Patrick Smith was born with drugs in his body and, just 18 months later, died with drugs in his body. His mother, Donna Rose Smith, has been charged with murder and child abuse, but her history with Arizona’s Child Protective Services (CPS) shows that the state may have failed to protect Patrick as well. The […]
Michael Nash, chief presiding judge of Los Angeles County’s children’s court, ruled earlier this year that all children’s court hearings must be open to the public–a ruling that has proven to be divisive. Kelli Kennedy of the Associated Press reports: When a child is abused or neglected, there’s a family court hearing to discuss the […]
Los Angeles county officials are admitting that a “crisis” has developed in an office building used to house difficult-to-place foster children. The admission comes nearly a year after a social worker went public with concerns about unsafe conditions at the location. The Los Angeles Times reports: Supervisor Gloria Molina said the office near MacArthur Park, […]
Terry Sturgis, 36, is on trial for murdering his 10-year-old son Tramelle and abusing his two other children. Testimony from staff at Tramelle’s school reveals that Indiana’s Department of Child Services (DCS) missed an opportunity to potentially save Tramelle and his siblings from their abusive father. The South Bend Tribune reports: [Teacher] Brynne Scalon testified […]
A child abuse case in Iowa is raising serious questions about the actions of both the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and the judge presiding over the case. Namely, did the actions of the DHS and the judge allow two young girls to be sexually abused by their own father? An op-ed by Rekha […]
One day after taking her last hit of methamphetamine, Linn Thomas gave birth to a baby boy. Just days later, Oregon’s Department of Human Services took custody of him. The World reports: That moment would change her life forever. She had experienced a lot of hurt and betrayal in her young life, but never a […]
California Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed change to a California state law extending foster care to age 21–officially known as THP-Plus Foster Care–could leave thousands of young adults without appropriate housing, say experts. The change would allow counties to decide if they want to implement a transitional housing program designed for foster youth turning 18 who […]
An alarming investigative report indicates ongoing problems in Washington’s Child Protective Services (CPS) system. The report alleges that CPS has failed to act in multiple cases that ended with children dying of abuse or neglect. Seattle’s KOMO News reports: We reviewed over 700 child death reports from 2002 through 2010. During that time, at least […]
Farrah Frye had wanted to be a mother for years. She finally made that dream a reality eight months ago, though her new family isn’t what one might expect. The Gazette of Colorado Springs reports: Frye and her husband Matthew took in four foster children — a boy and his three sisters — who are […]
By the time Desiree Parker turned 21 years old, she had already overcome more challenges than many adults. She entered foster care as a four-year-old with her three siblings after her young parents proved incapable of supporting them, but the obstacles didn’t end there. The La Crosse Tribune reports: Finding a home willing to take […]
