Category Archives: CPS News

Nashville Foster Parent Says Caseworker Turnover is at the Heart of the Problem

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Nashville Foster Parent Says Caseworker Turnover is at the Heart of the Problem

Tennessee is no stranger to the rigors and stresses of the American Foster Care system. Unfortunately, it seems that every state is being forced to address its own unique versions of a pervasive and ubiquitous problem. While no one seems to be interested in addressing the cause of children being born without homes, we can all agree that no child should be allowed to go homeless, hungry, or suffer the insanity and abuse of some of the wackos who see the foster care system as a meat market.

The Raskins are always keeping a watchful eye on this problem as it manifests around the country. It comes in the form of tragic news reports, legal battles, changes in-laws, and federal investigations within a state’s failing and often corrupt foster care system.

In this particular article, two women, Jennifer Snook and Kelli Stidham, both foster parents, say that their foster kids are changing caseworkers as often as two times in a single year. The caseworker, likely new to the industry, hopeful, ready to make a difference one child at a time, learns the estimated average of cases is 20. To their dismay, 50 ends up being the reality, and still, some are saddled with as many as 80 cases at once!

The amount of time spent doing paperwork as the system fails to find homes for the children never seems to change. The stress, guilt, and loss of hope that their hard-fought efforts are anything but futile dreams are driving them to the breaking point. It’s a sad state of affairs with no solution in sight.

As always, we’ll be searching and researching to bring issues of ongoing injustice in the foster care system to light.

Click here to read the full article: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/foster-parents-warn-of-a-crisis-at-the-department-of-childrens-services

Three Years Until Burnout: The Sad Trajectory of a CPS Caseworker

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In Outagamie County, Wisconsin, within the Children, Youth & Families Division, a typical caseworker handles about 15 families at once. Imagine being one of 28 social workers in a county of more than 180,000 people. These numbers are disgustingly skewed because our local governments are doing enough to help its citizens. We’re Robert and Kathleen Raskin, and we’ve been reporting on the failure and utter corruption of social services across our great nation for many years. This situation is yet another example of what’s going on right under our noses. And we shouldn’t stand for it!

The goal of caseworkers is to keep families together. They must make decisions that will reverberate within the families they oversee for years to come. It’s when they fail to see the facts at hand and return children to dangerous situations for the sake of keeping families together. It’s not right. It’s not fair to the kids when the reasons that brought Child Protective Services in the first place continues and – in some cases – the abuse intensifies.

Studies Show Corruption

In 2017 alone, an estimated 1,720 children died from abuse and neglect in the U.S. A quarter of them were previously known to CPS agencies in their jurisdictions. It’s especially heartbreaking when you become aware of the death of Andrew “AJ” Freund in Illinois. The resolution from that charges against his parents for murder. It’s an ideal solution, but child welfare workers could’ve prevented his death. They had been called to their home previously.

Reports of abuse nationwide have increased by more than 12% since 2013. Thankfully, more stringent laws that require the reporting of suspected abuse, which brings more eyes to these disastrous situations. There has also been an increase in calls related to the opioid epidemic over the years. In Outagamie County alone, the number of kids in the system has doubled over the past four years.

Workers Reduce Risks, But Can’t Eliminate Possibilities

That’s their job, and they’re unable to perform the duties of their career. In America, it’s a sad day when we realize that’s what it’s come down to here.

This documentary sheds light on the crisis of in the southeastern part of Wisconsin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV9xZW3ghP4

Systemic Abuse and Neglect Continues for Mississippi Foster Kids

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In 2004, caseworkers at Mississippi Child Protection Services (CPS) acknowledged that their caseworkers in 2004 were juggling over 200 cases at a time. We’re Robert and Kathleen Raskin, and we charge the state to do better by its citizens. A report recently released stated that over 95 children were victims of abuse or neglect by their caregivers last year, which is more than the three times the agreed-upon standard. How is this possible? It’s because they don’t have the resources to care.

On top of all that, the state bungled some abuse and neglect investigations over the years. This view should not be a secret to anyone who knows the CPS in Mississippi. Their persistent failure to meet the fundamental, court-ordered reforms before the investigation puts the state at risk. The government may flex its authority and take over their system to hopefully overhaul it to make it the best it can be. At this point, they should, and for a good reason too!

The agony these undeserving children suffer under the hands of bureaucracy

Listen to this: What if you saw a foster home was the adoptive mother punished the kids in inhumane ways? Imagine discovering evidence that a five-year-old squatted against a wall naked, or in their underwear. How is this allowed? It shouldn’t be, and that’s why we need to come together and crackdown on the abuses of the system that are so rampant today.

Police arrested a 16-year-old foster child for breaking into cars and stealing handguns and bringing marijuana into the home. Their adoptive mother worked the night shift. There was documented evidence showing that the children had free access to guns and drugs. There was a police officer quoted as saying that there was “no way these boys were being properly supervised.” So why didn’t someone step in sooner and speak up on behalf of those kids?

In another case, a foster home wasn’t shut down until the choking of a child occurred by an adoptive mother. This same adoptive mother previously reported to have allegedly slapped her foster daughter in the face and pulling her hair for putting “a spell on her without using words,” calling the child “evil” and a “devil worshipper” five months prior — five whole months.

Who determines the ideal interests of the child?

We the people should. Departments like South Mississippi’s Department of Human Services (DHS) shouldn’t be given the responsibility any longer. We should be stepping up and doing what we can to bring light to these injustices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YspXYxFcsuE