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Chris Carter Arrested
February 21, 2012
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Chris Carter of Court Watch was arrested for Obstruction of Justice February 21, 2012 in Chatham. Carter had been protesting the CAS when he was arrested on a matter unrelated to the protest. Photo Danage.com
The Chatham Daily News reports:
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Outspoken opponent of children's aid societies arrested
No word on specific charge laid
By Ellwood Shreve, Updated February 21, 2012
An uneventful protest against the Chatham-Kent Children's Services (CKCS) took an unexpected turn when an organizer was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
Chris Carter, a member of Canada Court Watch, was arrested near where a group of protesters was gathered on Grand Avenue West at the roadway leading to the Chatham Courthouse. It's where the Chatham-Kent children's aid office is located.
Lee Bolton, a local member of Canada Court Watch, told The Chatham Daily News Carter was carrying someone's child back to a vehicle for a parent when he was arrested.
Two uniform officers and a plainclothes officer took part in the arrest, she said.
"They didn't want to say what they were arresting him for," Bolton explained, adding some protesters asked police why Carter was taken into custody.
Carter, a vocal critic of the child protection system, arrived in Chatham last month with the intention of helping local residents navigate the legal maze of the children's aid society.
Tuesday marked the third protest in Chatham-Kent organized by Carter through Court Watch. The grassroots organization is pressing the province to allow for the Ontario ombudsman to be allowed to investigate complaints against children's aid societies.
Attendance at Tuesday's protest was less than the first protest in January. Organizers said a candlelight vigil held Monday night at the corner of Grand Avenue and St. Clair Street attracted about 50 people.
Chatham-Kent police told The Daily News a male was arrested near the protest on an "unrelated criminal code matter."
However, information about the specific charge laid against Carter wasn't available.
Bolton believes the charge has been "trumped up" because of Carter's activities in the community.
"He's doing a lot of damage to children's aid, he's exposing them," she said.
Dave Burgess was among the members of the Sarnia-based Canadians for Family Law Reform who attended Tuesday's protest. He said the group came to Chatham to support Canada Court Watch, as both groups have similar issues with children's aid societies.
"I'm not surprised to see people start getting arrested because we're starting to get on their case," he said. "They know what we're saying is right and they don't like the attention."
Burgess said the attention is "way overdue," noting there are thousands of people across the province using the power of social media to put their issues in the public eye.
The Sarnia organization is fighting for anyone with family law issues to have the right to bring in a recording device into their court proceedings. This has been denied at the Sarnia courthouse.
"It's an open court, it should be clear and transparent," Burgess said Tuesday. "Anybody should be able to use (a recorder) anytime they walk into a court."
eshreve@chathamdailynews.ca Twitter: DailyNewsES
Family Day Vigil
Free Skate
February 21, 2012
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Vigils occurred in several cities and towns to remember
Ontario's broken families. Here is a set of photos from the
vigil in Chatham
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
and a video of Chris Carter YouTube and local copy (mp4)
Press coverage of the Chatham vigil:
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Is CAS trying to steal your children?
Chris Carter of Court Watch, at vigil for CAS in Chatham
By Dan Age, danage.com
Monday evening local Chatham Kent residents gathered on the corner of St. Clair and Grand Avenue to hold a vigil in memory of the families ripped apart by Children’s Aid Services. In Canada most provinces have a government run Children’s Aid Service, in Ontario that’s not the case. CAS is a private industry and Chris Carter of Canada Court Watch claims it’s one shrouded in secrecy, backroom deals and executives raking in the cash. In a documentary soon to be released through Canada Court Watch a former CAS employee exposes startling issues withing the OACAS, and even claims that babies are being auctioned off to high profile bidders.
There is a serious problem and it begins with accountability. When a CAS worker believes that there is “risk of imminent harm” (physical, mental, social, sexual) they may with cooperation of local police remove the child from the home and place them into CAS care. There is no warrant needed for the police to enter and there are no records kept of unwarranted removals.
The next area of accountability involves deaths of children in CAS care. There are no statistics on the number of deaths or the number of deaths caused by CAS workers themselves. There are some parents who believe that CAS has gone as far as to murder their child. Why would CAS want to murder children? CAS is accused of taking out life insurance policies on government wards, (children in CAS care). When accused the reply from CAS was that if it is happening they are unaware if it.
There is also a factor of the cost, it costs approximately $10k per assessment and the number of assessments in specific communities is private information. The information provided from OACAS is convoluted and offers no explanation as to why they keep no statistics on specifics like these.
The funding model now in place allows for funds to be directed to CAS only when they decide a child must be taken into custody. This system creates what some call a bounty on our children. Similar to how pharmaceutical companies need sick people, CAS needs the pain and suffering of children in order to operate. There is room for organizations like CAS to do good things in our community, and they certainly do. there are obviously children who need parents, and there needs to be a system to accomplish parental accountability, as well as CAS accountability. The Ombudsman (an independent provincial government watchdog) could be granted jurisdiction over CAS and there would be a level of accountability that does not currently exist.
Chris Carter left multiple voice mail messages for Mike Stephens the Executive Director of Chatham-Kent Children’s Aid Services requesting a copy of the polices and procedures, as well as bylaws and the process for attending CAS meetings. His calls have not been returned.
Danage.com attempted to contact Mike Stephens but his voicemail states that he is gone for the week attending various meetings in Toronto and London. I look forward to a call from Mr Stephens so he can clear the air and let the public know his opinion on these problems. We would like to give Mr Stephen’s the benefit of the doubt and consider it a coincidence that he is out-of-town the week that a CAS protest appears. Additional rallies are being held this week and more information is available through CanadaCourtWatch.com and FixCAS.com
Pat Niagara
On February 20, 2012 on Clifton Hill tonight in Niagara Falls a scant few members showed up for a Candlelit Vigil in Memory of Families Destroyed by CAS and Family Courts. Thanks to those who made it out and for the camaraderie. Thank you to Kim Shook, Shannon Horner-Edsal and her son Austin, Jessica Pelissero, Kevin Harris, Bobbie Gellner and Beverly Putt Gilbert, our newest addition.
February 20, 2012
Here are photos from Niagara:
[1]
[2].
There was also a vigil in Ottawa. YouTube.
Earlier CCW members gathered petition signatures at the CAS-organized
Free Skate.
Pat Niagara
On February 20. 2012 members of Canada Court Watch converged on Niagara area arenas at a FACS (CAS) Family Skate Day in order to educate the public and collect signatures for Ombudsman Oversight of the MUSH sector. All totalled over 150 signatures were obtained.
February 20, 2012
Here are pictures from the Free Skate:
[1]
[2]
[3].
There is also a Free Skate video: YouTube and local copy (mp4).
What Happens to Foster Graduates?
February 21, 2012
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Would you like to know how well foster children do later in life? There
is no way to find out through official sources. Nobody keeps track.
Notwithstanding the views expressed by scholars and child protectors in the
enclosed article, it is a good guess that the child protectors don't want
you to know. That's because any honest information would show how terrible
the outcomes really are.
Since there are no official source, fixcas is stepping in to give the
best available information on foster outcomes. First, here are some
articles relating to the foster care system as a whole:
- [link].
Figures from Scotland show that of children who were in foster care at
age 16, by age 22 77% will have a criminal conviction and 31% will have
served prison time.
- [link].
Most girls trafficked for prostitution are former foster girls.
- [link].
Only 18 percent of Alberta foster children graduate from high school,
while about 70 percent of all Albertans do.
- [link].
In British Columbia foster graduates are more likely to get jail time
than a high school diploma.
- [link].
Foster care is apprenticeship for young offenders.
Here are some individual cases of foster graduates:
An outcome not shown in the above lists is for a few unfortunate children
arriving in Canada at a young age and raised as foster or adoptive children.
On their first encounter with police after reaching age of majority they can
be deported to a country where they do not know the language or customs.
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Data lacking on numbers, services for foster kids
Children play in this undated file photo.
The Canadian Press, Date: Sunday Feb. 19, 2012 8:42 PM ET
MONTREAL — Anyone seeking a national snapshot of the average child in foster care in Canada, especially how their experiences helped shape their adult life, is flat out of luck.
No reliable national statistics exist on children in foster care in the country, a situation compounded by the differences in how data is collected at the provincial and territorial levels.
"We know ridiculously little about these kids," said Nico Trocme, who directs the Centre for Research on Children and Families at McGill University in Montreal.
"I can't answer a basic question like how many kids are in foster care in Canada," says Trocme, whose research is carried out in collaboration with a number of Canadian universities.
Trocme, who works with governments and social service agencies to help them target services, said corporations are often more rigorous at profiling their clientele.
It can easily cost taxpayers $1 million to care for a child who comes into foster care as an infant and leaves when they're 20, says Virginia Rowden, social policy director for the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.
"I want to know how that investment made a difference," she said. "We don't have a way of doing that."
Knowing how a child turned out can be helpful in determining the efficiency of services, she said.
"Are they working? Are they educated? Are they healthy? Are they forming their own families? Are they living on the street? Are they sick? We don't know those things."
The lack of reliable national data on kids in foster care in Canada is something that can pose a challenge to policy-makers, observers say.
"The real value of this information is it allows more reflection, more comparative understanding in producing successful outcomes," says Peter Dudding, the chief executive of the Child Welfare League of Canada.
Dudding said being able to compare jurisdictions allows governments and agencies to ask more pointed questions about services and how they're delivered.
Members of a Parliamentary committee studying adoption in Canada found the lack of national data was a hurdle in completing their work, Dudding said he was told.
"The first obstacle they ran into was the one around the lack of data," he said. The chairman of the committee declined to comment until its report is released.
Trocme said there is not a complete lack of information. Provinces and territories do track their charges to some extent.
"But every province categorizes foster care in a different way," he said. "Ontario is a good example. That information really falls at the level of different agencies. There's 15 agencies, they each count things differently."
Rowden said that three years ago her organization asked its members to help in a survey to determine how many of their wards had graduated from high school because there is no data.
Ninety-seven per cent of the agencies contributed, their staff having to manually check all their files for the information.
"What we found is ... that we have abysmal graduation rates for kids up to the age of 21," she said, adding data indicated that around 42 per cent graduated from high school.
A similar study two years later suggested that number had climbed to 44 per cent although Rowden said even that number is distorted.
Rowden said she'd actually like to see a better interpretation of existing data as well.
Dawn Levine, a spokeswoman for Ontario's Ministry of Children and Youth Services, says Ontario only tracks data on children and youths who have been wards of the province for two years or more.
Statistics, such as how many times the child has been in care or moved, educational progress and care plans, are compiled through annual reviews of these wards' cases.
Levine, who said fewer foster children are coming into care in Ontario recently, said the ministry regularly uses "inter-jurisdictional information" when devising policy.
"This includes identifying national trends and best practices related to family and child services," she said.
The federal Human Resources Department said it works with provinces on developing programs and services but it is up to the provinces to implement them when it comes to foster care.
"There is considerable diversity between jurisdictions on how these programs are delivered, making it difficult to compile statistics on a national level," an unidentified department spokesman said in an email response to questions.
Sheila Durnford, president of the Canadian Foster Family Association, said the need for reliable national statistics had come up in discussions with Human Resources when her group worked with the Child Welfare League on a program to recruit and train foster families across Canada.
"One of the things the federal government asked us to do was try to find out national statistics," she said. Although progress had been made, it wasn't easy.
"It's more involved than going into each province's statistics because each province does things so differently and some provinces do it better than others," said Durnford, who has been a foster parent for 25 years.
Durnford, who lives in Langley, B.C., said her province does a good job of collecting data but she sees the value in compiling national data, saying she believes it would help the care network develop. She pointed out it would also help greatly when it comes to funding.
"Whenever you're asking for funding from any government, they always work on statistics," she said.
Amber Alert
February 20, 2012
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An article on an American Amber alert is enclosed because one of the few
times we can see foster children, and their names, is when social services
is asking for the public to help in reincarcerating them.
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Still no sign of three missing Caldwell children
By Tamara Jolee, CREATED 9:18 PM
Las Vegas -- Nevada Highway Patrol confirms to our Las Vegas affiliate KTNV-TV that Bertha Alicia Guerrero-Lopez was pulled over early Saturday morning in Tonopah, Nevada for a minor traffic violation.
At that current time, the Amber Alert was not yet issued and NHP says the children were not in the car with Guerrero-Lopez.
The foster parent of the children, Catalina Godina, tells us Guerrero-Lopez has family in Las Vegas and Arizona. She said nothing was out of the ordinary when the mother picked up the kids Friday.
"She seemed overly excited, just very happy," said Godina. "From what I understand, she was almost close to getting custody back of the children. I just figured she was happy to see them and get the chance to visit with them."
Godina and her husband said they do not believe Guerrero-Lopez would harm her children. However, they said the biological mother is known to have a boyfriend with a violent background. They said the kids have been abandoned in the past and the foster care family fears for their safety and health.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Authorities in southwest Idaho issued an Amber Alert early Sunday morning for three children who police say weren't returned to their foster home after a visit with their non-custodial mother.
Police in Caldwell say 35-year-old Bertha Alicia Guerrero-Lopez picked up the children about 3 p.m. Friday but didn't return them at the scheduled time of 3 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities say Guerrero-Lopez has a residence in Nevada and a history of drug abuse and child abandonment.
She is described as 5-foot-1, 139 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
Police say they may be traveling in a grey Oldsmobile with Nevada license plates.
The children are 9-year-old Ubaldo Guerrero-Lopez Jr., 7-year-old Mirella Guerrero-Lopez, and 5-year-old Esmerelda Guerrero-Lopez.
If you have seen a grey Pontiac Oldsmobile with NV Plate 389XPR, you are asked to call Caldwell Police Department at 208-454-7531 or 911.
Social Service Refugees
February 20, 2012
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Christopher Booker discusses the flight of oppressed families from
England to Ireland and the relentless efforts by British social workers to
repatriate and punish the refugees.
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Irish social workers are horrified by their ruthless English counterparts
Families fleeing the interventions of social workers have been finding a far more humane approach across the water.
The number of children taken into care every month in the UK has reached a record level
Photo: ALAMY
By Christopher Booker, 7:00PM GMT 18 Feb 2012
Such is the reign of terror now being imposed on innocent English families by social workers that scores of parents have been fleeing with their children to Ireland to escape their clutches. I have followed a dozen such stories over the past two years, and in all of them two things stand out. One is that the English social workers seem prepared to stop at nothing to get the children back. The other is the extraordinary contrast between them and the Irish social workers, who again and again have satisfied themselves that the children are at no risk from their loving parents and are astonished by the ruthless behaviour of their English counterparts.
Several of these stories I have reported more than once and they do not have happy endings. A mother and baby were pursued to Ireland by six social workers and police, who sat in Dublin for 10 days of court hearings, until a judge ruled in their favour (with the social workers seen giving “high fives” on emerging from the court). When the mother again escaped to a remote cottage, she was violently knocked down by a policeman, so that her baby could be taken back to England.
Vicky Haigh, a former racehorse trainer, managed to escape to Ireland before her daughter was born. But then she was brought to England to be quite bizarrely punished, in a case relating to her beloved older daughter, with a three-year prison sentence – leaving her baby to be looked after in Ireland.
A 14-year-old boy lived happily with his mother in Ireland for six months until, after an equally bizarre judgment based on evidence neither he nor his mother were allowed to see, he was deported miserably back to care in England.
Last week, another such story came my way. It concerns a respectable family which was hit with disaster last summer, after the semi-autistic 8-year-old son –who tends to make things up – had lashed out at his 13-year-old sister, leaving bruises. When these were investigated, the boy told the police that his father had done it. The girl denied this – and the boy admitted in video evidence what had really happened – but the police stuck with his earlier story and arrested the father. Although he was never charged, the interventions of social workers became so menacing that, last October, the family escaped to Ireland, where the father has his roots.
There they have happily settled, and the 13-year-old daughter has become a star pupil of the local school. But the social workers eventually tracked them down – after the children’s grandmother, back in England, had been arrested by 10 police officers, handcuffed, held for three hours in a cell, and told she would be charged with perverting the course of justice unless she revealed their whereabouts. The English social workers pressed their Irish counterparts to co-operate in getting the children back to England (there are no court orders), but were told there was no reason for this because the children were in no danger.
The social workers then tried to lean on the school principal, saying that the children were “at risk of emotional harm”. The sensible headmistress gave them very short shrift, saying that the English social workers had behaved deplorably in trying to destroy a perfectly normal family, and that England’s loss was Ireland’s gain, since the girl was a brilliant pupil, who was learning five languages. Thanks to their origins, the family will soon be safely confirmed as Irish citizens.
What is striking about these stories is how often the parents emphasise the contrast between the two countries’ social workers. “In England,” says this father, “we were treated like dangerous criminals. In Ireland the social workers could not be more different, warm, friendly, treating us like human beings.” And of course it is in England that the number of children taken into care has soared to a record level, just having topped 900 a month. There is a phenomenon of group psychology here that deserves much wider attention than it is being given.
Foster Killer
February 18, 2012
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Think you don't have to worry about foster care when you don't have kids?
When you're not in foster care yourself? Casey-Lyanne Carney had no contact
with the child protection system, except that she was killed by one of its
graduates. Hannah Bonser spent a decade in British foster homes. On
February 14 she stabbed her victim chosen at random in a park.
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Doncaster murder: park stabbing girl’s family face accused woman in court
The mother of 13-year-old stabbing victim Casey Kearney has paid an emotional tribute to her “beautiful and intelligent” daughter as her child's accused killer appeared in court.
Casey Kearney dialled 999 on her mobile phone and said she had been stabbed
Photo: BEN LACK
By Nigel Bunyan and Andrew Hough, 10:00PM GMT 16 Feb 2012
Hannah Bonser, 26, appeared in court on Thursday charged with the murder of the teenager who was found stabbed to death in a park in Doncaster, South Yorks.
The teenager's parents released a statement describing their grief as losing a child with "her whole life ahead of her".
They said: "Losing Casey has been so painful words cannot begin to explain.
"She was the most beautiful, intelligent and bright young girl with her whole life ahead of her. We need time alone with family and friends to start to come to terms with our loss."
The teenager lived with her mother, Kelly Day and stepfather, Mark Day. Her natural father is Anthony Kearney, a mechanic.
Casey’s great aunt, Pamela Cullen, added: "She was a vibrant young 13-year-old girl that did everything 13-year-olds do. She would come home from school, she would cause no bother and she was just a beautiful girl."
Members of Casey’s family sat at the back of Court 1 at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court, some wiping away tears, as Bonser emerged handcuffed from a weighted door and shuffled into the glass-panelled dock a few feet away.
Bonser, mousy-haired and with a black tattoo on her left arm, was escorted into the courtroom by two security guards, one of them a woman.
In court she spoke in a whisper to confirm her name, address and date of birth, and to acknowledge the charges against her. For most of the hearing her head was bowed, her eyes gazing at the floor.
Bonser, of Doncaster, is charged with both murder and the possession of two knives. She was remanded in custody until February 23, when she is due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court.
Bonser’s brother Ben said that his sister had a difficult childhood in foster care after their mother died when she was nine.
Mr Bonser said the pair had been raised as Mormons in a happy home in Doncaster until the death of their mother, Roberta, at the age of 48.
Their father, Ronald, was too depressed to care for them, so they spent their teenage years being passed between foster families.
Mr Bonser said: "I am so bewildered that she has been arrested. I am devastated for that family."
Casey’s parents learned on Valentine’s Day that she had been fatally stabbed after catching a bus from Rossington so she could visit friends.
She was walking through Elmfield Park, Doncaster, when an assailant inflicted a single stab wound to her abdomen.
The teenager managed to dial 999 on her mobile before collapsing near a children’s play area. She died eight hours later in Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Police have described the incident as a “random, isolated attack” and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
One of Casey’s friends, Alisha Leggot, recalled how she had repeatedly tried to make contact early on Tuesday afternoon.
“I rang a few times,” she told ITV News. “I left some voicemails to tell her to contact us because we were worried about her.
"But we knew what had gone off in the park and I think one of us literally had a feeling that something had gone wrong but I just didn't want to believe it.
"Everyone was saying it was Casey on Facebook and then I got in last night and turned on the news because we knew it would be on there. I saw Casey's picture and it just broke me. I don't really know what to do."
She later added: "Casey was amazing. She was there for us all when we needed her . She was just so nice."
Catherine Brown, the head of McAuley Catholic High School, said staff had been “shocked and saddened” to learn of the teenager’s death.
She added: “Casey was a valued member of her form and year group and will be sadly missed by friends, pupils and staff.
"We are all thinking of her family and friends at this time.”
Thursday's proceedings in Court 1 lasted 15 minutes. Jill Seddons, prosecuting, told the bench how at 1.18pm on Tuesday Casey had dialled 999 to tell the operator: “I’ve just been stabbed”.
Moments later another voice came onto the phone, saying: “I’ve just come across this girl. I’m going to try to help her. Can you get the ambulance and the police?”
Medical staff tried in vain to save Casey’s life. She died after developing complications.
Elizabeth Atkinson, the chairman of the bench, told Bonser she was being remanded in custody pending a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on February 23. The defendant’s arms were hanging loosely at her side.
She glanced up briefly, then extended her right arm so the woman security officer could put the handcuffs back in place before leading her away.
Family Day
February 18, 2012
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Monday, February 20, is Family Day in Ontario. Events supporting
families will take place in:
We're holding a green candlelight vigil for 2 hours in memory of all
the lost, broken and destroyed families. Hoping other communities will do
the same in support of these families. Green represents fertility which
is why we have chosen this color. Any and all people are welcome with any
color candle.
The family destruction industry has tried to usurp family day.
Enclosed is a promotional piece given to MyKawartha promoting the
local children's aid society.
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CAS program tries to preserve family life
By Sarah Frank, Feb 17, 2012 - 7:54 AM
Behavioural therapy teaches basic parenting skills to bring children home sooner
(PETERBOROUGH) A healthy family environment is important.
So important, there's now a holiday to celebrate it, and to encourage families to spend some quality time together. But without confidence and a knowledge of proper parenting skills, family life can get tricky. For some parents, it means having their child taken away until they can provide a safe and healthy environment.
The Haliburton-Kawartha Children's Aid Society is working to get children back in their homes sooner. The society's Family Preservation Program does just that - helps to preserve family, through behavioural therapy.
Through supervised access for families and at-home behavioural support, workers spend a few hours each week teaching parents skills ranging from child management and infant care to hygiene and interaction.
For each family the program is a little different, depending on their needs.
Erin Hentig, a team leader with the program, says the main goal is to keep the child at home, or work to bring the child home.
"We meet with the case worker and with the family to collect information on where the family is now, then go into an intervention stage where we work towards foals with the families," she says, noting the plans are often modified as the workers discover what works best for each individual family. "Once the family meets the objectives we close their file and continue to monitor their progress."
The family then remains as participants in the program until their child is returned home - a decision left to their case worker.
The local society is the only branch of Children's Aid Society to implement a behavioural analysis program - and it's success speaks for itself.
"Our success rates are fairly high for the families that are engaged," says Ms Hentig. "(Parents) often say we gave them the skills and determination and ultimately the confidence to be able to parent their children."
Ms Hentig says one family calls workers monthly to give an update of their progress. The parents previously struggled with addiction.
"Their file has been closed for a year-and-a-half now," says Ms Hentig. "They've been sober all this time and they're doing great."
Each month, the program receives anywhere from five to 15 referrals for families needing help.
Ms Hentig is on-track to become the program's first certified behaviourist this year, after recently completing a Masters in applied disability studies at Brock University. Ms Hentig is also completing 1500 hours of supervised work in the program.
"Behavioural therapy has always fascinated me," she says. "I really like working with people to teach them the skills they need to succeed in life. It's exciting when a family reaches their goals and feels adequate to parent their child in an engaging environment."
The program could benefit other communities as well, says Ms Hentig.
"It's important for some families for someone to go into their home to provide intensive routines for a couple of hours every week - you really start to see a difference," she says.
The program partners with various community outlets including Early Years, the health unit and school boards to provide up-to-date information and resources to families.
Another effort to usurp family day is taking place in the Niagara region,
where FACS Niagara has organized a Family Day Free Skate (promotional poster pdf). The CAS Ontario group,
allied with Canada Court Watch, will be gathering petition signatures
outside the Free Skate events supporting ombudsman oversight of children's
aid. Here is their announcement.
Study
February 17, 2012
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Chatham-Kent CAS is inviting clients to participate in a study conducted
through the University of Western Ontario. It is called Continuity of
Care in Children's Mental Health. Chances are CAS is promoting it
because they expect the outcome will support them in some way.
Fixcas does not have the questionnaire. If you have one, please forward
a copy to Canada Court Watch or fixcas.
Here is the invitation, with the client's name, address and exact date
fictionalized.
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495 Grand Ave. West, Chatham, Ontario N7L 1C5
Phone: 519-352-0440 Fax: 519-352-4152
John Doe
1 Main Street
Somewhere, Ontario
February (day), 2012
Dear Parent/Guardian of John Jr,
Researchers from Western University (formerly the University of Western Ontario) are doing a study about families' experiences of receiving children's mental health services. Chatham-Kent Children's" Services has decided to be part of the study because we think the results will help us better understand how we can improve our services.
The study, entitled 'Continuity of Care in Children's Mental Health,' will ask about different aspects of the care you have received, including relationships with staff and communication related to your child's care. The researchers are looking for parents of children ages 4 to 18 years. In order to complete the forms, you should have had 3 or more visits with staff from Chatham-Kent Children's Services in the past year.
You can find more information on the enclosed letter of information and on the study website, at www.continuitystudy.uwo.ca.
We ask that you indicate on the form included here if you are willing to be contacted and return the form to the research team, using the stamped envelope provided. If you are interested, a researcher from Western will then follow up with you by telephone to give you more details about the study and answer any questions you may have.
Your decision to participate or not will not affect the services you receive at Chatham-Kent Children's Services.
Thank you for your interest.
/signature/
JoDee Anderson, M.A.
Director, Mental Health & Development
Continuity of Care in Children's Mental Health
The UNIVERSITY of WESTERN ONTARIO
Westminster Hall, 3rd Floor East • London, ON • N6A 3K7
1-877-850-2336 • www.continuitystudy.uwo.ca
Continuity of Care in Children's Mental Health: Development of a Measure
PARENT LETTER OF INFORMATION
| Investigators: Graham J. Reid, Ph.D. | Psychology & Family Medicine, UWO | Principal Investigator
| | Juliana Tobon, M.Sc. | Psychology, UWO | Co-Investigator
| | Shannon Stewart, Ph.D | Child and Parent Resource Institute | Co-Investigator
| | Barrie Evans, Ph.D. | Thames Valley District School Board | Co-Investigator
| | Judith B. Brown, Ph.D. | Family Medicine, UWO | Co-Investigator
| | Richard Goffm, Ph.D. | Psychology, UWO | Co-Investigator
|
Purpose:
The purpose of this research is to find out how parents experience continuity of care in the children's mental health system. We are also interested in looking at how continuity of care is related to the amount of time in treatment, parental stress levels, and satisfaction with services. You were invited to be a part of this study because you contacted one of several children's agencies in Southern Ontario participating in this study.
Procedures:
First, you will receive a questionnaire by email or in the mail that will take about 45 minutes to complete. The questionnaire will ask you about your experience of continuity of care within the agency, between providers, between agencies, and between other providers, such as your child's school and your family doctor. Second, along with the questionnaire, you will receive 6 other measures that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Finally, along with the questionnaires, there will be a consent form asking your permission for the agency to share your visit dates with our research team so that we get a measure of your service use. You will also indicate your consent for your primary clinician to complete their rating of your continuity of care and a therapeutic relationship measure, and to indicate whether you have had any involvement with the education, primary care and child welfare sectors for services.
The information you tell us is confidential to our research team and will not be shared with the agency. In appreciation of your time, you will be compensated with a $20 gift certificate of your choice from Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Chapters, or McDonalds.
If you are interested in the results of the study, we will provide you with a one-page summary of the findings once the study is complete.
Turn Over
Risks and Discomforts:
This study may make you think about things you have not thought about before. It is possible that reflecting on issues related to your child's mental health care might cause you distress or emotional upset. You may choose not to fill out the questionnaires at any time. In addition, you will be provided with a list of community resources to contact if you become upset or distressed while you complete the questionnaires. Otherwise, there are no known risks related to being in this study. You may not benefit directly from being in this study. The information from this study may be used to help develop new procedures and questionnaires to help families and children like yours.
Voluntary Participation:
Participation in this study is voluntary. You may refuse to participate and you may refuse to answer any questions or withdraw from the study at any time with no effect on your child's care. Completion and return of the questionnaire indicates your consent to participate in the study.
Confidentiality and Privacy:
All information obtained for the study is confidential. All forms have a code number to ensure confidentiality. Identifying information such as your name will be kept separate from your answers. Only the principal investigators (Dr. Reid and Ms. Tobon) and research assistants will have access to your identifying information. The rest of the research team will not have access to your name or other identifying information. All forms are stored in a locked filing cabinet for security. Information in this study is only for research. When the study results are presented or published your name or your child's name will never be used. Although we recruited you from a children's centre in the community, the research team is based at the University of Western Ontario in the Departments of Psychology and Family Medicine. Information gathered for this project will not be shared with staff at the children's mental health center. The clinician that you identify during the telephone screening will be aware of your participation, but will not have access to your responses. Some of the information gathered for the research study may overlap with information gathered as part of clinical services at the center you have contacted. Therefore, it is possible that there will be some overlap in the information provided.
Representatives of The University of Western Ontario Health Sciences Research Ethics Board may contact you or require access to your study-related records to monitor the conduct of the research.
Contact Information:
This letter is for you to keep. If you have any questions about this project, please call Dr. Graham Reid at (519) 661-2111 x84677. If you have any questions about the conduct of this study or your rights as a research subject you may contact the Director, Office of Research Ethics, The University of Western Ontario, 519-661-3036, email ethics@uwo.ca/ Dr. David Hill, Scientific Director, Lawson Health Research Institute at (519) 667-6649.
/signature/
Dr. Graham Reid, C. Psych.
Associate Professor, Psychology & Family Medicine and Paediatrics
PARENTS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
Have you had at least 3 face-to-face appointments with staff from Chatham-Kent Children's Services?
Dr. Graham Reid and researchers from The University of Western Ontario, in partnership with Chatham-Kent Children's Services, are doing a study about parents' experience of continuity of care in children's mental health.
Please complete if interested.
Child/Youth's Name: _______________________
Child/Youth's Date of Birth: ______________
Parent's Name: ____________________________
Phone number: __________________
Child/Youth's Gender: ☐ Boy ☐ Girl
Best time to call: ☐ 8am - noon ☐ noon - 4pm ☐ 4pm - 8pm
Please return your completed form to The University of Western Ontario in the stamped envelope provided. This form can also be completed online at www.continuitystudy.uwo.ca.
Thank you!
Police Protect Child from Social Worker
February 17, 2012
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After Tennessee children's services worker Brandie Venable broke up with
her husband, they met so dad could see their child. She accelerated the car
while he was hugging the child and dragged him along the street. Police
arrested her and removed the child from Brandie's care.
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DCS worker reassigned after arrest, loss of custody of child
Brandie D. Venable
2:20 PM, Feb. 16, 2012, Written by, Alexander Quinones, Gallatin News Examiner
A Children’s Services case worker from Gallatin has been reassigned to a position in which she does not work with children after being arrested for aggravated assault and having police take away custody of her own child.
According to Molly Sudderth from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, the re-assignment is temporary for the time being, pending an investigation.
Brandi Venable was arrested Feb. 4 after an incident with her husband, Chad Allen Venable. The couple decided to split up a few days ago and decided to meet up at a Chuck E. Cheese in Rivergate so Mr. Venable could see their child, according to an affidavit.
As Mr. Venable was hugging the child, who was seated in the back of her car, Mrs. Venable accelerated and dragged Mr. Venable along, while she screamed at him to get out of the car.
Mrs. Venable then stopped the car and ran inside an Essex Outlet store to tell a security guard that her husband was trying to kidnap her child, according to court records. When the security went outside to investigate he found Mr. Venable “hanging out the back of the vehicle.”
Mr. Venable told police he was “in fear of being badly hurt” during the incident. He decided to prosecute, after which Ms. Venable was arrested. He also responded a few days later by getting a court order to take away custody of her child away from her, which according to Capt. Kate Novitsky, Gallatin police carried out on Feb 10.
Venable has been released after posting a $2,500 bond. She has a court hearing scheduled for March 26.
Reporter Alexander Quinones can be reached at 575-7114.
Canada Court Watch on Radio
February 17, 2012
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Canada Court watch members Chad Wells and Chris Carter were interviewed
by Denis Rancourt on the CHUO Ottawa program 5 O'Clock Train. Link for audio (mp3).
Courts Opened (Slightly)
February 15, 2012
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In Los Angeles judge Michael Nash opened the courts to the public in
child dependency cases. As an op-ed by reporter Jim Newton shows, it is the
kind of openness you need a lawyer to exercise. Newton contrasts the
openness of courts in a long list of infamous crimes to the closure in
family law. In the criminal cases, the authorities prosecuting the crimes
are usually on the right side and want the public to see their work.
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For L.A. Dependency Court, a first: the press
Opening dependency hearings to the press and public is good for kids.
Foster youth with the California Youth Connection hold a press conference on the front steps of the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Downtown Los Angeles to halt the action of Judge Michael Nash who issued a blanket order to automatically open court hearings to the public and media.
(Los Angeles Times / February 7, 2012)
By Jim Newton, February 13, 2012
I have been attending trials in Los Angeles for 20 years. I've covered torture and murder, drug smuggling and bank robberies. I covered the trial of the officers who beat Rodney G. King and the rioters who beat Reginald O. Denny. I covered the murder trial of O.J. Simpsonand the child molestation investigation of Michael Jackson. I've been put on the stand and been told to reveal my sources for some unflattering documents regarding Police Chief Willie L. Williams (I refused). But one type of hearing has remained presumptively off-limits.
Until last week. On Wednesday morning, I took a seat in Courtroom 415 at the Los Angeles Dependency Court, where cases are heard involving child abuse and neglect. Judge Amy Pellman brought the room to order promptly at 9 a.m. and informed anyone who didn't know already that I was there to observe for the day. She asked whether anyone objected to my staying. Boy, did they.
For years, advocates of greater transparency in the child welfare system have argued that public and press access to dependency courts would improve the public's sense of how that system works. But the forces in favor of secrecy were strong – a combination of well-meaning defenders of children's privacy and unions and legal organizations who want to shield social workers, lawyers and others from public scrutiny. Those forces had prevailed until this month. But then Michael Nash, the presiding judge of Los Angeles Juvenile Court, issued an order decreeing that dependency hearings, which had been presumptively closed, were now to be presumptively open to the press. As a member of the press, I went last week to take advantage of this new right.
The first objection was to my being present for a hearing over whether I could be present. Pellman ruled in my favor. Then lawyer Thomas Wayne Pichotta argued that Nash was wrong to issue his order and that Pellman should not open her courtroom until opponents could get a ruling on their appeal. Pellman rejected that argument, too. Pichotta then delivered a dissertation on the right of privacy, which he asserted was grounded in the 4th Amendment. Pellman rejected his objection.
Other lawyers then chimed in with their own protests. Some argued it should be my burden to show that my presence wouldn't harm children. My lawyer (yes, I had a lawyer with me, since I'd expected objections) rebutted that. Another asked for a delay; Pellman said no.
The lawyers asked Pellman to order me not to divulge the names of children involved in these proceedings; she correctly conceded that she had no power to issue such an order, but I volunteered to withhold them, consistent with The Times' general practice in this area.
There were more objections, but finally they were all dispensed with and the day began. What followed was tragic, enlightening and important for the public to know. A man struggled to persuade the court to look past his criminal history and return his daughter to his custody; a woman whose two girls had been taken away made a desperate plea to get them back before she loses them forever to adoption; a broken family asked the court for help in reuniting a group of sisters under one roof.
Pellman was alternately stern and forgiving. She reminded the mother trying to recover her children that she'd had chances to do so and had failed. Her time, the judge warned, was running out. "Childhood has a short shelf life," Pellman said. "They deserve to have a mommy who's stable." The woman wept.
An essential goal of openness is to expose failings in the system, and those, too, were evident. One child takes medication for seizures that exacerbates behavior problems, and medication for behavior that aggravates the seizures. She needs – but has yet to receive – better coordinated care. Pellman expressed frustration that it took seven months for her to receive information on this case, and directed the child's caregivers to work together.
That one was of several glimpses of the greater accountability that public access to these courts will help bring about, but there also were reminders that access will also deepen appreciation for the system. Pellman's courtroom, decorated with teddy bears and a Spongebob Squarepants tapestry, is a place of both authority and compassion, and the lawyers who fought so hard to exclude me worked hard for their clients, all of whom ignored my presence.
In one instance, a young couple had lost their son to protective services but then completed the counseling required of them and applied for his return. "We have an excellent report from the social worker," Pellman told the couple. "Congratulations, you've done very well."
With that, she agreed to reunite parents and child. The boy, sitting behind me in the courtroom, called out "Mama" and reached for her as she left the room, her boy in her arms. "Spongebob," he added, pointing at the tapestry.
Secrecy has hidden many sins in the Los Angeles County foster care system. The system has failed to take children from dangerous homes or placed them in unsafe situations, without any public scrutiny. Openness will help expose such problems. But secrecy also has cloaked the system's successes; they, too, will be on display as this important experiment in open government unfolds.
Jim Newton’s column appears Mondays. His latest book is "Eisenhower: The White House Years." Reach him at jim.newton@latimes.com or follow him on Twitter: @newton_jim.
Praise for CAS
February 14, 2012
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To promote foster care Soo CAS has brought out a former foster girl who
praises the agency. From the looks of things, she is getting paid by CAS.
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Children's Aid Society makes 'heart'-felt plea for more foster families
Amber Kennard (right), a former foster child, checks out the handiwork of Grade 5 student Sarah McEwen (left) on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. The CAS had local school children make 182 hearts, one for each child in care in the district.
MICHAEL PURVIS/SAULT STAR/QMI AGENCY
By Michael Purvis, Updated February 20, 2012
Amber Kennard has good reason to lend the foster care system her stamp of approval.
She credits the Children’s Aid Society with saving her life.
“I would probably be one of the statistics on teenage suicide,” said Kennard, 21.
If not for foster care, “I wouldn’t be standing here today. There’s a lot to be thankful for," she said.
Kennard was present Thursday as CAS Algoma held its Helping Hearts event to draw attention to the number of children in care and the need for more foster families.
Children from St. Pius X Catholic School and Northern Heights Public School decorated 182 hearts, one for each child in CAS Algoma care. The hearts hang outside on the walls of the CAS Algoma building on Northern Avenue and will stay up until after Valentine’s Day.
While there are 182 children in care, Algoma has just 102 foster families.
Tracy Rushon, CAS Algoma’s recruitment coordinator, said a number of factors come into play when matching children with foster families, including the child‘s age, the number of children a family can accommodate, as well as what behaviours a family feels it can manage and what behaviours the family may have skills in managing.
“Our goal is to always try to best match families and children, so the more families we have the better matches we can make,” said Rushon.
Kennard is in Sault College’s personal support worker program and plans to go on to study recreational therapy in hopes of someday working as an activities director at a retirement home.
She still lives with the family who fostered her for nine years, and she said it was her foster parents who encouraged her to pursue an education.
“Education was big,” said Kennard, who was in foster care with her older sister. “There were a lot of life lessons.”
Those interested in becoming foster parents should visit the CAS online at www.algomacas.org for more information, or contact Rushon or her colleague Christine Mair at the CAS.
Bullet-Proof Glass
February 14, 2012
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In the course of her legal career Karen Selick has watched courthouses
change from open buildings without security to armed camps. She comments on
the changes and possible reasons. Here is a reason she left out. The
primary business of family courts, both in the mom vs dad section and in
child protection, is to separate parents from their children. Jailing bank
robbers does not produce the urge to kill. Harming children does.
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Karen Selick: Your honour, what’s with the bulletproof glass?
Karen Selick Feb 8, 2012 – 7:30 AM ET | Last Updated: Feb 7, 2012 7:00 PM ET
It’s no wonder courthouses fear the public. These days, people view courts as purveyors of injustice
Brian Kent/Postmedia News
I happened to catch a few moments of Sun News TV the day that the Kingston, Ont., courthouse was shut down due to a bomb threat during the Shafia trial. The reporter was marvelling over the low level of security he had observed at that courthouse up until then. There were no metal detectors at the doors, no police officers “wanding” him as he entered, etc.
He must have been from Toronto. He didn’t realize that the absence of metal detectors is normal out here in small-town eastern Ontario.
But even peaceful little courthouses like Belleville’s — where I began practising in 1985 — have been moving gradually to greater security. When I started, the Belleville court staff waited on people over an open counter. Lawyers could slip behind the counter to use the court’s phone or photocopier, in a pinch. There was never a police officer in the courthouse unless one of the lawyers involved in a contentious case requested one in advance.
Some time around 2002, a wall of glass (bulletproof?) was installed above the previously open counter, separating court staff from the public. You now had to speak through a metal grill and shove your documents through a narrow slot in the glass. A door with a combo lock now kept lawyers away from the phone and copier.
Then another remarkable change occurred. There was suddenly a police officer on duty in every courtroom whenever a judge had to face members of the public, even for case conferences where only two members of the public were present.
Meanwhile, big cities like Toronto and Calgary have for some years required citizens entering their courthouses to pass through metal detectors and have their bags and briefcases searched. These heightened precautions, I discovered recently, have even spread to Newmarket, Ont. — a town smaller than Kingston in population, but only half an hour’s drive from the big, bad city.
I articled in Toronto in 1976-1977, when anyone could freely breeze in and out of the courthouses — including Osgoode Hall, where the Ontario Court of Appeal sits — without ever seeing a police officer, being searched or having to show ID.
So what has changed over the past 35 years to make our courthouses so fearful? The homicide rate has actually fallen significantly over that time, although violent crime in general has risen.
But private businesses still don’t find it necessary to take this level of precaution. I can walk into a Toronto shopping mall as freely today as I walked into Toronto courthouses 35 years ago. Is there something unique about courthouses that makes them more likely scenes of violence?
My hypothesis is that people were more willing to accept the notion 35 years ago that courthouses were places where justice was done. Today, people are more likely to look at them as places where injustice will be done.
Many more people are compelled to interact with “the law” these days, simply because there is so much more of it. Regulation over citizens’ lives has exploded, and much of what happens in court cannot be described as having anything to do with justice.
Take, for example, Mark Tijssen — the Armed Forces major in Ottawa who was charged for sharing home-butchered pork with a friend. An investigator from the Ministry of Natural Resources spent five days spying from a neighbour’s tree house to collect the evidence for this ridiculous “crime.” The charges were suddenly dropped in December, ending Mr. Tijssen’s two-year ordeal. But before 2005, the regulations he was charged under didn’t even exist.
A huge percentage of people who end up in court these days are there for matrimonial cases. Since my articling days in 1977, Ontario has repeatedly revamped its family law statutes and regulations. Every rewrite has shifted Ontario’s matrimonial property regime further away from individualism and deeper into collectivism. As an observer who practised family law for more than two decades, I think family law has become less just than it once was. It should come as no surprise that many of the people affected by it think so too.
So yes, the courts increasingly have reason to fear the public. But installing security equipment in the courts and leaving unjust laws in place is not the solution.
Karen Selick is the litigation director for the Canadian Constitution Foundation.
Father Killed in CPS Raid
February 14, 2012
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Police shot and killed Will Reddie in his home in Michigan. They were
escorting two social workers serving a child protective services order and
removing his son.
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Crawford Co. police shooting draws protest, parent outrage
by Andrew Keller, Posted: 02.13.2012 at 6:14 PM
Man killed by deputy in early February, reportedly after lunging at the officer with a knife
Will Reddie was shot and killed by a Crawford County Sheriff's Deputy on February 3rd
GRAYLING, MI -- Monday, several Grayling residents held a protest to show their concern over a police shooting earlier this month that left one man dead.
Will Reddie was killed on February 3rd at his home when a Crawford County Deputy, a Grayling City Police Officer, and two social workers showed up to serve a child protective services order
Authorities say Reddie came at an officer with a pocket-knife and that's when the deputy fired.
Outraged community members made it clear today they are angry over the death of 32 year old-old Will Reddie, who was shot and killed at his Grayling apartment
“It's such an emotionally charged situation it should be handled in a different manner," said protester Janet Ledger.
Reddie was killed by a Crawford County Deputy when he reportedly lunged at an officer with a pocket knife. The deputy, city officer, and child protective services were at the apartment to take Reddie's son from the home.
“I think that the police should apprehend and restrain the parents before they allow any state workers or public people to be allowed on the scene," says Ledger.
"To me, he was murdered, for no reason, that they shot him for no reason," said Reddie’s mother, Michelle VanBuren.
But Crawford County Sheriff Kirk Wakefield says his deputy acted as trained to protect his life and others.
“You are taught to shoot until the threat has stopped, end of story," says Wakefield.
The parents claim there are discrepancies between the sheriff’s office and state police that are investigating the shooting, particularly how far Reddie was from the officer and deputy when the shot was fired.
“If it's all said and done, and all the facts are gathered up and something was done wrong, then I’ll deal with it, I always have and always will, as long as I’m sitting at this desk. I don't see he did anything wrong right out of the gate, he did what he had to do," says Wakefield, who stands behind his officer.
“They've got so many policies they can stand behind, I don't know what will happen. I’m so ashamed of our own police officers," says VanBuren.
The men and women who came out to Monday’s protest tell me they just want to see procedures change so this never happens again. As far as the little boy, right now, he's in protective custody at a foster home.
The VanBuren's tell us they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Crawford County Sheriff's Office once they know more about what happened.
Michigan State Police in Houghton Lake continue to investigate and hope to have their report complete soon.
Don't Complain or Else
February 13, 2012
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Don't question your doctor — you may lose your children. A British
couple complained about the treatment their son received in the hospital.
The hospital called social services. How did the hospital justify its
actions? Confidentiality.
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Birmingham medic reported parents to social services because they complained about sick son's hospital care
by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail, Feb 13 2012
Gina and Nick Ashford with son Alfie
A COUPLE claimed they were referred to social services – for daring to complain about a hospital’s care of their sick son.
Gina and Nick Ashford said they were picked on by an “over-zealous” doctor at Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital when they raised concerns over the treatment of 20-month-old Alfie.
The couple, from Solihull, took the toddler to the hospital with a seizure, which led medics on Ward 16 Children’s Ward to carry out a week of “aggressive” investigations.
But Mrs Ashford, aged 39, said they were referred to social services by a consultant who also threatened to involve the police when they objected to Alfie being sedated with a drug that made him vomit.
She said Alfie was also put into an induced coma and had a lumbar puncture on his spine as part of the series of tests before being finally allowed home. “It was every parent’s worst nightmare,” Mrs Ashford said.
“I feel I upset the consultant by complaining. You have to put all your trust in the doctor and when that trust breaks down, there is nowhere for a parent to turn.”
The Ashfords were later cleared of any wrongdoing by Solihull social services.
Now they have lodged an official complaint with Heart of England Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital.
It has launched in investigation into what happened.
The couple said their problems began when they began questioning Alfie’s treatment and asked for him to be allowed home. Former HSBC operations manager Mrs Ashford said: “The team still hadn’t come up with a diagnosis and Alfie was in a real state.
“When we started to object to some of the measures they were taking and asked to take our son home, the consultant said he would call the police. We didn’t understand as we were concerned they weren’t doing things in Alfie’s best interest.
“The next day, the nurses said Alfie could be discharged but the consultant said he had reported us to social services because we objected to them sedating him. We have taken Alfie to the doctors before with seizures and they always check him and send him home.
“This time, the investigations were so aggressive and making Alfie sick. We lost faith in what the medical staff were doing.
“We are good parents but felt we were put on trial for complaining.”
A Heartlands Hospital spokeswoman said: “We were very sorry to learn of the concerns raised by Mr and Mrs Ashford and, as a result of the issues raised, we are carrying out an investigation which will be shared in full with them.
“Our doctors and nurses take the care and safety of our most vulnerable patients very seriously and will report any matters of concern observed while in their care to the appropriate authorities.
“Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on the treatment of any individual patient but will ensure any complaint is fully investigated.
Don't Tell Mom
February 13, 2012
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A mother called fixcas to say that her pre-teen son is in hospital
emergency. She had a visit with him just a few hours before admission and
the boy was fine. What is wrong with him? No one will say. CAS has told
his group home staff and the medical team to clam up. She has to call CAS
for information, and they are not talking.
Intransigence Recordings For Sale
February 12, 2012
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Connecticut parents Melissa and Robert Obernauer are so frustrated with
the futility of pleasing Connecticut DCF that they have offered audio
recordings of their dealings with the agency on eBay for $50,000. The press
article and eBay listing are enclosed.
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Frustrated couple sells DCF tape recordings
Posted: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 11:32 AM EST Updated: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:33 PM EST, By WFSB Staff
KILLINGWORTH,CT (WFSB) -
Melissa and Robert Obernauer are in a battle with the state Department of Children and Families and much of it is on tape.
Ever since DCF removed Melissa's biological daughter from their home, they say their fight to get her back has been almost pointless.
"This is not a case about helping a child. This is a case of them versus us," said Robert Obernauer
It's gotten so bad that the parents began recording their conversations with the state. They were so convinced that the court process was fixed so they'd lose that they decided their only way to fight back was to sell those recordings on eBay for thousands of dollars.
"Of course the judges always side with DCF in these cases, never with the family," said Obernauer.
Both sides agree it's a sad story. Melissa Obernauer's daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was just three years old.
With her biological father out of the picture, Robert and Melissa moved the girl and her younger brother from New Jersey to a home in Killingworth six years ago. They say they called DCF looking for help dealing with the girl's mental health issues. They say their relationship with their caseworker broke down.
"It's been a daily struggle. Every single day just about. It consumes your life," said Obernauer.
DCF took custody of the now nearly 12-year-old while she was an in-patient at Natchaug Hospital in Mansfield.
The Obernauers claim the breaking point was a dispute over her medical care, but several sources tell the I-Team the Obernauers refused to take the girl back home which amounts to abandonment.
It's a charge they dispute. We asked DCF for their side of the story. They said privacy laws limit their response, but they did give us a statement stating: "The Department receives custody of a child via an order of the Superior Court, which does so only upon evidence that the parent is unable or unwilling to care adequately for the child. In such instance, the State will be required to invoke the legal process to ensure the child's adequate treatment and care. We recognize how devastating this can feel to a parent and how difficult it can be to care for a child with emotional challenges.
In this case, this was made more difficult when, because of the parent's own behaviors, the court took the unusual step of placing limits on the parents' interactions with the Department. While the present case involved many complicated elements, it is fortunate that the Department was able to identify a relative who is currently caring for the child. Most importantly, the child is doing well in the home, and the plan is for this home to provide the permanent family for the child."
In fact, Obernauer was even arrested for threatening DCF workers at one point. A charge he called a misunderstanding of his comments. DCF didn't even know about the recordings until the I-Team told them.
"It started very early where they would say one thing and then say 'we didn't say that," Obernauer said.
The eBay posting offers the audio for $50,000. But why would anyone pay that? The scandalous ad promises the recording contains lies and says it would make valuable evidence against DCF in court. The Obernauers played a few of the clips for the I-Team. Most were relatively benign conversations, the most inflammatory we heard was a call from a therapist who said their daughter missed a critical appointment while in DCF care.
Obernauer says his job frequently takes him to New Jersey. He says there it's legal to secretly record a call.
"I could not get anyone from the state to listen to me. I contacted the attorney general's office who wanted to know nothing about it, I sent letters to the judge, no response, the DCF ombudsman's office wanted to know nothing about the lies, so I figured that after I listed them on eBay it would get attention and give the case more publicity," Obernauer said.
Obernauer says he's gotten a few inquiries, but no offers yet. He says if someone was really planning to use the tapes against DCF he'd probably turn them over free of charge. But that raises an interesting question - what good are they?
Attorney Dan Klau is a privacy expert. He says he's never seen a case quite like this, but says in the legal world these tapes are probably useless because in Connecticut, unlike New Jersey the consent of everyone is required before a call can be recorded and Connecticut law would probably bar them from a courtroom.
Jeanne Milstien, Connecticut's child advocate, said the eBay posting is "outrageous."
"I was just shocked because I thought, it's only a matter of time when you do something like that before the child's identity is known and it's the child who's going to be exposed, and that child who is vulnerable, and the child who could get hurt," she said.
The Obernauers say they've spent $25,000 in legal fees and haven't gotten anywhere. Their daughter is living with a relative out of state right now. They say they're determined to someday bring her home. They knew the eBay posting could bring criticism, but they also hoped it would bring publicity to their fight.
"They've already tried destroying our child's life. We don't want to see them doing this to other children," he said.
Connecticut DCF confession recording/child workers lying on record/corruption
| Item condition: | --
| | Price: | US $50,000.00
| | Shipping: | $15.00 Economy
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| | Delivery: | Estimated between Wed. Feb. 15 and Thu. Feb. 23
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Up for auction are LEGALLY MADE recordings (made in the State of New Jersey), in which Connecticut DCF service providers admit that they have lied in official paperwork. These tapes are ideal for use by any person who has had a child "kidnapped" by DCF, and is looking to take legal action against them. Within the tapes there are confessions from service workers admitting that DCF has lied in paperwork as well as other matters. Because the recordings were made legally in the State of New Jersey, they should be admissable in ANY United States court. Also included in this auction is paperwork from a Connecticut Public School employee, which proves that they knowingly provide false information to DCF workers. Finally, you will receive a recording in which a DCF Attorney tries to convince a child that their parents are engaged in domestic violence, even after the child says that they have never witnessed anything. I have set a "buy it now" price for the tapes of $150,000, which is a VERY REASONABLE amount to pay to get back your child if they have been taken by DCF based on lies. Additionally, the tapes can be used in civil suits, which could earn you MILLIONS! This auction is a binding contract, and a serious auction. News media organizations are encouraged to bid on these items. The tapes run approximately 2 hours total. This should be of very high interest to national news media organizations for specials on government corruption and child abuse. Any questions will be responded to quickly.
Thanks for your interest
***The tapes are in secure storage at an undisclosed location in Southern New Jersey. Payment must be made within 24 hours. Interviews with myself for news programs are not included, and must be negotiated separately.
IF YOU GOOGLE CONNECTICUT DCF WATCH, YOU WILL SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY FIND USEFUL.
I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO END THE AUCTION AT ANY TIME, AS LOCAL NEWS MEDIA COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST
Garlic for Vampire
February 11, 2012
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A lawyer on Esther Buckareff's documentary Powerful as God said
that cross examination to a social worker is like garlic to a vampire.
California Social worker Bridget Hannegan got her dose of garlic.
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Man accused of child abuse challenges social worker
Andrew Galvin Register Writer, Published: Feb. 11, 2012 12:00 a.m.
An Orange County jury saw something uncommon this week: a father getting the chance to cross-examine a social worker who had labeled him a child abuser.
And since the father happens to be a prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, it made for some uncomfortable moments.
George McFetridge, 61, and his wife, Bette, 64, are suing Orange County's Social Services Agency and social worker Bridget Hannegan over an interaction in 2008 that led Hannegan to list the McFetridges on the state's Child Abuse Central Index.
The McFetridges' adopted daughter, Holly, then 15, had briefly run away from the family's Irvine home and told a worker at Huntington Beach Youth Shelter that Bette McFetridge had pushed her into a towel rack. The worker reported what Holly had said, which led Hannegan to come calling.
In February 2008, Hannegan, a senior investigative social worker, visited Holly at Woodbridge High School and said she was shocked at what she saw.
“Immediately I noticed her hair,” Hannegan testified while being questioned by the county's attorney, Daniel Spradlin. “It looked like she got hazed.”
While Holly's bangs looked normal, her hair was “cut severely uneven to the back” at about one inch in length, Hannegan said. She lifted up the back of Holly's hair and saw three circular, silver-dollar sized bald spots, Hannegan testified.
Holly said that George McFetridge had restrained her while Bette cut her hair as punishment for lying, Hannegan testified.
Then it was time for cross-examination.
George McFetridge prosecutes financial fraud cases for the District Attorney's Office. He's put away mortgage scammers like Jimmy Osborn, who cost 10 families their homes.
He pointed out that Hannegan had referred to Bette McFetridge as “Bette Jane” in her report.
“It's your testimony that you didn't even get my wife's name correct in your report?” he demanded.
He went on to question Hannegan's investigative techniques, asking if she had spoken to any of Holly's friends or teachers to try to corroborate her story (answer: no) or had taken a photograph to document Holly's severe haircut.
Hannegan replied that she is not “trained” to use a camera. “It's not part of my job description,” she said.
“You felt your one-hour visit with Holly was sufficient for you to have a grasp of her credibility?” Answer: yes.
In her report, Hannegan determined that Holly's allegation of physical abuse by Bette McFetridge was “unfounded,” but she added an “inconclusive” finding of alleged emotional abuse based on the haircutting incident.
Under the law at the time, Hannegan was required to report the McFetridges to the state's Child Abuse Central Index even though the emotional abuse finding was inconclusive. The law has since changed.
The McFetridges could have remained on the index for 10 years, but they succeeded in getting their names removed after 11 months through an appeals procedure created by a court ruling in another family's lawsuit, George McFetridge said.
Still, the McFetridges say their reputations were damaged by a process in which a social worker was empowered to act as prosecutor, judge and jury, and parents weren't given a chance for a hearing before being condemned to 10 years of public shame.
The issue has been a big one here in Orange County. Nearly 800 Orange County residents landed on the state's list of child abusers based on investigations that failed to determine whether any abuse actually occurred back in 2009 and 2010, according to an Orange County grand jury investigation.
With the jury out of the Santa Ana courtroom, George McFetridge argued to Superior Court Judge Michael Brenner that Hannegan lied in her report.
The McFetridges admit that the haircutting incident took place, but deny that Holly was restrained and say Hannegan exaggerated the severity of the cut and lied about the existence of bald spots.
“She's just making stuff up. She knows there's no right to confrontation,” George McFetridge told the judge. “If you read her report, you'll think we're despicable people … and it's all fabrications.”
The McFetridges want $1 for each of the 11 months they were on the index, plus $28,000 they spent putting Holly in a halfway house while they were listed as child abusers.
Brenner appeared skeptical of the McFetridges' case and, after argument by Spradlin, considered ordering a verdict in the county's favor. After several tense hours for the McFetridges, Brenner decided to let the jury make the decision. We'll let you know when they reach a verdict.
The McFetridges' adoption of Holly ultimately didn't work out. Their biological son, Scott, is now 40.
One Slight Cut
Four Girls Gone
February 11, 2012
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Christopher Booker reports on a French mother visiting England to visit
her ex, with whom she was on good terms. When dad was giving his daughter a
haircut there was an accident giving the girl a slight cut. Social workers
have seized all three of her children and are moving toward adoption.
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A mother on a visit to the UK loses three children to social workers
A particularly disturbing case emerges, as the media wake up to the soaring numbers of children being taken into care.
The number of children taken into care every month has reached a record level Photo: ALAMY
By Christopher Booker, 7:00PM GMT 11 Feb 2012
The media, it seems, are finally waking up to the enormous increase in the number of children being taken into care in this country. It was reported last week that care applications in England are likely this year to hit an all-time record of 10,000. In just four years, the rate at which children are being removed from their parents has far more than doubled, from 380 in January 2008 to last month’s 903.
The impression we are given is that, since the torturing to death of Baby P in 2007, our social workers and courts have become much more vigilant in wishing to avert any repetition of that scandal. But this is not exactly confirmed by the fact that the percentage of children being removed for “physical abuse” has actually fallen from 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent. The proportion of those removed for “neglect” has remained the same, at 44 per cent, while that of those seized for “emotional abuse” (or just “the risk of emotional abuse”, that vague term now so fashionable among social workers as an excuse for seizing children) has risen from 25 to 28 per cent.
The real elephant in the room, however, is the seemingly ever-growing number of children who are being seized from competent and loving parents for what appear to be, at best, the flimsiest of reasons. Among half a dozen new cases which have come to my notice just in the past fortnight is that of a French mother who came to England last November with her three young daughters, for a brief visit to their father, from whom she is amicably separated. He lives with his 10-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
The day before the mother was due to return home to France with her girls, I am told that she was having a bath while the father was downstairs cutting his eldest daughter’s hair. He accidentally cut her head slightly, drawing blood, which was noticed when she arrived at school. She explained to a teacher what had happened, with the result that social workers arrived to take her into care. The father was arrested and charged with “assault, neglect and ill-treatment”.
The mother describes how she was summoned to a police station, where she was told to sign a form she didn’t even read. This later turned out to have been a Section 20 order under the Children Act, by which parents may voluntarily put their children into care. Her girls, all under six, were taken off by social workers, and the mother was herself arrested and charged with having failed to protect the oldest girl from the “assault”, even though she was elsewhere in the house. She was given police bail and her passport was removed, so that she must remain in England at very considerable expense, to face criminal trial in April.
Her children, separated from each other, are now in foster care. When, two weeks after her arrest, she attended a case meeting at the council offices, the social workers told her that they were already drawing up an adoption plan for the girls. Although she was initially allowed supervised contact with them for six hours a week, the social workers insisted that an interpreter should be present, so that they could understand the conversation between mother and daughters. Because of the difficulty and expense this entails, their contact has now been reduced to three hours a week.
Although this particular case has unusual features, in other ways it is far from untypical of stories I hear several times a week, and which raise a very large question mark over just how pleased we should be that the seizing of children is running at a record level. The BBC may continue to present to us programmes such as its current series Protecting Our Children, showing our “brave” social workers removing children from sadly dysfunctional parents who seem unable to give them proper care. But the contrast of these to the cases I report week after week, where social workers tear families apart for no good reason, supported by a dehumanised court system, could not be starker.
Our children’s minister, Tim Loughton, insists that such cases are a handful of unfortunate exceptions. If only he would listen to the evidence, he might learn how misinformed he is.
CAS Defies CFSRB - Again
February 11, 2012
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A woman in Chatham has unanswered questions for children's aid. Her
application to the Child and Family Services Review Board (CFSRB) resulted
in a publication ban on her name. When the CFSRB granted her a hearing
Chatham-Kent CAS used the courts to block it. The press cannot say what her
questions are and CAS executive director Mike Stephens will give only a
fragmentary comment. How's that for government transparency?
Fixcas has reported several cases of other children's aid societies
refusing to follow a decision from the CFSRB, so far no cases in which they
acted in accord with the decision.
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CKCS throws up legal roadblock
LAW: Judicial review sought by local agency
By Ellwood Shreve, Updated February 11, 2012
A Chatham woman wants some answers from Chatham-Kent Children's Services, but she's facing a legal roadblock to her questions.
The woman, who can't be identified because of a publication ban regarding details of her case, said she followed proper process and made an application to the Child and Family Service Review Board. The provinicial organization deals with public complaints about children's aid societies across Ontario.
The review board granted the woman a two-day hearing.
However, the CKCS hired a London-based law firm to seek a judicial review of the decision by the CFSRB, regarding the woman's hearing.
Mike Stephens, CKCS executive director, said he couldn't discuss the matter because of a publication ban, when recently contacted by The Chatham Daily News.
When asked if seeking a judicial review is something the CKCS has done in the past, he said: "It's the first and only time we've done it."
The only other comment he would make is the CFSRB is eligible to receive certain complaints, but "they're not eligible to receive them all."
Now, the matter is set to go to a divisional court where it will be heard by a panel of three judges.
The CFSRB will have a lawyer arguing on its behalf.
The woman said she will likely have to represent herself as she can't afford a lawyer.
And, she readily admits she doesn't have the capability to represent herself.
"I have never been in divisional court before," she said. "I have no idea what they're even talking about."
She is also upset that she will now have to go out of town to deal with the issue.
The Daily News asked CFSRB officials if it is common for a children's aid society to seek a judicial review after the agency has granted someone the right to have a hearing.
An e-mail response was received from Jim Cowan, the designated media spokesperson for Social Justice Tribunals Ontario, of which the CFSRB is a constituent tribunal.
"Judicial reviews happen from time to time as part of the process of administrative law," he said.
He noted all SJTO tribunals receive legal services from the legal unit. Responding to judicial reviews is part of that work and is covered in the budget for legal services, he said.
eshreve@chathamdailynews.ca Twitter: DailyNewsES
Addendum: The Child and Family Services Review
Board has a page on its website titled Decisions. It advises: Please click here to leave
this website and access the Board's decisions on the Canlii website. We
did so and found 327 results, none of them for Chatham-Kent. The Chatham
Daily News quotes CAS executive director Mike Stephens downplaying his
propensity to litigate, saying:
When asked if seeking a judicial review is something the CKCS has done in the past, he said: "It's the first and only time we've done it."
It is the first time he has sought a judicial review because it is his
first case. Chatham-Kent takes 100 percent of its CFSRB cases before the
courts.
PC Convention Rally
February 11, 2012
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Pat Niagara
On Friday, February 10, 2012 members and supporters braved the bitter cold temperatures to rally together at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls where the Progressive Conservative party were holding their annual convention. Despite the cold temperatures a warm reception was received by many members of the P.C. party and supporters, as many stopped to comment that they indeed were in favour of Ombudsman Oversight.
February 10, 2012
Pictures:
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Pat Niagara
On Saturday, February 10, 2012 members and supporters braved the bitter cold temperatures and snow to rally together at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls where the Progressive Conservative party were holding their annual convention. Despite the cold temperatures a warm reception was received by many members of the P.C. party and supporters, as many stopped to comment that they indeed were in favour of Ombudsman Oversight. Due to weather conditions the rallies did pack it in.
February 11, 2012
Second day pictures:
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A video for the two days: YouTube and local copy (mp4).
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Championing the Bad Guy
February 11, 2012
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CAS did not break up this family, an unfaithful wife did. But once
broken, CAS sided with the adulteress to humiliate the father and his entire
family.
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Stacey Gauthier-Biekx
To make a long story short in June 2009 my brother was arrested from his home and charged with an assault he did not commit. His then wife of less then one year had her mother call 911 saying that he had hit her, threatened to kill her as well as kidnap the baby. They were in an argument at the time but at no time in the relationship was my brother EVER physically abusive, threaten death or kidnapping. She told police that he had never hit her before but now all of a sudden he was punching her in the face. She had no evidence eg.bruises. The police testified in a questioning manner that he had never seen a woman more distraught. A DRAMA QUEEN is she! The 911 call came only after my brother called my mom and dad to pick him up as he needed to get away from her. By the time my parents arrived my brother was being hauled up to Windsor Jail. He was denied even the basic right to provide a statement. From that day forward his x wife (whom we thought we were close to) banished all forms of communication with EVERYONE in our family. Our heads were spinning as we knew that my brother was not capable of hitting women. Unfortunately with Ontario’s 0 tolerance policy on domestic abuse despite no signs of assault he was charged, hauled off to jail and kicked out of his home. Over a year later he was vindicated in a court of law where the judge clearly spotted the inconsistency in her stories. A week after the so called assault his super sleuth sister (me) uncovered by sheer luck the fact that she was engaging in a sexual affair with a younger man. Facebook evidence of the affair was useful as the sexual conversations about how great the sex was were clearly visible on this guy’s wall. She began talking to him 3 weeks prior to the charges being laid. They posted pictures with him, her and the baby in my brother’s house the week after. Privacy settings people!! All along she is purging herself in court saying that he was only a friend and nothing more. The printed evidence we have clearly shows an affair. This guy within a couple of weeks was referring to this married women and my brothers daughter as HIS GIRLS! His x has a history of multiple relationships with men as well as a childhood which was unfortunately filled with abuse at the hands of her father as well as being kidnapped by her father as a child. My brother and his x had a beautiful daughter together she is now 3 years old. Since June 2009 he has been fighting for his right to be her father. Despite the not Guilty verdict his x`s pitbull lawyer conspires with her client to basically demolish any fathers rights by putting him on trial over and over portraying him as a angry monster that is not suitable to see his daughter unsupervised. In the court room his x smirks so often I’d like to vomit and sticks to her story that she really wants her child to have a relationship with her father but he is just so unstable and angry. Just another of her many lies. My brother is 30 years old and went into his marriage with the best of intentions. He had a daughter who is the love of his life and the last 3 years have been an emotional rollercoaster for him and my family. As I mentioned besides seeing her in court she refuses to speak to anyone in my family including my brother since the day she made false charges of assault. My brother has been torn apart. His property, (anything of value) was stolen (police and the courts think because they were married she was somehow entitled to his personal property eg coin collection, tax returns + much more including memorabilia from friends deaths, childhood video tapes, his wedding band) The possessions he did get back were packaged in garbage bags at the end of the driveway to be picked up with police escorts. Unfortunately the lawyers he has had so far have played safe within a system that has made her completely unaccountable for her actions. Adultery, theft, false charges of an assault, and kidnapping of a child are rewarded. The case against my brother is based on the fact that he has reacted to a major trauma emotionally and at times with anger. CAS unfortunately was called in automatically and from day one sided with the mother. My brother was labelled the abuser and when he refused to cooperate with CAS domestic violence classes he was told he did not respect authority. When he cries the first time seeing his daughter in over a year he is accused of being to emotional. Everything is twisted around to make the shoe fit. The shoe however will never fit, it is not his shoe. He has however given in to seeing a therapist whom CAS referred him and paid for. His counsellor has been of help to him in how to deal with the loss of his beautiful daughter. His counsellor has testified on his behalf and has even offered to pickup the child and supervise visits. This takes us to where we are 3 years later. His x and her lawyer have done everything to paint him as a threat to his daughter. Unfortunately my brother has swore at CAS and called his x a bitch outside of the court room and has been short with the supervisors at the access center. Their pens and paper write down scrambled information and their mouths offer unwanted advice on which toy she would like to play with. Swearing at people was not a bright move and obviously played right into the hands of the other team. As he changed her diapers the man stood a foot away watching. My brother asked him to back up and give some space. He later complained to the supervisor as he was uncomfortable and did not like that the man was standing their so close staring at his daughter. I am not implying this man was a pedophile. My brother found it creepy. My brother is not one to mince words or play games. At this moment they are set to go back to court. Because of disagreements with the supervised centers supervisor his use of the center was temporarily suspended. He has now been on the waiting list for months. My brother jumps through hoops like a show dog but his tail is not between his legs. He can no longer accept being a stranger in a strange place with people treating him strangely in front of his daughter. CAS sides with the mother and believes supervision is necessary. He has adjusted to playing the game. In the past 3 years he has seen his daughter less then 48 hours in total. He was robbed of close to a year with her after being unjustly charged. My brother is being portrayed as a monster because he has refused to admit to things he did not do, or taken classes he did not need. He has questioned AUTHORITY as to why his daughter has been kidnapped from him, and did not find that his daughter’s life and future is a game. He is a kind, funny, smart, loving and an amazing guy. Up to the point in his life when he was repeatedly conned and bullied by a system and a women that sees no purpose for him in his daughter’s life he was happy and together. My parents have been approved on 2 separate occasions as suitable supervisors yet throughout the mother and her accomplice lawyer deny anyone in my family any access to her. We love her more than words can say! We have always been a close family. I could not of asked for a better childhood or more dedicated parents. They were parents that piled us up in the van 2 weeks a summer and took us camping. I went to Florida and Disney Word 3 times as a child! We were always with extended family, cooking, laughing and enjoying our lives. This situation has taken a toll on all of us. Grandma and Grandpa have been completely eliminated at the request of a lying manipulative woman and her henchmen. The total lack of empathy these people show to me is criminal. We are 100% open to speaking with the mother with 100% civility. We do not approve of her actions but for our beautiful Angel we will do anything. We unlike her wish to put the child first. This child is missing half of her and it is a very good half and she deserves her right to be her full self. The road has been long and it seems that hope is misguided in a system that does not hold a fathers love as a priority. Looking for any advise that you can give me because to us giving up and giving in is not an option. I have attempted contact with the mother via 3 phone calls and 4 letters in 3 years. On my last phone call before Christmas she actually picked up (she was not looking at her caller Id.) I was immediately told that if I had anything to say to her I should call her lawyer and she hung up. Her lawyer did not return my call. We were all then accused of stalking her. Did I mention that during their short marriage she and I were the very best of friends. Funny how everyone else under the sun can spend time with my brother’s daughter besides him and us. Her Plenty of fish boyfriends can visit. Why can’t we? HELP AND ADVISE PLEASE…..He will be back in court by the end of the month for more of the same and the judge will listen to the mother and her lawyer make up a zillion reasons why his counsellor is not a suitable supervisor. My brother represents him self so any FREE legal plans or advice would be amazing. Court costs are piling up and his money is nil. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
February 10, 2011
Altered Protection
February 8, 2012
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Candice Lassiter
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What do social workers do when a child on their watch dies? They falsify
records. Here's a case in which they did not get away with it. Aubrey
Littlejohn was in the care of her great-aunt while her mother was in jail.
Craig Smith was watching the family and made at least one home visit. After
the girl died, Smith and his supervisor Candice Lassiter altered their
records.
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Swain DSS officials arrested
Charges result from toddler's death
9:50 PM, Feb. 7, 2012 | Written by Jon Ostendorff
BRYSON CITY — A supervisor and social worker at the Swain County Department of Social Services were charged with felonies Tuesday in connection with the agency’s oversight of a 15-month-old girl whose death came amid evidence of abuse.
A grand jury indicted supervisor Candice Lassiter on three felony counts of forgery and three felony counts of obstruction of justice after a State Bureau of Investigation inquiry.
She is on administrative leave, said agency attorney Justin Greene, and could not immediately be reached for comment.
The same grand jury indicted social worker Craig Smith on three counts of obstruction of justice, according to court records.
Smith no longer works for the agency. He also could not immediately be reached.
SBI agents a year ago searched the county’s DSS office as part of an investigation into the events surrounding the death of Aubrey Littlejohn.
The toddler died Jan. 10, 2011, at the Cherokee Indian Hospital about 15 minutes after being brought in by her great-aunt, Lady Bird Powell.
Powell was charged last week with the child’s second-degree murder, felony child abuse, first-degree kidnapping, extortion and possession of methamphetamine.
The child was left in a car seat for 12 hours the day before and given only few bites of a hot dog and sips of soda, according to court papers.
She was wrapped in a blanket and wearing only a diaper soaked in urine and feces and a T-shirt when she arrived at the hospital, according to an investigator’s statement in a search warrant.
Officials said the child’s body temperature was 84 degrees when she was brought in.
Powell had been caring for the child while the girl’s mother was in jail. An autopsy report said the cause of death was undetermined.
Smith visited her home five months before she died but found no evidence of abuse despite a complaint the girl had fallen from an unbuckled car seat down a set of stairs, according to an SBI search warrant.
Smith later falsified his records after Aubrey Littlejohn died to show he had called the hospital to make sure she was examined for injuries from the fall, investigators said in the search warrant.
Lassiter was his supervisor.
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