Return to eBook Index

Standing Helpless

How Your Family is Destroyed With Allegations of Child Abuse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...State child-protection officials say their mission is different from that of the criminal justice system and that they should not be held to a high legal standard. DCFS is protective and supportive, not punitive, they say. As one official put it: "We are expected to go into a home, determine what has happened, and predict what might happen in the future...." ????
(Quote taken from: Child-abuse claims vs. parents' rights, June 12, 2008, http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0612/p02s01-usju.html?page=1 )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Child Welfare Information Gateway:

http://www.childwelfare.gov/
Authored & Edited by
egypt

Program Evaluation: A Synthesis of Lessons Learned by Child Neglect Demonstration Projects

In 1996 and 1997, the Children's Bureau funded 10 demonstration projects to address the prevention, intervention, and treatment needs of neglected children and their families. These projects implemented and evaluated a wide variety of service strategies with large numbers of high-risk children and families. The programs varied considerably in terms of theoretical model (psychosocial or ecological), target population, location (in-home or out-of-home), duration, and intensity. The projects provided a great variety of services, including parent education and support, home visits, and referrals to other resources or services in the community. (For information about the programmatic aspects of these projects, see ...

Infant Safe Haven Laws

Reviews State laws that provide a vehicle for the safe relinquishment of newborns who might otherwise be abandoned.

Infant Safe Haven Laws: Summary of State Laws

Reviews State laws that provide a vehicle for the safe relinquishment of newborns who might otherwise be abandoned. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included.

Kinship Care/Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

This resource listing provides the contact information of selected organizations that offer information on kinship care. Each entry includes a brief description of the function of the organization, mailing address, telephone and fax number, e-mail address, and web address.

Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System

Informal and formal kinship care arrangements help to ensure stability and protection for children within their extended family. This fact sheet describes the benefits of kinship care as a child protection alternative and examines the agency's responsibility for the placement. The placement decision-making process, what to expect from the child welfare service and court system, and financial support, available services, and permanency planning are discussed. Questions for new kin caregivers to ask and a list of additional references are provided.

Parental Drug Use as Child Abuse

Abuse of drugs or alcohol by parents and other caretakers can have a negative impact on the health , safety, and well-being of children. Approximately 42 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam currently have laws within their child protection statutes that address the issue of substance abuse by parents. Two main areas of concern are (1) the harm caused by prenatal drug exposure and (2) the harm caused to children of any age by exposure to illegal drug activity in the home. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires States to have policies and procedures in place ...

Parental Drug Use as Child Abuse: Summary of State Laws

Abuse of drugs or alcohol by parents and other caretakers can have a negative impact on the health, safety, and well-being of children. Approximately 42 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam currently have laws within their child protection statutes that address the issue of substance abuse by parents. Two main areas of concern are (1) the harm caused by prenatal drug exposure and (2) the harm caused to children of any age by exposure to illegal drug activity in the home. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires states to have policies and procedures in place to ...

Substance Abuse

This resource listing provides the addresses and phone numbers of organizations that maintain information about the substance abuse in the context of child welfare. Each entry includes a brief description of the function of the organization.

Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment

Substance abuse has a major impact on the child welfare system. It is estimated that 9 percent of children in the United States live with at least one parent who abuses alcohol or other drugs. Research has demonstrated that children of substance abusing parents are more likely to experience abuse or neglect than children in non-substance abusing households. This fact sheet addresses the scope of the problem, the impact of parental substance abuse on children, service delivery issues, and agency practice implications. Resources for further information also are provided. 12 references.

Many times, we foster children with disabilities.  Is *this* what they look at and use for allegations?

The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities

This In Focus report examines the risk of maltreatment for children with disabilities. Topics include prevalence of the problem, characteristics of victims and perpetrators, types of maltreatment, risk factors, and prevention strategies. Emphasis is placed on societal attitudes about disabilities, program policies and procedures, and family-focused programming.

How Social Services take kids for $ bonus money $

http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/health/abuse/news.php?q=1201989441

Finding Help When You Need It (from Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community : 2008 Resource Packet)

When parents are stressed, it can affect their relationship with their children. This tip sheet helps parents identify some common causes of stress and provides suggestions for finding additional support when needed.

Group Response

**Group Nancee found part of the documents that I lost when my computer
crashed a couple of years ago. I remember this article was part of the
evidence of the bonus' monies the agencies get when they move a child,
at least this proves the adoption bonus is not** returned and** *that
they can collect it again in the next adoptive placement. Thank you
Nancee. Way to go. I am putting this someplace** safe and putting in
LEGAL DOCUMENTS on my computer, plus printing it off and putting in the
NFPA's LEGAL MANUAL. marilyn fpls*
**

* *

**PS now we need to go and find the article that was printed by the SUN
as it was printed where Mr. Wexler was quoted. Don't know what year but
we should be able to go into the archives and locate it by using his
name in the search engine.
*
Hi Marilyn, *
* I was clearing out some of my files and found this. Is this some
of the info you were looking for earlier as to proof of how Federal
Funds are used by the different agencies?*
**
*NC*
**
*Executive Director Richard Wexler of the National Coalition for Child
Protection Reform told the /Sun/, "The federal government pays states a
bounty of $4,000 to $8,000 for every finalized adoption over a baseline
number. And if the adoption fails, the state doesn't have to give it
back - in fact, they can place the child again and collect another
bounty, as long as they exceed the baseline. This creates both an
incentive for needless terminations of parental rights, and an incentive
for quick-and-dirty, slipshod placements. Looking at a statewide
average, foster care continues to be widely misused and overused in
Florida. I can tell you that in your region, and especially in Pinellas
County, things almost certainly are worse now."*

The Snitch System of “Mandated Reporters”

From: http://www.childwelfare.gov/

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

Specifies individuals, typically by professional groups, who are required to report suspected child maltreatment.

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws

Specifies individuals, typically by professional groups, who are required to report suspected child maltreatment. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included.

The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect

This manual, designed to examine the roles that teachers, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, special education professionals, administrators, and other school personnel have in helping maltreated children, provides the basis for the involvement of educators in combating the problem of child abuse and neglect. It also may be used by other professionals involved in child abuse and neglect interventions, such as child protective services, mental health, law enforcement, health care, and early childhood professionals, to gain a better understanding of the role of educators in child protection. Specifically, this manual addresses the following topics: Identifying reasons why educators ...

School-Based Child Maltreatment Programs: Synthesis of Lessons Learned

The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect awarded several grants during Fiscal Year 1997 to programs that utilized school resources for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The three-year demonstration projects focused on collaboration between child protection agencies and school systems; education for parents, teachers, and children about child abuse and neglect; and the involvement of school staff in prevention and intervention. This report summarizes the service approaches and lessons learned by 11 demonstration programs as noted in their final reports. The projects found that training was effective in enhancing knowledge about the signs of child abuse ...

The Role of Law Enforcement in the Response to Child Abuse and Neglect

This manual was designed to train State and local law enforcement officials for intervention in and investigation of child abuse and neglect cases. It explains the rules of law enforcement, the nature of team investigations, the investigative process, relationships with other disciplines, interview techniques, and specialized types of investigations. Topics include risk assessment, removal from home, interviewing tools, cross-cultural investigations, foster care, investigation of child deaths, monitoring telephone or personal conversations, polygraph evaluations, and arrest issues. A glossary of terms and a selected bibliography are provided. 1 figure and 54 notes.

The Role of Mental Health Professionals in the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect

This manual provides mental health professionals with a knowledge base about preventing and treating child abuse and neglect and helps them understand their roles and responsibilities in this area. Sections provide information on mental health disciplines and child abuse intervention; identify the roles of the mental health professional who works with maltreated children and their families, including preventing abuse on a primary and secondary level, providing tertiary intervention services, evaluating and treating children and their families, serving as an advocate and source of information, acting as an educator, helping clients prepare for testifying in court, being a consultant to county ...

Immunity for Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

In order for States to be eligible to receive Federal grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), they are required to establish provisions for immunity from liability for individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect. The term "good faith" refers to the assumption that the reporter, to the best of his or her knowledge, had reason to believe that the child in question was being subjected to abuse or neglect. Even if the allegations made in the report cannot be fully substantiated, the reporter is still provided with immunity.

Immunity for Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws

In order for States to be eligible to receive Federal grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), they are required to establish provisions for immunity from liability for individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect. The term "good faith" refers to the assumption that the reporter, to the best of his or her knowledge, had reason to believe that the child in question was being subjected to abuse or neglect. Even if the allegations made in the report cannot be fully substantiated, the reporter is still provided with immunity. ...

Penalties for Failure to Report and False Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

Penalties that States may impose on mandatory reporters who fail to report, or on any person who makes a false report.

Penalties for Failure to Report and False Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws

Penalties that States may impose on mandatory reporters who fail to report, or on any person who makes a false report. Summaries of laws for all States and US territories are included.

The following is from http://www.massoutrage.com

Dirty Trick No. Nine
The DSS has a network of "mandated reporters" everywhere your child is, to snitch on you. All helping professionals are required to report you to DSS if they suspect abuse; The people you think will help you will now betray you.

Everyone is a Snitch-
Who Can You Talk To?

One of the scariest DSS dirty tricks is a vast Soviet Style snitch network which they have set up all over the state, with the force of law, to report you to the authorities. This network is made up of ALL teachers, doctors, nurses, counselors, therapists, police officers, dentists, chiropractors, day care workers, school counselors, etc. These people must report any suspected "abuse", or be prosecuted and fined. They cannot be prosecuted for making a false report, unless it is frivolous. See Mass. Gen Laws Chapter 119, Section 51A.

All these people, called "mandated reporters", have been endlessly taught the importance of reporting. All their professional seminars, their whole culture, demands that they report, just in case. When in doubt, they report. Then, if there really is abuse, they won't get in trouble. Thus, the DSS has a seamless web of snoops and spies just about everywhere a child is likely to be.

Even Your Child is a Snitch

Even worse, you are no longer safe from the DSS police in your own home. They have also found a way to turn your own child against you. At the government (public) school, children are given the DSS phone number, and are taught to report things they see in the home to the authorities, like corporal punishment, drug use, and even family arguments They break down children's respect for their parents, and foster a submission to the state.

What they don't tell a child is that if he reports his parents to DSS, he may destroy his whole family forever. The child may be mad about getting disciplined, so he'll get even by siccing DSS on them. Then, they take that child, and all the other ones, too, just in case. DSS didn't tell the child that it would happen that way, but now it's too late, just like Judas.

You Thought You Were Getting Help

When you go to a counselor to get help, when you take Johnny to the emergency room if he falls off his bike, or when you talk to his school counselor, watch out. You are now a suspect. The person to whom you turned for help is likely your enemy, and may turn you in. You may go for help, and end up losing your kids. You need to think differently about how to get help. Of course, never ask the DSS for help. Many people do, and lose their kids.

Where Can You Go?

Who can you go to? Only two types of professionals cannot be made to divulge what you tell them, clergy and lawyers. Both are a little shaky, either due to fear of DSS, or because they agree with the doctrine of state control of families.

Clergy have a privilege not to report, or to testify about what you say to them. Lawyers have an even more ironclad privilege, called "attorney-client privilege". Many lawyers, however, wanting to curry favor with DSS, will actually betray their client's confidences. So, find a clergyman or a lawyer who hates DSS, and tell him your problems. That clergyman or lawyer may be able to help you find a medical professional who hates DSS enough to not report if your child has been hurt.

Solve Half of Your Snitch Problem
With This One Action

The other thing you MUST do is get your children out of the government (public) school. It is the major pipeline from DSS to your child. DSS takes children right out of school when they can coerce them into making "disclosures", and they don't come home that day. Sometimes DSS doesn't even tell the parents, and when mom comes to pick up the child at the bus stop, there is no child, and no one knows why. Needless to say, the parents are frantic, until they finally figure out what happened.

If you send your kids to a government school, you are sending them to your enemy to be educated. They will be taught to hate you and your values, and to sell you out. Get them out, before it's too late. This is the principle of "staying under the radar", which we review in detail in the "Fight Back" section.

top

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. This fact sheet lists general signs that may signal the presence of child abuse. It also includes signs associated with specific types of abuse such as physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment.

A.                Snitch System

1.           The system as the thought police

2.           Social workers outrageously make hotline calls of child abuse

for each other

3.           Compelling by law to snitch – this is not right!

4.           Those who are compelled by law to snitch = “mandated reporters”

B.              Secret Police

1.           Investigation process

a.         Group experiences & advice

2.           Interrogations (questioning)

a.         Group experiences & advice

3.           The truth about “serve & protect” and “public servants (government workers)”

a.         Group experiences & advice

4.           Self-appointed demi-Gods that cannot be wrong & why

C.              Guilty as charged!  Even though “proven” innocent = for all parents of any kind

1.           To make a case, the system tramples on our rights.  Nothing in lying, falsification of records, fabrications, ripping children from loving arms is beyond the system in the lack of values.

a.         Group experiences & advice

2.           The child abuse accusation is put forth first and the children removed.  Then, the case is made against the parents:  After-the-fact.

a.         What else can they do when it is a false accusation?

·           Group experiences & advice

3.           You are placed on the Central Registry no matter what.  Please see: http://rscraps.com

D.              Look out for “support” entities

1.           Your area Foster Parents Association

2.           Peace Centers for visitations

3.           Sexually-abused Kids “Summer Counseling Camps”

4.           Group experiences & advice

Amazon.com: Social Service Gestapo: How the Government Can Legally Abduct Your Child (Salt Series): Books: Janson Kauser READ THIS REVIEW SHE WAS A JUDGE !! YIKES 

From:  Child Welfare Information Gateway  http://www.childwelfare.gov

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect
State Statutes Series

Current Through January 2008

You may wish to review this introductory text to better understand the information contained in your State's statute. To see how your State addresses this issue, visit the State Statutes Search.

All States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands have statutes identifying persons who are required to report child maltreatment under specific circumstances.

Professionals Required to Report

Approximately 48 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands designate professions whose members are mandated by law to report child maltreatment.¹ Individuals designated as mandatory reporters typically have frequent contact with children. Such individuals may include:

       Social workers

       Teachers and other school personnel

       Physicians and other health-care workers

       Mental health professionals

       Childcare providers

       Medical examiners or coroners

       Law enforcement officers

Some other professions frequently mandated across the States include commercial film or photograph processors (in 11 States, Guam, and Puerto Rico), substance abuse counselors (in 13 States), and probation or parole officers (in 15 States).² Six States (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, and South Dakota) include domestic violence workers on the list of mandated reporters. Court-appointed special advocates are mandatory reporters in seven States (Arkansas, California, Maine, Montana, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Members of the clergy now are required to report in 26 States.³

Reporting by Other Persons

In approximately 18 States and Puerto Rico, any person who suspects child abuse or neglect is required to report. Of these 18 States, 16 States and Puerto Rico specify certain professionals who must report but also require all persons to report suspected abuse or neglect, regardless of profession.⁴ New Jersey and Wyoming require all persons to report without specifying any professions. In all other States, territories, and the District of Columbia, any person is permitted to report. These voluntary reporters of abuse are often referred to as "permissive reporters."

Standards for Making a Report

The circumstances under which a mandatory reporter must make a report vary from State to State. Typically, a report must be made when the reporter, in his or her official capacity, suspects or has reasons to believe that a child has been abused or neglected. Another standard frequently used is when the reporter has knowledge of, or observes a child being subjected to, conditions that would reasonably result in harm to the child. Permissive reporters follow the same standards when electing to make a report.

Privileged Communications

Mandatory reporting statutes also may specify when a communication is privileged. "Privileged communications" is the statutory recognition of the right to maintain confidential communications between professionals and their clients, patients, or congregants. To enable States to provide protection to maltreated children, the reporting laws in most States and territories restrict this privilege for mandated reporters. All but four States and Puerto Rico currently address the issue of privileged communications within their reporting laws, either affirming the privilege or denying it (i.e., not allowing privilege to be grounds for failing to report).⁵ For instance:

       The physician-patient and husband-wife privileges are the most common to be denied by States.

       The attorney-client privilege is most commonly affirmed.

       The clergy-penitent privilege is also widely affirmed, although that privilege is usually limited to confessional communications and, in some States, is denied altogether.