DHS - GIVE US BACK OUR CHILDREN!

FACT:  The State of Oregon has the highest rate of child removal in the country.FACT:  Over 13 thousand of Oregon's children experienced foster care in 2010.FACT:  DHS workers receive a $4,000 to $6,000 bonus for every child they place up for adoption.FACT:  Poor parents are being discriminated against on the basis of poverty, yet, DHS fails to provide these families with sufficient housing, child care services, and employment / unemployment assistance.  They become targets to lose their children because they do not have the funds to hire an attorney that will work for them. FACT:  Thousands of Oregon families are struggling to remove their children from Child Protective Services. FACT:  DHS Child Protective Services does not require a court order in order to come into your home and remove your children. FACT:  Juvenile / Family court proceedings by DHS CPS in Oregon are NOT open to the public for investigation.FACT:  Confidentiality and Secrecy in family court serves to protect DHS Case Workers and The Agency and provide immunity.FACT:  During at least one investigation in 2011, a DHS Caseworker in Oregon fabricated information regarding the Legal Parent's mental health status, without pertinent medical information on two occasions. FACT:  30% of children in foster care could be home right now if their parents had adequate housing.FACT:  More children than not in foster care are on psychotropic drugs and in therapy as a result of separation from their parents.FACT:  Children in foster care are 6 times more likely to die than in the care of their parents. 
We, the undersigned Support the Following:
The immediate return of children to families where there is no immediate danger present. 
Control of The Agency's right to speak to children alone in public school, to take children from public school or from the school bus in order to avoid the parents, and to require a warrant for DHS to remove children from family homes.
Open Juvenile Court proceedings involving DHS  so that reporters and the public may view these cases.
DHS doing their job of protecting children from cases of REAL abuse and harm, rather than harassing and separating loving families.
DHS being required to work within the LAW.  If a parent is not accused of a crime, DHS should not be allowed to seize their children. 
DHS providing single parents with financial assistance, food and clothing assistance, housing, child care day or night, adolescent drug and alcohol treatment on demand, legal assistance, and other help as required and/or requested by single parents. 
The end discrimination by the agency on the basis of race, poverty, age, disability, religion or lack thereof, and sexual preference. 
The agency forcing single parents to choose between homelessness and staying in a relationship with a partner who is unfit.  Either way the parents lose custody and the children are hurt. 
Increased accountability by DHS caseworkers with regards to treating families with respect rather than harassment, threats, and arrogance. 
The end of bonuses and incentives to the agency, juvenile court judges, DHS / Child Protective Service workers for foster care placement and adoption.