Posted on 05/08/2008 5:54:21 AM PDT by MizSterious
"It's the plan that has to address the permanency," said Mary Walker, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "Whether or not children will be unified with their parents or whether or not they will remain in foster care."
Children and parents are being interviewed this week, and Texas Child Protective Services will make recommendations. A judge would ultimately sign off on the plans. Court hearings addressing the children's status in foster care are scheduled to begin May 19 in San Angelo, Texas.
"Some of our moms are working on plans of their own that they can propose to CPS," said Cynthia Martinez with the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Society, which represents some of the FLDS mothers.
The April raid was prompted by a phone call from someone claiming to be a 16-year-old "Sarah," who was pregnant and in an abusive relationship. When Texas CPS and law enforcement responded to the YFZ Ranch, they claim they found evidence of other abuse, including teenage mothers. That prompted a judge to order the removal of all the children at the FLDS compound.
The children have since been placed in foster care facilities across Texas. In contrast to the massive hearing Judge Barbara Walther held that placed the children in state custody, individual hearings will determine what happens to the children now.
In a typical service plan, there are recommendations and requirements that may need to be completed before a parent is reunited with their child.
"If, for example, we have a parent who has some substance abuse issues, the plan may be that the parent go into rehab," Walker said. "If you've got issues with neglect, making sure the child is properly cared for, we'd look at parenting classes, homemaking classes. The plan has to address whatever changes are necessary to reduce the level of risk."
Walker said she did not know what the service plans would address or recommend with the FLDS children and their parents. Texas CPS workers have claimed that the polygamist sect has a culture that lends itself to abuse, with girls being raised to become child brides.
The Texas child welfare system gives authorities up to a year to work with a family. If necessary, a judge can grant an extension. With 464 children in state protective custody, authorities concede that this case is not typical.
CPS said it is working with the Texas Education Agency to deal with the educational needs of the FLDS children.
Educational assessments will be conducted on each child and sent to the school district where the children have been placed. Texas' educational authority will recommend the assessment be used on all FLDS children.
"It is anticipated that the children will continue their education on the campus of their foster placement," CPS said in a statement. "There are no plans at this time for the children to attend classes on any public school campus."
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has released new numbers on the children.
According to the May 2 census, there are 102 infants up to 2 years old. An estimated 99 children are ages 3 to 5; 131 children are 6 to 9 years old; 62 children are 10 to 13; and 42 are 14 to 17.
Texas authorities said there are 26 young women who the FLDS claim are adults, but the state believes are children. Two young men turned 18 while in foster care but have elected to stay with family members at a shelter, CPS said.
Some of the foster care facilities the FLDS children are staying in have racked up violations.
The Deseret News conducted an online check of the inspection records and reports for the facilities the judge ordered the children to stay in. They are publicly accessible on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Web site.
"Foster children are being spanked with a belt as a form of discipline," said one 2007 report for the Presbyterian Children's Homes & Services in Waxahachie, Texas.
"Foster child was made to stand on one foot in a closed closet as a form of discipline," said another report on the facility.
For most of the facilities, most of the 2007 violations were for mundane issues such as record keeping. The Kidz Harbor Home in Liverpool, Texas, was written up in February for two residents having sex at the facility. The Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Amarillo was written up in February for not reporting a child's critical injury in a timely enough manner. It was also written up that same month for having a staff member becoming aware of a child's bruises, but failing to report it.
"You must report and document suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to child abuse hotline and the designated employee/administrator as soon as you become aware of it," the report said.
Online records show several facilities underwent a new round of assessments and inspections just before the FLDS children were placed in foster care.
I’ve had the same ‘split’ concept about those two boys myself.
Thank You for expressing it well.
Like I said,
I’m kinky that way.....
I’ve even mixed chocolate with ice cream (SCREAM!)
Aren’t you getting ahead of the game?
First, the whole case has to fail and the children all returned, and the media have a heyday over tromping the Texas CPS.
Then, we can talk about firing them for incompetence.
Here in June, I think we’ll find out whether that is true or not.
Swoon...
Well, there goes the claim of those who said this is all being done wrong.
The argument that the first case was done ‘en masse’ , still holds, but no one had a better solution.
Their only solutions involved doing exactly what the Judge is doing now.
I guess some think Judges have ‘magic wands’.
Well I figure I may as well let everyone know all about me! Since I got it right here it must be the whole truth & it wasn’t even sourced...I am sitting here waiting to learn more....
“The arrest warrant for Dale Barlow has now been recalled”
What if I told you that wasn’t exactly true?
I know what a lunch mob is, I deal with one at the Chinese buffet down the street...
But a Religious Spigot, is that what they use to fill a Baptismal pool with or something, and how can a piece of plumbing hardware be sexually depressed, no matter the religious affiliation Damn, just damn...
Can we add sprinkles & whipped cream?
“The “mothers” deserve it. “
I think that is rather harsh to say, and is something that should be limited to the ‘mothers’ who are actually charged with a crime.
I can’t find the one from the AG right now. Here’s a statement from an Assistant DA for that district:
“No arrests have been made in the case, although the one arrest warrant issue — for 50-year-old Dale Barlow — remains active, she said, rejecting previous reports that it had been dropped.”
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/may/06/state-to-help-with-possible-criminal-cases-from/
I have been following this case since it started, much like everyone else , and I don’t remember ever seeing one instance where there was a clip on TV, on the internet, or a statement in the news websites, where I heard one mother address any child by name.
I find that rather odd, but not necessarily ‘incriminating’.
“According to the Attorney General of Texas, the Barlow warrant is still in force, despite news reports.”
I second that.
The investigation of Dale Barlow was concluded, for the time being, and active pursuit of the arrest warrant was put on hold, until further notice. The search for the ‘Sarah’ named in the warrant continues.
“Also, if true I wonder why Barlow has not been arrested since they know where he is.”
Because he had a ‘believable’ alibi, and because they haven’t found ‘Sarah’.
“Actually, she did follow the law. There is a provision to extend the 14 day period. She used it.”
You are, of course, absolutely correct.
I even read that,just yesterday, and already forgot it.
(senility ?)
Thanks.
And you may end up being technically, and legally correct.
If it is true, that there were multiple cases of child abuse, or child labor law violations, or indecencies with a minor, then I hope they find the perpetrators, and arrest them before the court/CPS/State is forced to just return the children to the same ones who victimized them.
If so, then I think we ought to talk about a TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Well, a Religious Spigot is the valve on a Fountain of Religious Knowledge.
And then there is religious knowledge, carnal knowledge, tc....
So that’s where the sex part comes in. It’s a part of knowledge.
And everyone knows you push down on the spigot to open it, which is why the term ‘depressed’.
: )
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