on the head.

"hat that does is then highlight those areas that DO need reform, and
in fact ARE a problem..with the law, with funding, with hiring, with
education, with caseloads."

* I completely agree.
Having been in the system in that capacity, he is a much stronger voice
for change than someone like myself who has been in the system in a
different capacity. I still know that I have a very useful purpose in the
area of reform for being able to bring my perspective to the table.

"(Wouldn't hurt either if the dang schools of social work and CPS all
over the country would get together and adopt a practice standards in
child welfare manual..the content is pretty much available "off the
shelf" if they'll do it)"

* Here...Here!

He empahtically stated " I do not advocate for biological parents. I
do
not advocate for foster parents. I do not advocate for adoptive
parents.
I do not advocate for CPS or (insert your states agency name here) I
advocate for the child."

Which is the attitude of a lot of caseworkers. And their supervisors.
And their managers, administrators, and the state's primary executive,
the governor.

* But this is not the attitude of some. That SOME, is by it's very nature
reflective of how alot of families view these agencies. The old adage;
You are judged by the company you keep, is what would use to describe the
sentiments of many.

He went on to say that he observed our gathering and our message. He
stated that he did not see many positives, rather alot of emphasis on
the
systems failures. ( IMNSHO, there are enough failures to warrant
gathering
and exposing the systems failures.) I do agree that we MUST find
common
ground and put the children's best interest first.

YOu are, if you'll please not kill the messenger (I've been killed
repeatedly and am thoroughly dead now so you can stop please....R R R
R) a great deal of what YOU think are failures...meet the following
criteria in part or collectively: you do not know why CPS did what it
did; you are being tutored by the ignorant; you are being politicized
by the patronising for their own ends..which they are NOT going to
share knowledge of with you..they are, in a word, "hinkie;" and you
are likely also being used by the very very guilty..who often are
avoiding that truth themselves. We have such in this ng.

**There is also a great deal that I KNOW to be the failures. Take for
example a few caseworkers sitting in a court room prior to the start of a
hearing. They are discussing and laughing about how 1 client now has
housing to have an overnight visit with her children. There was
monstorous laughter when the caseworker said that the housing consisted of
a tent in a relatives back yard.

Now when I commented how nice it was to see "family preservation at work"
The laughter stopped and one worker crudely say's " Not in your case" and
rolled her eyes.

Now, that mother who had to live in a tent in a relatives back yard, was
no closer to getting her children returned to her than I was. But at
least she got to see hers.

Here's another failure. (I wrote this to another group and it's
excerpted.)


""Currently in Michigan, if a child has been in foster care for 15 of
the last 22 months, than a petition for termination can be filed.

Now, while we have "reasonable efforts" for family preservation on
the books, (that could be ample time if the workers actually did
their jobs and provided services that were available)reasonable
efforts are interpreted rather vaguely from worker to worker, agency
to agency. The reasonable efforts and 15 month rule has not been an
effective measure of reuniting families.

I'm going to use my case as an example to cite one workers idea of
reasonable efforts.

I had a false allegation of abandonment made against me. THe persons
who made this charge later recanted it in front of the judge, on the
record. The Judge asked the state. "Why are we even here? Why is
this in my courtroom?" But, the judge didn't order the case closed.
Rather the state jumped up and stated they wanted more time to make
sure that reasonable efforts had been met and they requested a review
in 90 days.

Now, in that 90 day period, the worker employed every tactic in the
book to make my situation so bad that when we had the next hearing
(that XXXXXattended) all hope was lost.

For example; They had transferred my visitation site to another
county and I had no transportation. I had to ride a grey hound bus
for 8 hours a day, requiring that I take a day off work EVERY WEEK! I
was ordered to have weekly visits with their psychiatrist, which
meant I had to take time from work. EVERY WEEK! I was ordered to
complete a parenting class, that the worker said I didn't need when
she stated " I know your a good mom, but just do this and it will
look better for you when you go back to court." That meant I had to
take more time off work, EVERY WEEK! So now from the employers
perspective, here's an employee who has to take 16-20 hours out of 40
off of work EVERY WEEK! The employer could only be so flexible. Now
I'm out of a job. The job search for a new job didn't go over well.
Everytime I explained to a prospective employer that I needed every
Monday off for this, 6 hours on Tuesday for that and an additional 4
hours off on Wednesday for this, to comply with a court approved case
plan, I wasn't a very marketable employee. Without a job and an
income, I wasn't able to keep the housing that I had and I was forced
to move in to a friends apartment as a room mate. Now I didn't have
suitable housing to bring my children home to or an income to provide
for them if I did.

So from this perspective, the worker made every "reasonable effort"
to see me fail. My case is by no means unique in this facet.

Now let's examine how the worker could have proceeded to exhaust
reasonable effort towards reunification.

The worker was asked by my childrens caretaker if she could
facilitate the visits and coordinate them around my work schedule.
In fact, the caretaker told the judge that I was more than welcome in
her home and she encouraged that I spend more time with my children
as the separation was starting to really negatively affect them.
Seeings how the charge against me was neglect, that was later
recanted on the record and there was never any question whatsoever by
any party as to the safety of my children while in my company, this
was more than "reasonable".

The worker adamantly denied her request and scheduled me 1 hour
visits once a week, supervised, at her office. There is absolutely
NOTHING anywhere in my case that would warrant supervised
visitation. That's an example of an "unreasonable effort". Had she
approved the caretakers request, it may have made the difference
between me keeping or losing my job, income, housing etc...

So we need to expand the definition of "reasonable efforts" at the
legislative level as well as the agency level.

Another issue that needs to be SERIOUSLY addressed and changed
is "Qualified Immunity"

The confidentiality laws are packaged and wrapped so tight, that they
are a shield for workers who don't perform ethically or legally.

If you can prove that a worker was acting illegally in carrying out
the duties, it does no good. The qualified immunity that's granted
them literally allows them to get away with murder. My youngest son
was on the verge of death as a result of the negligent actions of the
caseworker. The worker was fully informed as to the medical
condition of my son, yet she acted with intentional malice and
willful disregard to my son's safety and knowingly placed him at risk
for imminent harm. The same standards that CPS uses to remove a
child from the home, is the very practice that the worker engaged in
when she she jeopardized the safety of the child. Yet, she was not
held accountable BECAUSE of the Immunity protection that was afforded
her. And quite grateful for, I'm sure.

We need to demand that the laws on the books are enforced
Immunity and penalties stiffened when a worker has violated the
law.......""



"Now in there somewhere, hopefully, there are those such as you that
want to cut through the bs. Wanna borrow my machete?"

May I please? lol.

"To study CPS you have to read and think adn discuss with people you
see as opponnents, just what they think is going on, or how they see
it, and them come to your own conclusions.

If you give yourself up to the Ferns, and Dougs, and Gregs of the
issue, and buy into the emotions they are trying to infect you with,
how objective do you think your examination of truth about CPS will
be?"

* Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I'm not the dullest
either. I've always been pretty good about evaluating a matter at hand
and deciding which way to proceed. I'm not familiar with Doug's or greg's
writings, I have read post by fern. Because I have read posts by fern, I
can comment to that. I think we need ferns in this movement. If their
were no ferns posting these articles and giving her commentary, then we
would have is a very dull and slow moving wheel.

When I read some of the links that are posted by others, it keeps that
fire lit under my ass.

Everyday, there are rants and raves about how CPS does families wrong.
I
am quite guilty of this myself and I have absolutley no intention of
stopping this practice. But I have learned after speaking with this
gentleman, that the method I employ and the subjects that I employ it
to,
are drastically going to change.

YOu have only one more step to go to become a "reformer." Insist on
finding the truth for yourself. And when you are gladhanded and
treated to these "horrors of CPS" stories, think about the risk you
take of being patronized right out of rational thought.

* That is the very reason that I decided to not just take someones word
for it, but actually attend some hearings myself. The last hearing that I
attended, while I didn't actually go in the courtroom, I did speak with an
aid from the State rep.s office over dinner. I trust that the information
that was given to me was accurate as to not shame the name of the boss by
putting misinformation out there.

I am treated to these CPS horror stories, yes. SOme of them are with
merit. I know mine is. Others may disagree and think that there's got to
be more to it, and that's fine. But I know the truth and so does every
worker and participant in my case. My family and friends and most
importantly, my children know the truth. So what strangers think of my
case, or me for that matter, is really irrelevant. My focus isn't to
scare good families into taking there children and running for the hills
because of what happened to me. I'd like to see the system changed so
that what has happened to me, doesn't happen to others.

An yes, that old "accountability" thing is a big part of it.

I was honored to have made this gentlemans acquaintance. I hope to
work
closely with him in the future. I realized today, perhaps there is
no
one better to try to give voice to the voiceless, than someone who WAS
voiceless and at the mercy of a system that had it's failures
then....and
today.

Isn't it interesting that he neither acts like nor claims to be a
victim of CPS?

*He's an adult in his 40-50's now, and know's that he's been victimized by
the system that he entered all those years ago when his young mother
placed him up for adoption as an infant. There was never any adoption.
Just alot of foster placements. But to answer your question, No he does
not publicly claim to be a victim. He publicly states that we need to
work on reform in a positive way and I believe that.

"While I certainly hear individual workers, and individual foster
families, pitch a bitch about their personal issues, the ALWAYS set
them aside in favor of the child when it comes to delivering."

ALWAYS? The good one's maybe. The worker in my case almost delivered my
son to his death. What's worse is that it didn't even phase her. She
never showed any remorse or compassion for me. In fact, she started
making our relations even more strained. She actually started treating me
worse and distanced me even further from my children. Go figure.

"Do you see the 'reformers' doing that"

* The one's that I care to be associated with do.

"ARe there bad workers? You betcha. I did a little housecleaning among
them when I helped get that supervisor fired...just wandered around to
their lunch hangouts and buttonholed the ones I knew protected
her..and had a little chat.

I like to get personal. It was a Fish or Cut Bait talk...as in clean
up your act or I'll introduce you to a plumber that needs a helper."

* I wonder how many of the 40 that came forward, had reported this worker
previously. Do you know? Officially or off the record if any complaints
were lodged by co-workers?

"There are a few people, as in any profession, that shouldn't be doing
it."

Right on!

"One final thought. How could there be the volume of evil intent and
malpractice that the anti CPS folks proclaim?"

I don't think the intent is evil initially. I think what turns things
south is when parents, or other's, find out that these workers are
violating standard policy and the law, and call them to the carpet. Be it
ego or fear of job loss and prosecution, I don't know. But I do know that
the evil exsists and there is even protection for it.

Is at as wide scale as what we are led to believe? Probably not.

"Does that make sense to you?

If it makes sense to you that there is something wrong with that
proclamation, then where will you go to find out what IS wrong, and
study how to fix it?

YOu just going to stand around and diddle with a pile of manure you
can never overcome, when one or two rows in the garden needs
cultivating, and you CAN do that?"

* I am trying to study how to fix it, while making my vegetables grow.

"The best way of all to learn though would be to apply for a job and
work for CPS for a year or two."

* Again, that's good in theory, but that avenue may not be open to me. I
don't think the workers and agency that failed me and my son's would
welcome me too kindly. I don't think they want the fox guarding the hen
house. But you never know.

"Do you REALLY care about the child as
that Ex foster child does?"

*ABSOLUTELY!!!

All my life I have involved myself in projects that try to make a positive
impact on the life of children. From being a reading mentor, cub scouts,
big brother/big sister and most recently, fundraising and education
awareness for juvenile diabete's. So yes, I really do care about the
child.

"I did a yearlong combined practicum-workstudy project with a state CPS
in 1980-81. Got to practice my minor on them..anthropology, without
them even knowing. I blended in with the tribe by the third month."

* Heheheheh! I like you.

So do you have it available online?

"What did I find?

About 90% of what I believed about CPS went down the drain.

I was highly ****ed that I had been sold a bill of goods about CPS,
and propagandized by people not unlike the little pack of hyenas you
have run into here."

* That's encouraging. I'm glad that your faith in CPS was restored and
you had a positive experience.

"Even the media misinformed me"

* What can I say to that? Other than, I'm not suprised. The media
misinforms everyday.

"I only found two vampires, a single
ghoul, and just one small coven of witches in CPS employ"

* So you are familiar with my case too? lol.

Thanks for the response.
Looking forward to more talks with you.