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HERE IS WHY CPS INVOKES THE PRIVACY LAWS!!!
Doctors And A
State Case Worker Who Failed To Diagnose 5-Month-Old Condition A boy allegedly killed by his mother and thought
to have not received medical attention following a beating, was actually seen by doctors and a state case worker who failed
to diagnose his condition. Domenique Astrid Conway, 25, is accused of killing her 5-month-old son after allegedly punching
him twice in the head on March 5.
The boy, Nathaniel Noel, was seen by a Child Protective Services caseworker and two different doctors in the four days
before he died. None of them realized the infant had a massive head injury, allegedly inflicted by his mother.
On March 6, a CPS caseworker visited Conway’s home on a routine check and saw an abrasion on Nathaniel's face.
“The worker noticed a little red blotch around the eye area and then an abrasion under the chin.”
At that time, Conway told the caseworker she was taking the child to a doctor for vaccinations that day. When she did take
the child to the doctor, no signs of abuse were reported by medical staff and he returned home with his mother. On March
7, Conway took the infant to St. Claire hospital in Lakewood. Doctors found no evidence of abuse and the boy returned home
with his mother.
On March 9, Nathaniel died from blunt force trauma inflicted to his head four days earlier, an autopsy revealed.
The boy’s father stated, he was upset that so many people failed to see his son’s injuries despite repeated opportunities
to save the boy’s life. Police said Conway never told medical staff or authorities her son might be injured. She
called 911 Sunday night and said her baby was unconscious. When authorities arrived, the baby was dead. Conway was charged
with second-degree murder.
Bill to Lift CPS Secrecy Foiled Again!!
State Rep., has been beat up in the media on occasion, but
that hasn't stopped him from recognizing how good journalism and transparent public records can expose government failings
and lead officials to make important changes in how business is done. You can help Paton advance the causes of good
government and strong journalism by actively supporting HB 2454, a bill that would lift the secrecy that shrouds Child Protective
Services like a cast-iron curtain.
Last year, Paton joined a lawsuit by The Arizona Republic and other media to force CPS to release all records on the
deaths in Tucson of Ariana and Tyler Payne and Brandon Williams. The siblings' father is charged in their deaths, Williams'
mother in his. They were the first three of six southern Arizona children to die over 12 months while their families were
under CPS's watch. What the records revealed was how poorly CPS performed its duty of protecting those children. Court
orders were ignored. Policies were inadequate or not followed. Communication and cooperation with law enforcement was lacking.
Paton and Rep. Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, convened open hearings last fall at the Legislature on the deaths of Williams and
the Payne siblings. What they learned helped them develop a package of bills, including HB 2454, aimed at reforming CPS.
HB 2454 requires CPS to promptly release its records on any child killed or severely injured through abuse or neglect.
It was moving along smoothly until last week. On March 6, Rep. Linda Lopez, a Tucson Democrat, proposed to amend the
bill to require the release of only limited information - the name of the child, the name of the alleged perpetrator, prior
reports of abuse by the accused and how CPS responded to the death or near-death.
Paton was outraged, not surprisingly, and said Lopez's amendment would have done worse than gut the bill. "It actually
goes even further in restricting the information that we have now," he said. That's right. Arizona law already requires
CPS to provide in cases of fatalities or near-fatalities a summary that includes more information than allowed by Lopez's
amendment. The amendment was contrary to Paton's and Adams' intent of creating a more open CPS. Lopez said in
a phone interview Thursday that her concern is the privacy of other children in the household and other adults not involved
in the abuse or neglect of the child.
"I've never wanted to protect CPS. My goal was always to protect the privacy of those people I felt should not be invaded
by the press," she said. Lopez got pistol-whipped (rhetorically, of course) by The Arizona Republic, accused of acting
as "CPS muscle" on the bill. Lopez has spent her professional life working on the behalf of children and families and
has been a foster mom to 44 children. So, I won't impugn her motives, even as I agree with Paton that her amendment
would prevent crucial information from coming to public light.
Paton noted that if Lopez's restrictions had been in place a year ago, "We never would have known, for example, that
CPS couldn't find Brandon Williams because law enforcement never communicated with them (until after his death). We never
would have known that CPS never bothered to look into the custody rights of the father (in the case of the Payne kids). We
never would have learned that Jamie Hallam (the Paynes' mother) was suspected of drug use and (CPS) basically let her slide
through the system.
"We wouldn't have known any of those things. And the result of that information was in the bills we presented . .
. Those changes, in my opinion, are going to save children's lives. Not all of them, but they are going to fix some of the
problems we've encountered."
CPS was quick in responding to media reports about its failures with new policies or enforcement
of old ones, Paton said.
In other words, scrutiny brought results. When the steam stopped coming out of Paton's ears last week, he agreed
to meet with the interested parties, including Lopez, on Monday. A second meeting with Gov. Janet Napolitano followed Wednesday
and a substitute amendment was discussed. Lopez said the newly drafted amendment, which allows for the release of records
vetted by CPS for privacy issues and by the county attorney for protection of the criminal investigation, addresses her concerns.
Paton said it still gives government officials too much power to deny the release of records but he believes a resolution
is close.
Paton said he expects the full House will vote on the bill early next week. If the bill passes, as he also expects,
the process starts over again in the Senate. Nothing is ever a sure thing in the Legislature. If you care about this
issue, call your representatives and senators, on the state's dime at 800-352-8404, and tell them to keep the bill moving
and to keep intact its intent of creating a CPS that is transparent and accountable. The lives of abused Arizona children
may depend on it.
Graduated From
Angelina County Drug Court Shared Her Story Having overcome a nightmarish past of sexual abuse, tragic death
and drug abuse, a Lufkin mother who recently graduated from Angelina County Drug Court shared her story with a group of women
in jail Friday afternoon. Her hope, she said, was to inspire others that they too can make it. "You can't regret your
past. You have to accept it and move on," said Beth Fetzer to five women who are all serving jail time for various offenses.
Dressed in orange jail garb, the women sat attentively as Fetzer told her story during the group's weekly Alcoholics Anonymous
12-Step Program meeting. Fetzer recalled being molested by her step-father from the time she was 9 years old until she
got pregnant with his child at 13. Her parents, she said, had sat her down several years before to tell her they couldn't
have children together and that she would be having a baby.
The year she got pregnant, she quit school. A year later she started working. When Fetzer turned 18, she gave birth to
her second son. It was also the same year her parents introduced her to methamphetamine. "I did it a couple times with
them." At 21, Fetzer had reached her wits end and wanted out. "I called the law and told them what had been
going on." Both of her parents were punished. Her dad is serving a 25-year prison sentence and her mom has since been
released from her 10-year probation sentence. "My mom has completely turned her life around. I can forgive her now,"
she told the group.
But that's only the beginning of Fetzer's story. In years that followed, Fetzer's drug use became heavier. She began
dating a man and gave birth to two children — both of whom she lost in their infancy. She temporarily lost custody of
her two older children to Child Protective Services and then lost them forever a few days before they would have come home.
They died in a house fire of a foster family caring for them.
Her life continued to spiral out of control. Her husband went to prison, she gave birth to a baby girl and then attempted
to get clean in a rehabilitation program. Her husband was released from prison and they continued to use meth together. When
CPS took her daughter away, Fetzer said she was determined to stay clean. "I had made up my mind when they took my little
girl." She entered drug court, which she credits for her sobriety, and began attending a church sobriety program in
Huntington called The Most Excellent Way,
Drug court provided the "family I never had", Fetzer said. Five months into the program, she regained custody of
her daughter. And a year after being in the program with no slip-ups, Fetzer graduated Thursday night in front of family,
friends and peers at a dinner-catered ceremony at the Disabled American Veteran's Lodge in Lufkin. "I've never graduated
from anything so it was real exciting to have a graduation," said the 29-year-old, who is earning her GED and has plans to
attend college soon.
Fetzer and her husband, who didn't go through the drug court program, have been sober for a year and are planning to
purchase a house soon. Fetzer said she hopes to earn a degree in drug and alcohol abuse counseling or grief counseling
so she can give back to the community.
Tips for Managing Parental Alienation
Interventions for PA/PAS start with self-care: being in the
present, authentic and having gratitude. Success requires goals of leading a full, balanced and accountable life, and staying
positive in seeing PA/PAS as time-limited stage. Though victimized, never be a victim of self pity; using evolving strategic
combinations of education, therapeutic interventions and court orders. Early intervention critical in mild/moderate cases:
20 tips for parents facing PA/PAS:
1. Have clearly established, parenting plan with rules of conduct, being proactive and consistent in keeping schedules
and avoiding transition of child stress if possible.
2. Use Court as arbiter of last resort; assume higher level of mutual parental moral responsibility and recognition that
it's about the children.
3. By helping children to find their voice in talking about problems, as all in family are accountable. Stand up to children's
bad behavior with emotional control, compassion, and gentle accountability, firm setting of boundaries and avoiding emotional
blackmail.
4. Talk with children in age appropriate ways about your feelings of how changes have happened in everybody's life in order
to achieve acceptance of those changes.
5. Find out about child's interest, ideas and imagination. Build child's self-esteem, while teaching/learning (and having
fun) is a mutual process.
6. Be knowledgeable about child's life, and staying involved in school and athletic/ hobbies/ cultural/artistic interests.
Volunteer in church, school, etc.
7. Develop support/informational relationship with people who can influence children's positive recognition of who you
are (including your parenting.)
8. Understand developmental stage of children and attachment needs/separation- normal anxiety issues complicates child's
approach-avoidance response to separation/attachment and independence/dependence.
9. Practice active/empathic and nonadversarial/nondefensive listening skills with children and others. Practice peacemaking
and finding solutions.
10. Recognition of your and ex's personality and character issues in repeating behavior patterns as well as what trigger's
psychological vulnerability and emotional responses, and calling "time out" if needed.
11. Hold other parent accountable in consistently documenting behavior and consulting with attorney (or be knowledgeable
Pro Se litigant) with option of court action always a possibility.
12. Use parenting coordinator, if necessary appointed by the court, with arbitration/mediation power.
13. Use therapist familiar with PA/PAS cases and legal process (many therapists will not be comfortable in at times directive,
and at times, authoritarian role).
14. Case management approach established to assure consistency in development and coordination of treatment plan with case
consultation between therapists providing individual and family therapy.
15. Individual therapy for parents emphasizing learning and taking responsibility for the individual/family problems in
past. Learning and practicing solution-focused communication and positive, active relational skills.
16. Mediation between the parents: avoiding children being triangulated into conflict as message carriers, confidants or
sword/shield/spy.
17. Provide independent communication if possible using cell phone, instant messaging, letters, and photographs of past
and present to reimplant memories. Magazine subscriptions, seasonal and holiday cards and presents/ remembrances of any occasion.
18. Encourage relationship with extended family members
19. Recognize and accept limitations in how relationship is expressed with limited or awkward affection and emotional withdrawal/outbursts.
20.
Never blame children. Never give up hope.
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Child Welfare Services Explains
Investigations into child mistreatment, including neglect and physical and
sexual abuse, skyrocketed in Montgomery County during January, as school and child-welfare workers reacted to the discovery
of four children’s corpses in the District, officials said. Montgomery Health and Human Services leaders told
a council panel Monday that they believe the spike stems from the case of Banita Jacks, who is accused of murdering her four
daughters after District Child and Family Services Agency employees failed to follow up on warnings of trouble in the family’s
Southeast home.
Child Welfare Services officials in Montgomery said the rate of new investigations
in January was up 40 percent over the average of the previous nine months. Officials said there was no corresponding spike
in actual incidents of abuse. “We feel it’s a direct response to what happened in D.C.,” Child Welfare
Services Director said. In Washington, the high-profile January
arrest spurred a fourfold increase in calls to the agency’s child protection hot line, a tripling of investigations
into child abuse and neglect, and a doubling of children removed from their homes. Montgomery did not see spikes in
children removed from their homes, but the number of children receiving in-home services in January did hit its highest point
— 215 cases — during the past nine months for which data were provided.
Leshner said Child Welfare Services has 10 vacant positions, including five
social worker spots, and that retention remains a problem for the county. “We’ve managed,” Leshner
said. “People are tired and feeling overwhelmed, but we haven’t had any resignations during the past month.”
Officials said a notable difference between the District and the affluent Maryland suburban jurisdiction is that Montgomery
employs an ombudsman whom teachers can ask to intervene in situations where they feel an allegation of abuse hasn’t
been taken seriously enough. “The problem that D.C. faces
are that services have been so disjointed for so long,” County Council member Duchy Trachtenberg said. “You had
people in the health department and the school system making the calls but still this happened. Here there is a clearer system
of checks and balances.”
Juvenile Correctional Officer Pepper Sprayed Her Two
Daughters, Aged 14 And 17, On Multiple Occasions As A Means Of Discipline The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating allegations that a 34-year-old mother, who works as
a juvenile correctional officer in the county probation division, repeatedly used pepper spray to discipline her own children.
Sgt. Manny Mendoza said that the mother allegedly pepper sprayed her two daughters, aged 14 and 17, on multiple occasions
as a means of discipline. The Desert Dispatch has withheld the woman's name because she has not been arrested for any crime.
Deputies responded to a Child Protective Services report of child abuse on
the 34000 block of Camino Real in Lenwood on Monday afternoon at 2:07 p.m. A third party had made the initial report to CPS
regarding the mother's use of pepper spray on her children. "It seems like for the past two years, they had been disciplined
that way." The children were taken into custody by CPS, and a report will be given to the District Attorney's Office.
The mother has not been arrested or charged in the case. Mendoza said that she may face child abuse charges, however.
"Depending on the circumstances of the case, once the child is out of danger,
there's no rush to arrest the parent." Due to laws mandating that in-custody defendants be arraigned within 48 hours,
deputies can conduct a more thorough investigation with the suspect out of custody.
The woman's employer was notified of the investigation, superintendent of
the High Desert Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center in Apple Valley, said the agency does not comment on the pending
investigation of an officer. She declined to comment on whether the woman had been suspended from her position. Detention
officers go through 40 hours of training a year, involving all aspects of their duties. The detention center's policy on the
use of pepper spray reserves it for self-defense situations.
"(Pepper spray) is used for defensive tactics only, and to prevent injuries."
The sheriff's investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call the sheriff's station at 256-4838. To remain anonymous,
call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.
Accused Persons' Rights Are Explained During The Visit?????
And How Funding Is Spent Child abuse and neglect cases typically begin with a phone call. The goal is to close those
cases by returning children to safe homes, preferably with their own families, according to the West Virginia Department of
Health and Human Resources. An average of about 140 child abuse and neglect referrals are accepted in Cabell County
each month, according to social services coordinator for DHHR Cabell district.
Smith said most referrals come by phone from a variety of sources, including
anonymous callers, neighbors, relatives, teachers, bus drivers, doctors and police officers or anyone who suspects neglect
or abuse can make referrals. Referrals are taken to an in-take supervisor at the department, and that supervisor decides whether
they meet the definition of abuse and neglect.
Once DHHR accepts a referral, the case is assigned to a worker, and a response
time is determined. Emergency situations must be addressed within two hours. Cases involving sexual abuse, bruises or other
injuries that aren't life threatening but whose evidence may disappear must be addressed within 72 hours, and less serious
cases are addressed within 14 days. Workers make an effort to see the child first, and the family afterward, in the
same day. The Child Protective Services process and accused persons' rights are explained during the visit, at which time
the accused can choose not to talk to CPS workers, but most cooperate.
Workers have up to 45 days to complete the investigation. During that time,
children, parents and anyone else aware of the allegation are interviewed. Within 24 hours of initially visiting the
child, the worker reports to a supervisor to discuss safety factors and the likelihood that the child will be in danger in
the near future. "At any moment, if there's imminent danger, then we contact the prosecuting attorney's office with
the information," said community services manager for the West Virginia Bureau for Children and Families in Cabell County.
In emergency situations, a request is made to remove the children immediately.
Brown said workers are first required to investigate and come up with a solution
before taking action, except in severe situations. "The majority of cases we don't know enough about, or the problems
haven't risen to a level that would allow us to take immediate and very strong action." Workers also conduct a second
home visit before closing the investigation. Cases determined to be high risk are opened for ongoing case management,
and evaluated every three months.
When cases go to court, parents often receive case plans developed by a multidisciplinary
team. Plans may include anything from requiring parents to get substance abuse help to applying for department benefits. The
plan is presented to the judge, and the family is linked to services.
Petitions also may be filed any time imminent danger is perceived or if have
parents aren't cooperating. The judge may order the child be removed, that parents comply with their plan, or that the case
be dismissed altogether. Cabell County Prosecutor said decisions to return children to their homes are not taken lightly.
"They are made only after thorough investigation." He said the goal in civil court is to reunify the family when
possible and safe.
There are sometimes varying opinions from professionals concerning the decision
to return children to homes. A team of attorneys, case workers, third party reviewers and others involved makes a recommendation.
The child also has a guardian ad litem to represent the child's best interests. Chief Circuit Judge said the decision
to return children to their former homes is up to the judge following recommendations.
"The court just tries to get all the information it possibly can and make
the right decision. The law requires we try to keep the family united if possible. Of course, in many occasions we actually
have to remove the children from the home,"
A Naked Two-Year-Old Was Found Wandering Down SR 933 Police arrest South Bend man after a naked two-year-old
was found wandering down SR 933. Saint Joe County Police arrested 26-year-old Glen DeCocker early Friday morning, on
preliminary charges of child neglect, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police were called
by a Speedway employee, who reported a naked two-year-old child walking along SR 933 around 10 o’clock Thursday night.
This was not the first time the police were called for the child. Earlier in the week another call was made from the Speedway
when employees saw the two-year-old walking around the parking lot. DeCocker told police his son just walked away from his
home, which is behind the Speedway.
Police arrested DeCocker after bringing his son back to his house. While at the home, police observed drugs in the house
and DeCocker was transported to the jail. The two-year-old and a one-year-old child are now both in the custody of their
mother.
Endangering A 2-Year-Old Child By Smoking Marijuana, Did Not Know Wednesday Night If The Child Was Tested For Drugs
Three people who were charged by Beaumont police with endangering a 2-year-old child by smoking marijuana in a parked car
with the child present could face jail time. Jasmine Johnson, 19; Germaine Joseph Jackson, 21; and James Anthony Carry,
20, all of Beaumont, were at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility Wednesday in lieu of $10,000 bond each. Jackson will
have to make an additional $250 bond on a charge of possession of marijuana.
Criminally, it's going to take legal research, expert medical opinion and a "roundtable discussion" before prosecutors
know what charges to pursue, Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Ed Shettle said over the phone Wednesday.
The police had not turned this case over to the DA's office Wednesday, but going by The Enterprise's explanation of the case,
Shettle said the office might pursue the charge of endangering a child, a state jail felony punishable by two years in jail
and a $10,000 fine. "It may be nothing more than (misdemeanor) possession of marijuana, but that would depend on how
the child was affected by it," he said. Police went to the Cardinal Square Apartments, 1280 Saxe St., at about 2:20
a.m. Tuesday to investigate complaints of a suspicious Lincoln Town Car with people sitting in it, the report stated.
The officer who showed up spotted a blue Lincoln full of smoke, some of which was billowing out of a slightly open window,
Beaumont police spokeswoman Crystal Holmes said. The officer tapped on the driver's window and smelled marijuana when
the door opened, Holmes said. After the officer got the three adults out of the car, he spotted a little boy asleep
in a child safety seat in the back seat, Holmes said. Johnson was identified as the toddler's mother, according to the police
report. The officer also found a baggie of marijuana, which was claimed by Jackson, according to the report.
The officer called EMS, and medical technicians said they felt the toddler, who was born in June 2005, was under the influence
of drugs. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital for observation, Holmes said. The toddler showed
no signs of abuse, malnutrition or wounds and was released to the custody of his grandmother, Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said over the phone Wednesday. Pulliam did not know Wednesday night if the child
was tested for drugs. "We have an open CPS case," Pulliam said. The agency could have asked a court to grant it
custody of the toddler, which it has done before.
In December, the agency removed a 3-month-old girl from her mother's custody after the infant tested positive for crack
cocaine, but Pulliam noted there is "a big difference between crack cocaine and marijuana." "It may warrant CPS involvement
(if a parent smokes marijuana around a child), but I would not say your child would be removed because of that," Pulliam said.
CPS would look at many other factors, including the child's health and what else is going on in the home. "We just can't
go out on every case when somebody smokes marijuana - it's just impossible," Pulliam said.
Generally, Shettle said prosecution of cases involving parents who smoke marijuana around children are rare and legally
ambiguous. "It's not like they're exposing the child to porno or driving drunk with a child in the car," the assistant
DA said. "Just watching your parents smoke dope, I'm not sure that enhances the charge (of marijuana possession)." In
this case, if it turns out the toddler was high, Shettle said he would need expert medical opinion on it how it affected the
toddler and then research case law to find the legal definition of "injury." A parent or adult intentionally giving
a child marijuana would equal a charge of delivery of a controlled substance. The level of that offense would depend
on the amount of the drug given to the child.
Jackson pled guilty last year to misdemeanor marijuana possession and was fined an undisclosed amount. He has no other
criminal record. Carry had been out on bond on an auto burglary charge. He has no other criminal record. Johnson
has no previous criminal record. Police have until 5 p.m. Friday to file charges with the DA's office before the three
must be released from custody. That doesn't mean they can't have charges related to the incident filed against them at a later
date, a county jail official said.
The Virginia Department Of Social Services Has A New Online Training Course Allowing individuals to become
certified as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. People automatically designated as mandated reporters
include teachers, nurses, doctors, law enforcement personnel, and social workers, among others. Even Boy Scout and Girl Scout
leaders are considered mandated reporters.
Christine Tillman is a social work supervisor for the Hanover County Department of Social Services who works with the department's
Child Protective Services (CPS) program. She stated that the term mandated reporter encompasses "anyone who would be in a
caretaker role by virtue of a profession or position." Tillman explained the process that occurs once someone reports
a suspected case of child abuse or neglect. "Once the call is made, then we, of course, take all the information. We
put it into our automated system and then either the senior social worker or I decide whether or not the report is a valid
report.
"And in order for the report to be a valid report, then there's specific criteria that has to be met. The incident has
to have occurred either in our jurisdiction or been discovered in our jurisdiction, which is Hanover County. "The child
who is alleged to be the subject of the abuse or neglect has to be under the age of 18 at the time the report is actually
made. There has to be a caretaker who is alleged to be the abuser or neglecter, and the act has to meet the definition for
one of the types of abuse or neglect."
Certain professionals, such as teachers, already have their own training modules to complete, but the state's new online
course offers others another venue to become more knowledgeable about what does and does not constitute child abuse and neglect.
"It expands the possible pool of mandated reporters," said Sheila Crossen-Powell, assistant director of Hanover Social Services.
"There's no requirement for mandated reporters to take this training, but I think that once they take this course, then
it is an expectation that they will be diligent about making reports. At least that would be our agency's expectation about
making reports," Tillman added. "It provides, I think, a base of information for the mandated reporter as to what the
state's expectations are for them as mandated reporters," Tillman continued. "But I think it also provides a lot of information
to them in terms of what actually a valid report is as well as what they need to look for in those situations where abuse
or neglect might have occurred."
Crossen-Powell stated, "We really do want to have a well-informed population. People don't always understand all the nuances
of child abuse and neglect. "Whenever we have the opportunity to go out and educate people about what it is and how
they can respond to it-because it's not just CPS responding, it's a community response-we think it's very valuable, so this
is just one more tool for us." "I think it raises the level of comfort for those people in the community, such as Girl
Scout leaders and even Sunday school teachers, just as an example, in making the report. They feel a lot more comfortable
about doing that," Tillman commented.
"It reduces confusion," Crossen-Powell concluded. According to a Virginia Department of Social Services press release,
the free online training course covers topics such as:
€ The roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
€ Types and definitions of child abuse and neglect recognized in Virginia.
€ Indicators of child abuse and neglect.
€ Procedures to report suspected child abuse and neglect.
€ What to expect from your local department of social services after making a report.
Online registration is available at: http://www.vcu.edu/vissta/spotlight/cws5692spotlight.html
More information about mandated reporting is available at:
http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/mandated_reporters.cgi
People automatically designated as mandated reporters include teachers, nurses, doctors, law enforcement personnel,
and social workers, among others. Even Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders are considered mandated reporters. Christine
Tillman is a social work supervisor for the Hanover County Department of Social Services who works with the department's Child
Protective Services (CPS) program. She stated that the term mandated reporter encompasses "anyone who would be in a caretaker
role by virtue of a profession or position."
Tillman explained the process that occurs once someone reports a suspected case of child abuse or neglect. Once the
call is made, then we, of course, take all the information. We put it into our automated system and then either the senior
social worker or I decide whether or not the report is a valid report. "And in order for the report to be a valid report,
then there's specific criteria that has to be met. The incident has to have occurred either in our jurisdiction or been discovered
in our jurisdiction, which is Hanover County.
"The child who is alleged to be the subject of the abuse or neglect has to be under the age of 18 at the time the report
is actually made. There has to be a caretaker who is alleged to be the abuser or neglecter, and the act has to meet the definition
for one of the types of abuse or neglect." Certain professionals, such as teachers, already have their own training
modules to complete, but the state's new online course offers others another venue to become more knowledgeable about what
does and does not constitute child abuse and neglect.
"It expands the possible pool of mandated reporters," said Sheila Crossen-Powell, assistant director of Hanover Social
Services. "There's no requirement for mandated reporters to take this training, but I think that once they take this
course, then it is an expectation that they will be diligent about making reports. At least that would be our agency's expectation
about making reports," Tillman added.
"It provides, I think, a base of information for the mandated reporter as to what the state's expectations are for them
as mandated reporters," Tillman continued. "But I think it also provides a lot of information to them in terms of what actually
a valid report is as well as what they need to look for in those situations where abuse or neglect might have occurred."
Crossen-Powell stated, "We really do want to have a well-informed population. People don't always understand all the nuances
of child abuse and neglect. "Whenever we have the opportunity to go out and educate people about what it is and how
they can respond to it-because it's not just CPS responding, it's a community response-we think it's very valuable, so this
is just one more tool for us."
"I think it raises the level of comfort for those people in the community, such as Girl Scout leaders and even Sunday school
teachers, just as an example, in making the report. They feel a lot more comfortable about doing that," Tillman commented.
It reduces confusion," Crossen-Powell concluded. According to a Virginia Department of Social Services press release,
the free online training course covers topics such as:
€ The roles and responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
€ Types and definitions of child abuse and neglect recognized in Virginia.
€ Indicators of child abuse and neglect.
€ Procedures to report suspected child abuse and neglect.
€ What to expect from your local department of social services after making a report.
Online registration is available at: http://www.vcu.edu/vissta/spotlight/cws5692spotlight.html
More information about mandated reporting is available at:
http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cps/mandated_reporters.cgi
Christine Tillman is a social work supervisor for the Hanover County Department of Social Services who
works with the department's Child Protective Services (CPS) program. She stated that the term mandated reporter encompasses
"anyone who would be in a caretaker role by virtue of a profession or position."
Tillman explained the process that occurs once someone reports a suspected case of child abuse or neglect. "Once
the call is made, then we, of course, take all the information. We put it into our automated system and then either the senior
social worker or I decide whether or not the report is a valid report. "And in order for the report to be a valid report,
then there's specific criteria that has to be met. The incident has to have occurred either in our jurisdiction or been discovered
in our jurisdiction, which is Hanover County.
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Methodist Hospital
Must Pay A Plaintiff $400,000 In Connection With A 1998 Child Abuse Case. A jury decided early today
that Methodist Hospital must pay a plaintiff $400,000 in connection with a 1998 child abuse case. The six-member panel
returned the verdict in the lawsuit shortly before 1 a.m. today. Jurors began deliberating about 3:30 p.m. Friday after hearing
four days of testimony that ranged from the pain of losing a child to standards for medical care.
The suit was brought against Dr. Gary Thompson, Dr. Michael Turner and Methodist by the estate of the late Riley Leon
Chilton, the child's father. The jury found that Clarian Health, which operates Methodist, was liable, but that Turner
and Thompson were not.
Chilton, who died in October, filed the suit alleging the doctors and the hospital failed
to properly identify and report suspected child abuse when his 11-month-old son, Chance Chilton, was treated for a skull fracture
in August 1998.
The suit claims the alleged failures of the doctors and hospital resulted in Chance being returned to his mother and
her live-in boyfriend when he was released from Methodist on Aug. 14, 1998. Less than a month later, Chance was fatally beaten
by his mother's boyfriend, John Beauchamp. Beauchamp pleaded guilty to battery in 2003 and was sentenced to 20 years
in prison with eight years suspended. With credit for time served before the plea and good behavior in prison, Beauchamp was
released in 2005.
In instructions to the jury, Marion Circuit Judge Theodore Sosin instructed the panel to consider two issues: whether
the health-care providers failed to meet reasonable medical standards for care and, if so, whether those failures contributed
to Chance's death. Mike Woody, attorney for the Chilton estate, said the vulnerable child depended on the doctors and
hospital personnel to protect him. "They treated Chance," Woody told the jury, "but they did not protect him."
Woody said it was clear Chance's skull fracture was the result of abuse. He noted that Thompson had written in his case
notes that he was concerned about the possibility of abuse. Woody also stated that Turner was told by several people at Methodist
and the Chilton family that abuse was likely. "Wouldn't it be better to err on the side of reporting and protecting
the child?" Woody asked.
Chance's death was "the horrible result of their negligence in this case," he said. "That's what happens when you don't
follow the law or hospital policy." Kelly Pitcher, representing Methodist, said the doctors and hospital staff considered
the possibility of abuse but ruled it out based on the fact that Chance's injuries were consistent with the story that he
had fallen from a crib and struck his head on a wooden box.
"Judgment has to be made on the information that was available at the time," she said. Pitcher said there was no
evidence that Riley Leon Chilton made any attempt to report his concerns that Chance had been abused and that Chilton was
culpable for not stepping in to protect his son. Representing Thompson, Chance's family physician, Beth Knotts, told
the jury a medical review board had cleared both doctors of wrongdoing. "You cannot use hindsight," she said. "You have
to look at this story without knowing how it ended."
Dave Jensen, who represented Turner, a neurosurgeon who cared for Chance at Methodist, said physicians have to use their
judgment, training and skill in determining the cause of an injury. "Is that perfect? No, it's not," Jensen said. "But
it's what he has to work with." He said that to meet the standard of care the plaintiff wants to apply to the doctors,
medical professionals would have to report almost every child injury to Child Protective Services. "The system the plaintiff
wants," he said, "is that everyone is guilty until they are cleared by CPS."
Parental Alienation - Parental alienation is any behavior by a PROFESSIONAL, parent, a child's mother
or father, whether conscious or unconscious, that could create alienation in the relationship between a child and the other
parent or parents. Parental alienation can be mild and temporary or extreme and ongoing. Most researchers believe that any
alienation of a child against (the child's) other parent is harmful to the child and to the target parent. Extreme, obsessive,
and ongoing parental alienation can cause terrible psychological damage to children extending well into adulthood.
Parental Alienation focuses on the alienating parents behaviour as opposed to the alienated parent's and alienated children's
conditions. This definition is different from Parental Alienation Syndrome as originally coined by Dr. Richard Gardner
in 1987: "a disturbance in which children are preoccupied with deprecation and criticism of a parent-denigration that is unjustified
and/or exaggerated." Parental Alienation Syndrome symptoms describe the child's behaviours and attitude towards the targeted
parent after the child has been effectively programmed and severely alienated from the targeted parent. Parental alienation,
on the other hand, describes the alienating parent's or parents' conduct which induces parental alienation syndrome in children.
Forms of parental alienation
Parental alienation is a form of relational aggression by one parent against the other
parent using their common children. The process can become cyclic with each parent attempting to alienate the children from
the other. There is potential for a negative feedback loop and escalation. At other times an affected parent may withdraw
leaving the children to the alienating parent. Children so alienated often suffer effects similar to those studied in the
psychology of torture. (Sources: External link articles below and late adulthood consciousness of parental alienation)
Alienating parents often use grandparents, aunts/uncles, and elder siblings to alienate their children against the target
parent. In some cases, mental health professionals become unwitting allies in these alienation attempts by backing unfounded
allegations of neglect, abuse or mental disease. Courts also often side with the alienating parent against the target parent
in legal judgements because parental alienation is either difficult to detect or else the time, by mental health professionals,
has never been given to the children to detect it.
Forms of parental alienation include:-
brainwashing,
character assassination
the false inducement of fear
incitement of shame,
using children
to commit relational aggression against the target parent,
loss of self control,
flareups of anger,
unconscious
alliances with the children against the target parent.
delibrate denigration of the children's relationship with the target
parent.
Parental alienation can all be mild, moderate, or extreme. Parental alienation often forces children to choose sides and
become allies against the other parent. Children caught in the middle of such conflicts suffer severe losses of love, respect
and peace during their formative years. They also often lose their alienated parent forever.
These consequences and a host of others cause terrible traumas to children. Parents so alienated often suffer heartbreaking
loss of their children through no fault of their own. In addition, they often face false accusations from their alienated
children that they cannot counter with the facts. Finally, they often find themselves powerless to show that this little-known
form of cruel, covert, and cunning aggression is occurring or has occurred.
Critics of the "Parental Alienation" defence used in custody disputes say such legal arguments are not supported by research[citation
needed] or psychological studies[citation needed], and this has resulted in battering parents getting custody of their children,
despite a high correlation between battering and child abuse. Parents in custody disputes should know that custody evaluations
do not assess for domestic violence, nor does the court seek out information from Therapists of victims. There have been numerous
cases where assertions of abuse by the child, mother or father were documented as "parental alientaion" against the other
parent. The critics state that the myth of "Parental Alienation" defence thrives on one basic element, which is that narcisstic
abusers as opposed to ordinary abusers have an uncanny ability to present extremely well in public, which leads to a situation
where all they have to do is say that the allegations are fantasy and because of the manner with which this was presented
the judge will buy into it.
Critics state that abusers will deny being abusive, in an attempt to cover up their abuse. Critics also state that even
though both a parent and the child say "it happened" and "it is true", a judge or custody evaluator can be mislead because
the claims of abuse get turned around as 'an attempt to alienate the other parent.' Critics add that in some cases a parent
falsely accused of parental alienation can have his or her custody/visitation rights restricted or affected, while the abuser
is allowed to continue to the abuse.
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