International

Oct 30, 2012

Homer Herbert Found Not Guilty of Capital Murder of Two Year Old Child

Homer Herbert Found Not Guilty of Capital Murder of Two Year Old Child (via PR Newswire)
The Cochran Firm - Mobile Criminal Defense team pleased with case results MOBILE, Ala., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Homer "Rock" Herbert, II was found not guilty of capital murder September 21, 2012 after standing trial in the death of a 2 year old…

Oct 29, 2012

SPECIAL REPORT: DFCS and children at risk

Though this investigation/story focused on Jadien Harvey, the following quote is offered:
The Division of Family and Children Services says eleven children have died this year in Georgia despite DFCS investigations into the families.
* * * 
The written news story (and accompanying video) can be found at

Oct 24, 2012

Young girl's mother hopes inquiry sparkes changes

Velvet Martin chose to place her daughter, Samantha, in foster care. She made this choice after Samantha's birth in 1993, when she learned that Samantha would have severe disabilities.  Velvet felt that foster care would allow her daughter to get the medical care she would surely need. Eventually, Velvet (who had regular visitation) & school officials began documenting injuries that Samantha was suffering.
The wounds ranged from bumps and bruises to fractures and bone breaks. The girl was also well underweight and hovered around 50 pounds between age 10 and 13.
Velvet Martin began fighting for Samantha's return to her home.

Months later, while still in foster care, Samantha was dead.

* * *
The written news story (and accompanying video) can be found at

Oct 13, 2012

two stories about foster care abuse from The Spokesman Review

Following are two news stories from our very own The Spokesman Review.
I am saddened that there is the need for these types of stories.
However, I'm proud that our paper has taken a step in exposing such problems.

 
 story 1 of 2
published Oct 12, 2012

 
Abuse within foster families systemic, hurts
story 2 of 2
 published Oct 13, 2012

 

Oct 9, 2012

Elmer Clay Jorgensen (1937 - 2011)

In the past week, I discovered that Dr. E. Clay Jorgenson of Washington passed away. I am saddened by this news. Dr. Jorgenson was an ethical, honest person. I have no doubt that he helped many families & children in the Spokane area during his psychology career.

 
You can find the www.legacy.com obituary here:

Oct 8, 2012

OKC man arrested for alleged lewd acts with child



According to the news story,
 OKC man arrested for alleged lewd acts with child,
A metro man living in a foster home was arrested ... for lewd acts with a child....

A spokesperson with the Department of Human Services said the suspect, 25-year-old James Percifield, and his wife were living in the home of a foster parent.

To do that they were required to receive foster parent training, a background check and their fingerprints were taken.

* * *
 
It would appear that, at least in this instance,
CPS isn't great at screening people.

Dr. Eric D. Keefer




Dr. Eric D. Keefer is the author of



 


 


 


 


Oct 4, 2012

Number of State Wards Decreases Thanks to New Model

According to a story by Nebraska TV, Number of State Wards Decreases Thanks to New Model, there has been a decline in the number of children in foster care. As indicated in the article,
the director of  Children and Family Services in the Department of Health and Human Services ... attributed the decrease to two areas of focus: a new assessment model used to initially assess the risk facing children reported to CFS; and returning custody to parents whose children have been safely living at home.