RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
pdxmimi's comments:
on Sealing the Cracks in Foster Care
I've wondered the same things....community "policing" of families; a facility run like a hospital with 24 hour support staff for family. Why do some situations get immediate attention and some don't? I hate to keep saying this but politics plays an enormous role! (Families of police officers don't get the same scrutiny as a person with a lower socioeconomic status who are less likely to be able to stand up to an intimidating interview or when extremely exceptional circumstances occur as the family whose baby tipped over while sitting on the floor and ended up with a major head injury due to her larger than usual head-later exonerated by expert witnesses!) And I'm sorry to say this, but a person assigned to be an investigator of child abuse/neglect certainly becomes jaded! How could they not?! They see it all, some more gruesome than others. Of course every call they get has some merit, some just have more than others.
Why haven't any CASA's commented? It would be nice to hear from one of them. It's hearsay, but I've been told that they have reported abuse of authority of CW workers both ways-keeping kids in care and releasing kids from care. Sad and unfortunate and furstrating!
I recently sent an email to a worker, which was ignored or at least not responded to, asking the exact question you asked. How many kids have been in care over the years? How many are in care now? How many children are assigned to a worker? Does a worker with a complicated case have the same number of cases and/or kids? How does a worker get a case? Are there "levels" of workers? What is the trend? Why? Who do the workers and the agency itself actually report to? Is there a citizen board who has the right to intervene when a rotting fish is smelled? If so or if not, who has the authority to intevene without going into massive debt?! Not politically correct, but it would be much easier if there were rules for reproducing.........
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Sealing the Cracks in Foster Care
@dgmaldridge....thank you. I am in Clark county, the child is not in Multnomah...sad. I have been looking at the Oregon DHS site a lot today and printed a lot. As humans, we all have a vested intrest in keeping our children safe and healthy. WA workers told me they have 60 days to have the study complete. Is that WA law, OR law or federal law? It never occured to me to ask and further more, I don't believe it truly matters, the time issue. Politics are obviously a big part of this, sadly, not the welfare of the child. I appreciate your information but I feel like my situation is about the presiding (?) worker being right and not the good of the child. The worker told us the child has PTSD. Of course the child does! The child trusted a policeman in uniform (including bullet proof vest) and a stranger to record her story in her home. When they were done, they took her away from her family and her home! The child crys and wants to go home after each visit. It doesn't take a psychologist to diagnose this! Is the child being treated for it I asked, and I got a long pause then,"well yes" reply from the worker. Can you understand how that would make a very involved, concerned family member suspicious? I am not a parent so the childs right to privacy has been well protected and I have been "metered" out information. Also, none of the members of the family in the home have been accused or charged for any thing! And the local police and sheriff admit no ongoing investigations. How do I find out why this is continuing?! I heard the childs interview and something CLEARLY happened, but the fact remains, no one is being charged,no one blamed!
@sunshineriver..thank you too!In my past, when I had foster kids, I had a very young child who could not or would not attach to any one. I have wondered through the years what has become of her and hoped all good things. That childs circumstances were much more dire than the one I am involved in now. I am blessed to have a brother who is a psychologist phD who shares his expertise with me when I need or want it. As a caring individual, I will return to foster parenting with a different perspective of foster parenting. I have become a nurse since those days 20 years ago and see the world through more mature eyes. Strange things we are asked to do: take in a strangers (often damaged) kids, love them, house them, see to their every need BUT, the ever present but, don't attach to them. It doesn't make sense from any point of view. No wonder kids of foster care have been known to have long term problems.
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Sealing the Cracks in Foster Care
TG- Appreciate your insight! I've not had any experience with 2 sides of the house, but clearly see CW as you do. I have perceived the same elitist attitudes in the court room (it comes across as them being too busy or to important to answer questions, etc.). I wonder if it is a diguise for some form of fear? I'm not sure what the fear would be, however. The workers on the "side of the child" appear to have a LOT of authority, including the authority to treat with disrespect, family members who have nothing to do with any ongoing investigation or allegations. Their (DHS workers) accountability is protected by their obligation to protect the privacy of their clients. Agree that's necessary, but when I have questions about the case, I can't get answers since I'm not directly involved. Poor communication has been a problem from the beginning of our interactions with them.....and yes yes yes who is right vs WHAT is right has been the TOTAL focus since the get go. And a DHS worker (investigator?) in an apparent romantic relationship with an investigating POLICE officer presents itself as a perfect arrangement to accuse, harrass, and intimidate members of the community and smells of something on the side of unethical. The community is historically poor so legal action to correct this conduct would only happen if some outrageous action took place. And, although I am not part of the community where the alleged events took place, I frequent it occasionally, and would be distressed if I ever needed the aid of law enforcement while visiting.
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Sealing the Cracks in Foster Care
I have a family member in DHS custody. It has been one of the most painful, ongoing events in MY life. I can't imagine what it's like for her. One of the most frustrating parts of this is that I live in SW WA. Although this child has lived with me in the past, DHS has treated me as though I am from Mars. I have been a foster parent in the past and am qualified to care for this child. I have no criminal history. However, because I live in WA and 90 miles away from her mother, I am the last one being considered. Anyone else in a similar situation? The wheels of DHS progress roll painfully slow. My perception is that the focus of this "event" is on finding a perpetrator and prosecuting that person rather than rehabilitating the child and aiding the parent in improving as a parent. Family relationships with the child built over the years are slowly being eroded. This is not fair to any parties involved, especially the child. Communications with the birth parents by DHS are sparse, at best and extremely controlling. For example,the parent has been directed to take parenting classes, but no syllabi or requirements given, yet the parent was directed to a specific "teacher". Anybody been "here"? Please, please, please share your experiences! What you did to remedy a similar situation!
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Meth Laws: Five Years Later
Reiterated by Michael Pollack! The need to be noticed, important, adored or worshipped. I've often wondered why the street value was covered by the news, or actually, why is it even broadcast as news? It definitely glamorizes and reinforces the wacky subculture of drug abuse. Nicely stated Raoul!
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Meth Laws: Five Years Later
Totally agree! (I've never seen someone high behaving violently!)
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
on Meth Laws: Five Years Later
Gateway drugs? Well, if you read brain research, you'd find that food could be considered a gateway drug. Supersize Me had it's own point to make, but it identified research current at the time that showed how opiate receptors respond to foods in a fashion similar to "drugs". McDonalds as a gateway drug?! If you take it to the next step, how about tobacco- smoking cigarettes, which (again) research has identified has been altered to act on these regions of the brain to cause addiction; a little relaxed, a little up. Ok, now, let's add some "energy drink" to the mix....Now, it's 10 o'clock at night and it's time to sleep...better have a cocktail. If a person has any sort of issue (predisposition to addictions, exposure to high stress) and/or this is the lifestyle they live and know (parent/guardian examples), it is nearly inevitable. By being one in these perfect storm circumstances, it makes me sad to think of the possibilities. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal and still so socially acceptable. And, I agree, education (which is another topic for TOL) is critical to help prevent some of this.
posted 2 years, 3 months ago
view in context
