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I have too much experience with foster care in Oregon, and California. I would love to become a foster parent, but due to false allegations and a 'corrupt' system of DHS here, that will probably be impossible. My 4 children are currently in 4 separate locations in foster care because it is in "their best interests" according to DHS here in Klamath Falls, Oregon. (They were removed for alleged neglect and alleged abuse. This was never proven. My children have been abused in state custody. My son, at three, was almost killed by a foster provider. My daughter, now 13, has been in over 11 placements in the past 4 1/2 years. Where is the permanency? She was taken from us most recently because of alleged mental abuse from a haircut, that she started.) I believe it is in DHS's best interests to keep my children separated. (They are state mandated to try to keep children together? Not the case with my children. They refuse to ever put them together again.) Certainly, there is a problem. But, the problem isn't funding in the way of not enough. It is funding in the way of mishandling and misstating purpose of use. They are paid to remove children. There is not enough accountability on the part of DHS when it comes to 'investigations and removals'. I believe we need to have the policies for DHS structured closer to the Constitution of the United States (4th and 14th amendments) and less on political and personal interests of those serving as employees of the agency. There was no investigation before our children were taken. I thought this was a country of innocent until proven guilty. This is certainly not the case when it comes to Child Welfare-DHS. The court cases need to be moved to the criminal courts so that innocent parents who are accused, can be heard properly instead of slandered in the eyes of the public. The juvenile justice system offers no proper justice for families that have had children removed. The courts are too lax in the rules of evidence for anyone to have a proper hearing. I have seen too many properly cared for children removed from their parents, while others needing to be taken are left to fend for themselves. I think that foster care is a good thing when children who actually need it are receiving the services, not children who don't. Definitely, we need to have some serious revisions in the way that things are done. Immunities need to stop for those who take children just because they can and they need to be held accountable. Kidnapping is not legal, but for Child Welfare it is. Too much money is being given for a supposed epidemic of abuse on Oregon's children. The money doesn't go to the foster families, but instead into the pockets of state employees. The epidemic is not abuse of children, but rather an abuse of power by the hands of DHS. Save Oregon's families and change the system. Money does not solve all problems.

posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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