International

Sep 26, 2013

Why I no longer wish to identify as a mental health professional

I would like to share an article that I have come across.
 
Nashua Patch
by Kevin Kervick
September 14, 2013

CPS employee arrests linked to Greenville teen's murder

In CPS employee arrests linked to Greenville teen's murder, Matt Goodman reports on the arrests of "[o]ne current and one former employee of Child Protective Services ... on charges related to the investigation of the murder of Alicia Moore, the Greenville teen who was found dead in a trunk last November." They have been charged with tampering evidence.

To view this news story (video & print), click here.

Sep 23, 2013

the Greens & medical marijuana

On Sept. 17, 2013, Anthony Sabella (from www.wilx.com) did a report (both video & print) entitled Medical Marijuana Users Fight to Keep Infant Daughter. This report introduces us to Steve and Marie Green, who have lost custody of their six-month-old daughter Brielle because they use medical marijuana.
 
On Sept 20, 2013, Joe Khalil (from www.wlns.com) did a report (both video & print) entitled Medical Marijuana Caregiver Parents Denied Custody of Child. In this report, we learn that Steve & Marine Green have again been denied custody of their daughter, Brielle. They have, however, been granted unlimited visitation, so long as a third party supervises. Steve Green explains that the devices they use are similar to e-cigarettes & contain no cannabis.
 
On Sep 22, 2013, Lorne Fultonberg (from www.wilx.com) did a report (both video & print) entitled UPDATE: Child to Stay with Grandmother in Medical Marijuana Hearing. In the video, the Greens show where they lock up the marijuana, which is behind a door with two locks. Again, we are told that the Greens use devices similar to e-cigarettes & that contain no THC. Marine Green makes a good point when she states "We haven't had the trial yet. How can they substantiate the danger when there has been no trial?"

Sep 16, 2013

Deficiencies Found In Local Foster Home Where Infant Died

I have an update to my August 10, 2013 post (the death of foster child, Alexandria Hill) in which a foster mother was accused of killing a toddler in her care by way of a forceful impact to the floor.
 
The news video & written report Deficiencies Found In Local Foster Home Where Infant Died addresses the Texas Mentor (the "child placing agency" that Sherill Small had gone through), which "has racked up 59 violations in the past two years." (These include 8 in the Small foster home.) Some of the listed issues include issues with background checks & inappropriate discipline.
 
To view the video & written news story, click here.

 

 
I have several other posts that also address
the tragic death of foster child Alexandria Hill.

Sep 15, 2013

County worker accused of paying for cruise with gift cards meant for teens

 
Miya Shay's article, County worker accused of paying for cruise with gift cards meant for teens, tells the story of Keshie Solomon, a former "technician in Harris County Child Protective Services." Allegedly, Keshie Solomon "bought at least $1,500 worth of gift cards between 2007 and 2011" for "her own personal use." That money was supposed to go to "teens aging out of the CPS system."

Sep 14, 2013

AFR News: In re Yohan K. and Marika K., 2013 IL App (1st) 123472 (June 19, 2013)

I would like to share a post from AFR News that just became aware of. In re Yohan K. and Marika K., 2013 IL App (1st) 123472 (June 19, 2013)  was published on June 29, 2913 by Leonard Henderson.
 
The above mentioned post links to a PDF of a 49-page appellate court opinion - In re Yohan K., 2013 IL App (1st) 123472 - which I have added to the PDF section of this blog.

Sep 13, 2013

Wrongful Death Lawsuit in 8-Year-Old Boy's Slaying Moves Forward



This video and the accompanying news story can be found at

Sep 12, 2013

Snook case raises tough questions about foster care

I have just become aware of the case of Donnie Snook, a foster parent, who "admitted to sexually assaulting and making pornographic images of boys over a 12-year span." According to the author of Snook case raises tough questions about foster care, (which was published September 4, 2013), "[t]he crimes, which began in January 2001 and went on until his arrest in January of this year, involved 17 boys, most of whom were from the Saint John area and between the ages of five and 15 at the time of the offences."
 
To read the news story, see the attached video, & access related links, click here.

Sep 11, 2013

two more videos featuring "Buzz"

Interview with the Children's Administration CPS

http://youtu.be/jWkJgdjkbo0
 
Interview with the Children's Administration II Relative Care

http://youtu.be/mqJJuFR7gJc



Click here for more videos featuring "Buzz."

 

Sep 10, 2013

Woman guilty of murdering adopted girl who starved and froze to death

A Washington couple has been convicted in the death of their adopted daughter, Hana Williams. The mother, Carri Williams, has been "found guilty of homicide by abuse and manslaughter in the death of her adopted daughter...." The father, "Larry Williams, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter...."
 
What happened?
Hana Williams was locked outside and died of hypothermia in May 2011 after she was found unconscious shortly after midnight in temperatures hovering around 40F (4C), authorities said.
...

Investigators said Hana had endured beatings, starvation, being forced to sleep outside and use an outdoor toilet and that she had lost a significant amount of weight since her adoption in 2008. Prosecutors said her 10-year-old brother, who also was adopted from Ethiopia, was similarly mistreated.
 
The parents kept the family isolated from non-relatives, home-schooled them and followed a harsh child-rearing regimen described in the Christian parenting book To Train Up a Child, investigators said, while adding that religion had been deemed not relevant to the criminal case.
 
* * *
 
I just learned of this case by reading Woman guilty of murdering adopted girl who starved and froze to death on The Guardian.

Adopted girl says mother forced her to dig her own grave

 
This video and the accompanying news story can be found at

Sep 5, 2013

Vaccination Information Network & a "trending" video

The video below seems to be really "trending" right now.
I went to YouTube & found that it was done by the
Vaccination Information Network.
(I have just added their site to the links page & their YouTube channel to the YouTube page.)


http://youtu.be/7QBcMYqlaDs

Sep 2, 2013

two articles on SBS

I would like to share two articles that have recently come to my attention.
They both address the topic of shaken baby syndrome.

Child Protective Svc's & Controversial Medical Diagnoses
The Amanda Truth Project
by: Tonya Sadowsky
June 11, 2012

Law Expert Lays out Legal Trends in Childrens’ Cases
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
by: Maggie Lee

Sep 1, 2013

re: baby Jayden Wray

I have just become aware of the case of baby Jayden Wray, who died in 2009. Although he had rickets, his parents (Rohan Wray and Chana Al-Alas) were accused of shaking him to death. Because of this, his younger sister was placed into foster care soon after birth.
 
Luckily, they were eventually cleared of the "crime" and their daughter was returned to their care ... at roughly 17-months-old.



For more information on this tragic case, check out the following news articles.
 
The Guardian
and
 
The Telegraph
April 20, 2012
 
Mail Online
by: Sue Reid