Casa Case Analysis

A state that undertakes custody of a child is declaring that it can do a better job providing protection. This system is a powerful agent of support, providing positive nurturing environments that enable a child to reach his or her potential. Nonetheless, when children suffer additional abuse in the system, this government intervention should be questioned.

Attentively, I watched a television from a large wooden table, crammed into a small interview room. As the young child on the screen painfully disclosed years of horrific abuse and neglect to a forensic interviewer, I observed in silence. Surrounded by a multi-disciplinary team of police officers, Department of Child Services case managers, advocates and prosecutors, I knew my purpose. I wanted to be a voice for those who were unable to speak and advocate for themselves. My internship with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims and Family Violence Unit, allowed me the opportunity to explore my interest in the legal system and helped kindle my passion for child welfare.

outside agencies that now work side by side with Foster care to assist when needed.” (Webb) Some of those agencies are Guardian Ad Litems, to speak on the child’s behalf in their

When children come into the custody of DCFS and are placed into Foster Care they are scared, confused, lonely, and usually conditioned not to tell when they are being mistreated. Most of the children that come into “the system” have learned to accept abuse as normal or natural and are unaware that they are even being mistreated. Therefore, when they are placed in homes where this is occurring it is not in their nature to speak up. Once they are removed from their parents, they are solely reliant on the department for their protection and it is the department’s responsibility to provide that protection which has not always been fulfilled by the department or the foster care agencies. The department should be making reasonable efforts to provide proper services

Child Protective Services (CPS) is a complex system of assessments, investigations, and conclusions. CPS is the central agency in each communities child abuse and neglect service system. It is responsible for ensuring that preventative, investigative, and treatment services are available to children and families endangered by child abuse and neglect. As a result, CPS workers must perform a variety of functions when responding to situations of child maltreatment and play a variety of roles throughout their involvement with child protective clients. Reporting a suspective case of child maltreatment to the local CPS agency (or a family member’s own request for help with the problem) initiates

I hope to use my law degree to change the lives of mistreated children from all over the world. As a victim of child abuse, serving this community has become a part of my identity. My aspiration to represent mistreated children, albeit vitalized by personal turmoil, has been intensified through professional experience. Through my work with Child Protective Services (CPS), during an internship with a family law attorney, I developed my passion for advocating on behalf of children. While working on CPS cases, I have seen how the lives of children can improve through diligent efforts by authority figures. However, I have also witnessed the shortcoming of the system as well where there is room for improvement. These vulnerable children deserve

Introduction The problems and concerns are a 16-year-old teenager named Tara Jones. Tara has been mandated to the Albert County Court for running away from her fostered home. The situation as of concern is Tara’s behaviors and outburst in the foster home. Tara’s beliefs are, her behaviors are under control and the foster mother needs to be more understanding and get a grasp with dealing with her behaviors. Tara had an argument about dating a 25- year old man.

While looking at the dangers and environment in a child’s home, advocates such as employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services of the State of Texas, have the moral obligation to take into consideration safety of children shelters and foster homes. Morally, advocates for the children should also take into consideration the psychological trauma that the child may or may not experience through being taken away from family and being placed, possibly multiple times, at new places away from everything they know.

My spring internship with Charles L. Levy Law Firm introduced me to the complexities of children protective services (CPS) cases and contractual law. While working with Mr. Levy on CPS cases, I was able to observe over 30 civil cases at the Waco courthouse and help supervise child visits. I developed a more complete understanding of the importance of CPS cases through attending meetings with caseworkers, investigating suspect parents, and visiting children that had been placed in new homes. Mr. Levy also gave me the opportunity to collaborate on various insurance cases that exposed me to legal materials, such as depositions, that are common in many legal practices. Although tedious at times, helping Mr. Levy with insurance cases was interesting

The lawsuit transpired against Department of Human Services in Mississippi because the system deserted the children. In this case, a young girl named Olivia Y was abused by her mother and the foster home. While taking her out the home at the age of three, the system continually neglected her. Department of Family Children Service failed to present Olivia with adequate medical and health support. “This case is alleged that Mississippi’s foster care system was failing adequately to protect children in its custody and provide necessary services in violation of their federal constitutional rights (www.mdhs.state.ms/olivia-y-lawsuit/”).

CASA or court appointed special advocates, advocate for children in court, They are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they do not get lost in the over-burden legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. For many of these abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives. They listen and then they act-- they get to know the child by talking with everyone in the child's life, parents, relatives, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers, foster parents, and others. They use this information to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them. Guardian Ad Litem are usually lawyers or mental health professionals, depending on the court and the circumstances. They investigate the matter at hand, use their own judgment in determining what is in the best interest of the child, and report their findings/recommendation to the court. In contested custody/visitation cases, courts frequently appoint a guardian ad litem for the children (1).

To clarify the role of the GAO, this office is under both the Governor 's Office and the Department of Human Services (DHS) Director 's Office and we independently review or investigate any matters of complaint or concern that a constituent reports having with a DHS program or service. Because we are under the DHS umbrella, we have the authorization to access client information systems and confidential case files. As your concern was specific to your son in foster care, the Foster Care Ombudsman completed this investigation.

Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardian Ad Litem’s are just regular people who are doing their best to make a difference in the life of a child who is involved in the court system because they have been declared by the court to be neglected, abused or dependent. The CASA/GAL volunteer is required to go through extensive training before they are ever given a case to handle. They are expected to commit to at least 15 hours a month per a case and to handle 1-2 cases at a time. The cases can last up to two years and sometimes can last longer than that. In the beginning they may put in more hours because of all the court hearings and meeting they need to attend.

This brief highlights the current status of the foster care system in Texas in addition to recommendations that tackle the increasing caseload for social workers and the policy landscape. The structure of the document dives into the background, recommendations and implications for the foster care system. The background provides context on 2 state policies and the overwhelming caseloads for social service workers. The recommendations focus on how to reduce the caseload quantity and policies that do ameliorate the foster care system. Finally implications for the foster care system showcase the necessity for the recommendations in tandem and the lack of sustainability for the status quo overall. The policies that are stated in this document

This semester as an intern at Wyoming County Children and Youth, I have gained enormous awareness of my future education and career aspirations. Some of the main duties I have performed as an intern include: supervised visitation, parenting, budgeting, in home services, policy and law regulations, and shadowing caseworkers. While following caseworkers I have the opportunity to watch case work on clients throughout the entire process. This process entails an enormous amount of information containing the intake process, open services, termination of rights, court process, foster homes, residential placements, family service plans, adoption and reunification after abuse or neglect allegations. The main duties and responsibilities, I as an intern do unaccompanied are supervised visits, parenting, budgeting and transporting. These experiences have given me the opportunity to help people, in particular families reunite and better themselves for healthier decision making in the future. I have drove to individual’s homes and provided services for budgets, home making, and parenting skills. I also have had numerous opportunities to supervise visitations between parents and children within the agency or out in the community. This has provided me with information on how each family (parent and child) needs different direction and services on how to improve their current situation.