Ensure Saftey of Foster Children- keep america's familie's together

Note: The term child or children in this column refer to a human less than 18 years of age.

Every child deserves to be loved, to live happily with their family in home free of fear, abuse, and neglect (this should be inclusive of foster "homes".) However, due to failure to protect by CPS, abuse occurs far more often in foster care.

"Removing children from their homes can be detrimental. Children in foster homes are three times more likely to be physically abused. The rate is 10 times higher in group homes. Children in group homes are 28 percent more likely than children in the general populace to experience sexual abuse."

"It has become undeniable that despite many saintly foster parents, the government makes a poor parent. The research shows unequivocally that CPS should be loathe to remove kids from their homes because, in most cases, there is nowhere better to put them." http://kidjacked.com/states.asp?st=Oregon,

*Statistics of Oregon foster children in the year 2008:

Total children living in the state of Oregon: 862,908

Total number of children living in foster care: 10,661

Total number of children who are victims of abuse and neglect: 12,927

Total estimated number of foster children physically abused by foster care: 3,553

Total number of child deaths: 404

Total estimated number of foster child deaths: 5

In Oregon (year 2008) for nearly every 81 living children, 1 of those children was living in a foster home.

In Oregon (year 2008) for nearly every 66 living children in the general population, 1 of those children where reportedly abused or neglected.

In Oregon (year 2008) for nearly every 3 living children in foster care, 1 of those children where reportedly abused or neglected.

In Oregon (year 2008) for nearly every 81 child deaths, 1 of those children was a foster child.

http://www.fixcas.com/scholar/fatal.htm


Proposed solutions to this are:

[1] Children in out-of-home or foster care placement need to be followed up on twice a week unexpectedly (i.e. in unset days, and unset times each foster home will be subject to quick, reasonable evaluations).

a] This means the sate official/Child Welfare worker will perform a walkthrough of living facilities and have immediate view of each and every room, including but not limited to a view of any out facilities (i.e. garage, on-site storage facilities, etc.).

• This should take no less than ten minutes.
  
  
• This does not mean that the sate official/Child Welfare worker will spend an hour or more inspecting little details.
  
  
• If the housing facilities are deemed unfit, a 24-hour notice to correct will need to be issued and followed up on; if not corrected in 24 hours, the child(ren) in the facility will be placed elsewhere.

b] Each child assigned to the foster care, must be present, accounted for, and fully visible to the sate official/Child Welfare worker.

• If the child(ren) is deemed to be in poor health and condition, the child(ren) in the facility will be immediately placed elsewhere.

Reasoning: 

• To ensure safety of living quarters.
  
  
• To ensure that no out facility is being utilized for maltreatment of the child inhabitants of said out-of-home care facility.
  
  
•  To ensure children are of good health and condition.
  

[2] If any cognizant person is in question of the safety of afore mentioned child(ren) whom are in out-of-home or foster care placement, a "wellness check" for the child will be scheduled within 4 hours and completed within 24 hours.

a] To constitute as question of safety,

• Any cognizant person must identify the safety concern with whom ever is currently the child(ren)'s advocate, a child welfare worker/agency, a CASA representative/agency, and or any branch of law enforcement.

b] A "wellness check" will be a physical examination by the child(ren)'s physician or hospital emergency room staff. The sate official/Child Welfare worker will call the child(ren)'s physician to schedule an appointment to assess abuse/neglect and make record of any and all, injuries present on the child.

• If the primary care physician is unable to see the child(ren) within a 24-hour period, the child(ren) will be taken immediately to a hospital emergency room, or other urgent care facility.
  
  
• If child(ren) is of age to speak, they will be able give testimony to their physician in a confidential setting.
  
  
• If child(ren) is not of age to speak, burns of any sort, with the exception of extremely mild sunburns, will constitute abuse/neglect. In addition, any bruising to any region of the head/neck will constitute abuse/neglect. All other current standards of abuse/neglect will apply.
  
  
• The parents of the child(ren) are to be mailed a copy of this medical record, and receive it no more than six days following the wellness check.

c] If the wellness check determines that there are signs of abuse, all of the foster children belonging to that household will need immediately redirected to a different home.

Reasoning: 

• To ensure children are of good health and condition, and are not being abused/neglected.
  

[3] If the afore mentioned child(ren) whom are in out-of-home or foster care placement are determined to be either abused or neglected, the person(s) in care of the child(ren) will be subject to a criminal investigation.

a] If the person(s) is criminally charged, all crimes will be deemed a measure 11 offence and will not be provided the option of a downward, or double downward departure.

Reasoning: 

• The person(s) in position of caring for said child(ren) must be held at a higher standard.
  
  
• The person(s) have offered themselves as a safe heaven for the child(ren)
  
  
• The person(s) have been educated and certified for the responsibility of caring for children, and vowed to do so.