Clackamas Child Service Complaint

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.

The controversial issue of whether or not Child Protective Services are doing their jobs properly, has grabbed nationwide attention. Child Protective Services is the name of a government agency in many states of the United States whose mission is to respond to reports of child abuse and neglect. Some of these cases may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, and mental abuse (Wikipedia). The child welfare system is corrupted. The parents and guardians who are accused of abuse are automatically labeled as guilty and will have to prove their innocence; instead of being innocent until proven guilty.

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

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.

Kline Pruett, M., Williams Y., Insabella, G., and Little, T.D., 2003) Counselors who Are Court-Appointed as Child Custody Evaluators. Retrieved from

Regional Allegations and Complaints Coordinator has been working on a project to gather samples of recommended or approved language to be used when preparing a response to a complaint. I have contributed to the project by analyzing incoming complaints of the last 2 1/2 years to identify clusters of similar ones and then looking at the approved responses that programs prepared. I managed to expand the lands, governance and funding services sections.

Ms. Henderson notes that during the assessment process Aunika was placed with her for an evening, but was then removed and placed into foster care. She reports being confused by this decision, as her nephew, the son of her fiancé, was able to stay in the placement at her home with her and his biological father, Glenn Stillmen. I discussed with Ms. Henderson the difference between placing a child with a legal parent, which I clarified with her, Mr. Stillman is, and placing a child with a relative, which would be what the placement between she and Aunika, would be. I clarified further, that with a relative placement there are certain certification requirements that must be reached in order for the child to reside there, while they are a ward of the courts and DHS Child Welfare is charged with their safety. She seemed to understand this and asserted that she would like to be a placement option for Aunika and that she would like information regarding doing this. At this time I

personal communication). The child in the Gann’s care was in six different homes in the year leading up to placement with them and it was the result of physical abuse; one removal was the result of physical abuse by the caretaker’s adult son. The agency needs to do more thorough background checks on anybody who will be in frequent contact with the child in everyday life to strive for more stability, so that the child does not endure multiple placements in such short amount of time.

“National advocacy organization Children’s Rights, the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and Matthew T. Richardson, partner at the South Carolina law firm Wyche P.A. … filed suit against Governor Nikki Haley and Acting State Director of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Susan Alford” (Children’s Rights). Children’s Rights and the South Carolina Appleseed legal j filed this lawsuit with concerns of children getting the proper care they need when they are placed in the hands of the state. the lawsuit targeted many issues such as caseworkers and DSS workers having an extreme amount on their caseload, children having to sleep in offices overnight waiting on placement, and the providing of basic health care. Each of those issues are very important to have attention

Your grievance appeal has been reviewed at Central Office and the Deputy Bureau Administrator's response is modified. Pursuant to Department Order 802.01, GENERAL INFORMATION:

Ms. Harris continued by stating that she spoke with Child Protective Supervisor II, Francica Williams, on August 3rd, 2015 who informed her that Ms. Gustard picked the children up on August 2nd, 2015 from one of the children’s older siblings. Ms. Harris expressed that an agency representative did not see the children prior to August 5th, 2015. Ms. Harris uttered that the agency was in agreement to replace the children from Ms. Gustard’s care on August 3rd, 2015 but decided against it since OSI was expected to make a visit to the residence that same

The passing of The Child and Family Service Improvement and Innovation Act, H.R. 2883, was essentially put into place to counteract some of the dangers of the foster care system. It Put in place more required regulations of case workers, but perhaps also played the unfortunate role in the increased burnout of those within the field of child and family services. Regardless of this potential repercussion, the bill holds true intentions to make the system not only function better, but improve the care and quality of child and family services. Put into federal law September 24, 2011, it has been working towards progress and improvements within the system (H.R. 2883 (112th): Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, 2011).

Cassandra, we believe that this is one important point and it is what is causing most of the confusion. Just few days after the incident that prompted to remove your children from you, a court order from a judge in Washington was issued ordering that your children will be in Jeanine’s house. At that point, the Dallas Child Welfare workers no longer had jurisdiction on your case, that is why the Dallas Child Welfare workers and including the GAO recommended you to work with your Child Welfare in Washington case manager and with your attorney. That court order override everything done in your case here in Oregon. Just to clarify, the court ordered was issued when your children still were in your cousin’s

According to the Administration for Children & Families (2014) case plans are formed by child protection staff and families who work together to identify goals for the family (Laracuente, 2016). A case plan is a written text that explains why the child is considered to be in need of protection, it provides a lucid statement of the functions and responsibilities of all participants in addressing the child 's care and security needs (Laracuente, 2016). Furthermore, a case plan must also include stipulations that address the child’s developmental needs and assist them to gain the skills and sense of well-being that will allow them to realize their ability (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010). All activities, discussions, and contact with the child and family will be guided by the case plan while it is in effect (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010). Case planning is a method used to provide services that identify needs, sets goals and determines the importance of actions that are to be taken by a client or the social service worker. Case planning can, therefore; be described as the process of assessment, organizing, and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual’s needs through communication and available resources (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010).Often the goals of the case planning focus on maximizing children 's safety and diminishing their risk of harming the purpose of the ongoing intervention, outcomes, and actions required to achieve the goals (Laracuente, 2016).

Jeremy’s case is also distinguishable from the present case, because here, the Department is not dealing with a child who has exhibited any aggressive or destructive behavior that would cause the department to be concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the child. Id. Nor is the Department dealing with a child who is in need of psychiatric care Id. Instead, the Department is dealing with a child, who is physically and mentally healthy. Id. The Department’s only justification for Stephanie removal is based on the fact that Stephanie’s nursery is located on the grounds of MCI, Framingham. Id. There is no other rational justification beyond this fact that the Department can provide. Id. There is no doubt that DCF is required to make reasonable efforts to strengthen and encourage the integrity of the family before commencing an action designed to sever family