Parents smoke pot, child placed in foster home, murdered

Go Beavers

Pingfah wrote:

That would be the "more" I am referring to. Nothing in the article suggests he had neglected or endangered the child though. It seems like they may be omitting some vital information.

They probably just asked the dad why he lost custody. Child welfare wouldn't be able to comment on it.

Pingfah

Good point.

Go Beavers

unsung wrote:

Taxes? Really? That's the reason why they essentially kidnapped this child from her parents?

For you, what would be a situation where the child's removed from their parent's custody that would cross the threashold from kidnapping to protecting the child?

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Go Beavers wrote:

unsung wrote:

Taxes? Really? That's the reason why they essentially kidnapped this child from her parents?

For you, what would be a situation where the child's removed from their parent's custody that would cross the threashold from kidnapping to protecting the child?

Let's call this for what it is: the purpose for posting this wasn't to share a story that is concerning... it was (to be frank) shamefully used as a tool to push an agenda.

This incident occurred at the micro scale. We don't even know the full story. Clearly there are problems with it, but to blame the government for this incident is ridiculous. The government agency that seeks to protect children is vital given how poorly adults act sometimes. A government agent may have acted unwisely in determining the appropriateness of the residence where the death occurred, but that's as far as one could go with this.

belinda27

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

Let's call this for what it is: the purpose for posting this wasn't to share a story that is concerning... it was (to be frank) shamefully used as a tool to push an agenda.

This incident occurred at the micro scale. We don't even know the full story. Clearly there are problems with it, but to blame the government for this incident is ridiculous. The government agency that seeks to protect children is vital given how poorly adults act sometimes. A government agent may have acted unwisely in determining the appropriateness of the residence where the death occurred, but that's as far as one could go with this.

It is important to safeguard any child from this situation in the future. My understanding is not blaming the government but discussing the fact that the government has privatised this area of child protection, and sadly due to these changes the professionalism,regularity, and standards of care are seriously compromised. This is a many faceted issue that will require more than one single answer or strategy.

brianlux

A terrible tragedy, for sure. Absolutely. Blame it on the government? Not so sure. CPS agencies, like any agency, vary from place to place, even agent to agent. Same would be said if this were run privately- companies vary in quality of operation. A blanket statement of blame is simple and easy, but is it useful or helpful? Not so sure.

Who Princess

belinda27 wrote:

It is important to safeguard any child from this situation in the future. My understanding is not blaming the government but discussing the fact that the government has privatised this area of child protection, and sadly due to these changes the professionalism,regularity, and standards of care are seriously compromised. This is a many faceted issue that will require more than one single answer or strategy.

Thank you.

As a Texan, I can tell you there actually are a lot of very ordinary people who live here. People who go to work, raise families, listen to PJ, do the kinds of things you'd expect people to do. We don't all drive pickups, carry guns, chew tobacco or marry our siblings.

I've known several people who worked for Child Protective Services and as far as the public is concerned it's a pretty thankless job. If they don't remove the child, it's because they care more about finishing their paperwork than protecting children. If they do remove the child, it's Gestapo tactics.

Most of the time, it's VERY difficult to remove a child and place them in foster care. It may take more than one reported incident before the child is removed. The only time they swoop in and take the children is when there is something overt. There was a case here last year where the parents AND grandparents were sitting around smoking crack. While failing to watch their toddler, she wandered outside and was attacked by their pit bull. Adults arrested; children taken by CPS.

I would be very surprised if this man's child was put in foster care simply because he was smoking pot. Typical possession is a misdemeanor here. There would be a lot more children removed if that was case. Also, when CPS removes a child, they first try to place the child in a relative's home. This happens much more often than a foster home. How his daughter came to be in foster care I don't know.

Whatever the reason his child was removed, I see a much bigger culprit with the privatized foster placement service. We have attempted to privatize many services in Texas and I can't think of any example that has worked well.

Finally--sheesh, it's not all that scary in these parts! Ya'll are welcome to visit any time and I'll be happy to show you what a nice place it is.

hostis

there is always more to a story than is written. and that must always be countered into any discussion....

polaris_x

Who Princess wrote:

We have attempted to privatize many services in Texas and I can't think of any example that has worked well.

and this is the crux of it ... always has been ... the corporatization of gov't ... when the gov't works for corporations and not people - this is the result ... so, as unsung is correct in blaming gov't as ultimately they are the ones capitulating to these corporations ... he should really look at the people for allowing this to happen ...

vant0037

unsung wrote:

Taxes? Really? That's the reason why they essentially kidnapped this child from her parents?

My god...you cannot be that paranoid.

As an attorney currently representing PARENTS in child protection cases (aka people trying to get their kids back), I can say first hand that (1) people who think the government is out there kidnaping kids by placing them in foster homes have never seen what growing up in a home with drug use or mental illness or both does to kids (here's a hint: it creates crazy drug addicts!), and (2) there is always so much more to the story than what a parent's opinion of the situation is (understandably).

Why can't this be a horrible story about a murdered child? Why did you have politicize her life and death? Should I find news stories about the number of children who died at the hands of their parents because child protection wasn't involved? Should we compare notes and see which is worse? I promise you lose that argument.

It's appalling the lack of shame around here sometimes...