Just received this in email:

The Congressional Education and Labor subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities is conducting a hearing on the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) tomorrow, November 5th.

You can reach the subcommittee members by calling the capitol switchboard, at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to one of the following Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities members:

Carolyn McCarthy, Chairwoman
Todd “Russell” Platts, Ranking Member
Yvette Clarke
Howard P. “Buck” McKeon
Robert C. “Bobby” Scott
Brett Guthrie
Carol Shea-Porter
David P. Roe
Paul Tonko
Glenn “GT” Thompson
Jared Polis
George Miller
Judy Chu

Let’s make those phones RING

More information - this link was sent to me by LawDoll (Leesa) - thank you!
American Humane Testifies for Reauthorization & Expansion of Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Plus Increased Use of ‘Differential Response’ and Other Approaches

Update: Watch the archived webcast of this hearing: Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis

… THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE CALLS. PLEASE KEEP THE NUMBER AND KEEP CALLING THESE PEOPLE …

We’ve known for a long time that children are being overly medicated in foster care. State lawmakers seem very resistant to making laws to prevent this, probably because of pressure from the pharmaceutical industry.

Meanwhile thousands of children are mentally injured by psychotropic drugs after being placed in “chemical restraints” to control and subdue them.

Recently - just last April - a drugged seven-year-old foster child in Florida took his own life, and once again the spotlight is on this issue. Florida legislators, feeling the heat, are making the motions to do something about this. I looked through the FightCPS archives and found the same issue discussed in the news in 2001 and 2004, in Florida. They didn’t do anything about it then. What makes anyone think they’ll do it now?

I’ve had this issue bubbling under the surface of my usually calm demeanor for many months. Make that years. Well.. today I let it out. I compiled my research, found numerous YouTube videos exposing the matter, and put it all on one page, which you’re now welcome to visit: Drugging Foster Children. I look forward to getting some feedback on that page!

CPS Post Audit is a new blog tracking Kansas child welfare legislation and related topics.

It is vital to know about upcoming CPS child welfare legislation in your state if you want to help stop CPS injustice.

I would love to see a blog similar to this one created for all fifty states. Keep an eye on those state legislators and make sure they know what your issues are!

A few days ago I found Kit and Nancy Hey’s amazing photograph on my Gather Family Rights group, and asked for permission to post it here:

I spent some time looking through Kit and Nancy’s website and all Nancy’s articles on Gather.Com. I was especially touched by her photographs of Sabrina on their website, and by the videos of her speech at the 2008 DC Family Preservation Rally.

In her speech Nancy stated that a CPS social worker detained her child, not because Sabrina was in any immediate danger, but because she was miffed that the Heys wanted to consult an attorney before allowing any further intrusions against their privacy.

Sabrina was born on April 3, 2005 and detained at the age of only twenty-two days; the reason given was ‘failure to thrive’ although she was under doctor’s care and eight pounds at the time. Later Sabrina’s mother was accused of having a learning disability that would interfere with parenting, but when I see Nancy Hey on video reading her statement, and on Gather.Com writing articles, I can’t see that there’s any evidence of her being handicapped to the extent that parenting wouldn’t be possible.

This looks like a clear-cut case of injustice, and I hope everyone here will join me in prayers, good wishes, vibrations, energy, or whatever you can give, for this persecuted, wrongfully attacked family. The case is currently being appealed and all visitations have been cut off.

You can click on the picture above to go to Kit and Nancy’s website.

More information about the DC Family Preservation Rally: 2008, 2009. (The 2009 site appears to be under construction.)

[Update: Today I found this link: Child Snatcher Judge - with a photo of the couple little Sabrina was given to. Apparently they had their own baby and Sabrina may be neglected in favor of the natural child.]

Washington grandparents Doug and AnneMarie Stuth have every right and reason to be caretakers of their three-year-old granddaughter, yet caseworkers at Child Protective Services are making up unreasonable justifications to keep the cute little blonde girl in foster care. They say the Stuth’s aren’t making an effort to support the child’s reunification with her teen mother, the Stuth’s daughter. Yet a KING5 news video report proves they have done everything in their power to help the mother have access to her child.

The Stuths made their case high-profile through going to their state legislators including Senator Pamela Roach, and to the news media. They are fighting the case in court. They are a good example for the many thousands of other grandparents who want custody of their grandchildren who have been placed in foster homes. The denial of kinship care rights to grandparents is one of the worst aspects of current child protective services corruption. CPS agencies want to adopt children out to strangers so they can qualify for federal subsidy bonuses.

Source: Investigators: Grandparents passed over in favor of foster care by Susannah Frame on December 11, 2008, for KING5 News. Be sure to read through all the related content on this article! This is a major exposé!

A word to CPS workers: The word is out… everyone knows how corrupt the CPS agencies are. Come out of your dark offices and admit to the world and to yourselves that you’ve done wrong. Good always triumphs over evil. The love of family overcomes the evil of family destruction. In time you will see this is true.

Hannah Overton, 30, the Texas foster parent and Christian homeschooling mother of five convicted to life in prison without parole for the murder of a foster child, is asking for a new trial.

She was convicted in September 2007 because she allegedly forced a four year old, Andrew Burd, to drink a mixture of two cups water, salt, pepper, chili powder and Cajun spices as a punishment. Hannah’s version of this is different. She says the child requested the “Zatarain’s Seasoning” and she put it in water instead of on food because he had an overeating disorder. She says she did not force him to drink it as a punishment. Source: Free Hannah Overton Website.

While many more violent foster parents have gotten off with a mere hand-slap, this young woman was sentenced to life without parole even though she had no intention to kill the child. She reportedly panicked when she saw Andrew wasn’t breathing, and waited an hour and a half to call for medical assistance. This is what the prosecutor said made her responsible for Andrew’s death. Source: Woman Convicted In Foster Child’s Death Seeks New Trial published on November 7, 2008 at KWTX.com.

A commenter at Sarah Walston’s blog article about Hannah Overton said that the actual time Overton waited to take Andrew to the hospital was only five minutes, not an hour and a half.

This case shows that foster parenting is a dangerous occupation. For years now I’ve warned people NOT to get involved with the foster care industry because of the risk of false accusations, and because of things like this where foster children die or are murdered, and there must be accountability.

One foster parent wrote on Sarah Walston’s blog:
“This story TERRIFIES me because I currently have 2 foster children living in my home, and now I’m forced to think ‘What IF this happens to ME?’ This story shows how easily some unfortunate twist of fate, can leave someone wrongfully convicted…”

There is a website created by Overton’s Christian supporters: Free Hannah Overton.

My opinion on this is that she got a much longer sentence than she deserved. Without a doubt, forcing a child to drink hot spices is a form of child abuse, and she deserved some prison time if she actually did that, but to put her away for life without parole is far too much time, especially for a young woman who is unlikely to be a danger to society if set free.

Another blog article, Suffer the Children, gives an opposing view, criticizing the “Free Hannah Overton” movement and pointing to perceived flaws in the thinking and writing of those seeking to help her.

For a picture of Andrew Burd: Corpus Christi Couple Charged in Death.

See also: Hannah Overton convicted of killing foster son.

This case has become a favorite cause for bloggers, especially Christian bloggers:
Hannah Overton :: Pray for Hannan Overton :: Release Hannah Overton :: Free Hannah!!! :: Hannah Overton Alleged Salt Poisoning Case :: Urgent Prayer Request for Hannah Overton :: May God Bless Hannah Overton and Family :: Free Hannah Overton :: Free Hannah Overton.

Other FightCPS articles about Hannah Overton: Texas: Fosterer charged with murdering 4-yr-old boy with hot pepper

Hannah’s aunt posted extensive information on her MySpace blog in which she said part of the conviction relied on a FALSE affidavit filed by a CPS social worker! See: The Wrongful Conviction of Hannah Overton.

What is your opinion? Should Hannah Overton be freed? Should her sentence (life without parole) be exchanged for something less harsh? Or do you think she got what she deserved?

Baby Alyssa had bone fractures, but why? Social workers reacted by taking her away from her parents, Dave and Tiffany Cuin-O’Shell. When they took baby Alyssa, Tiffany was hysterical. Wouldn’t you be?

That was only thirteen days before she died. Police officer Dave O’Shell, suspected of child abuse and expecting to be arrested at any time, apparently snapped. He shot his wife, then himself thirteen days after the Colorado CPS social workers violated their lives.

Only two days later the foster mother said at a court hearing that the child had something wrong with it. Genetic tests were ordered and it was discovered that baby Alyssa had spinal muscular atrophy. This prevents muscles from developing and caused her 11 bone fractures.

It was never Dave’s fault - he was innocent of the child abuse charges.

Tiffany’s parents fought for custody of baby Alyssa and were able to take her home, but her health deteriorated. She died last Tuesday and has gone to be with her parents.

This didn’t have to happen.

Source: Baby wasn’t abused by cop dad; she died of fatal malady by Judi Villa, published October 31, 2008 in the Rocky Mountain News.

I found this article through Dana’s new blog: DHS steals children for $$$Money$$$. She explains on her blog how her only grandchild has been taken by a woman with a criminal history, who works as a DHS social worker, apparently.

Have you noticed that Senator Pamela Roach of Washington state is using her blog to defend family rights? She’s posted multiple articles to expose Child Protective Services for the terrible family-destroying agency that it is.

THANK YOU Senator Roach!

Now she’s under attack by an angry foster parent. This foster adoptive woman (I can’t honestly call her a foster “parent”) exposed herself and her name by filing an ethics complaint against the senator.

Read the details at Senator Roach’s blog, and show your support… with a comment, if you feel moved to do so: The Pam Roach Report.

We need more legislators like this one who are willing to speak the truth about Child Protective Services.

I’m reading through your recent comments tonight. Only 51 left to go. I’m thrilled to read about Susan’s upcoming appearance on the Dr. Phil show. At the same time my heart is breaking along with yours when I read the sad stories of families being ripped apart. I’m also feeling gratitude at the many comments posted here to help others who are suffering.

As I read, I think about articles I should write. So many questions need to be answered. So many hearts need comfort. Laws need to be explained, along with court procedures and documents. Parents need to be warned about the deceitful ways of CPS agencies. Teachers and other mandated reporters need to be informed that when they call CPS, they are potentially putting children’s lives and happiness in danger.

Where should I start? What needs are the most important? Will you give me your opinions? Can you offer ways in which you could help? I am always open to getting new ideas and new projects started.

As part of my outreach - my effort to help CPS victims find this site - I’ve joined a number of social media sites using either my own name, or the name of FightCPS.

I hope you’ll help me in supporting these efforts.

Do you have a MySpace profile? Fight CPS At MySpace wants you as a friend.	This is a blog promotion site. I’d very much appreciate your votes in getting FightCPS listed on the front page there so more people can find out about our issues with Child Protective Services false allegations.
Technorati is a site for finding blog postings that are on a topic you want to read about. If everyone who came here registered at Technorati and added this site to their favorites list, this blog might reach the top-100 list, and become an issue many thousands of Americans would notice.	Is anyone else here using Twitter? If so, feel free to follow me there: Linda at Twitter. This is my personal Twitter account and you’ll see I’m interested in numerous topics, not just fighting CPS - but that’s something I’m always willing to write about. If you want to get to know me better and find out where my head is REALLY at, this is the place.
Check out the Fight CPS Squidoo Lens for information about the history and goals of Fight CPS. You can make a Squidoo Lens web page to tell people about your CPS case and information. It is very easy to sign up and create a page, plus you may earn some money by doing it.	Fight CPS is on Hover Spot

This lawsuit dated May 31, 2007 is against the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services. It alleges fraud, violation of kinship care rights, and loss of family love and support. It was filed by a former foster child and adoptive child.

Thanks to the person who sent this via email.

…

LAW FIRM, APC
Attorneys for Plaintiff: ELIZABETH J. BRUCE AKA ELIZABETH J. ALLDRIDGE

ELIZABETH J. BRUCE AKA ELIZABETH J. ALLDRIDGE,

Plaintiff,

vs.

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, and DOES 1 through 20, Inclusive,

Defendants,

CASE NO.

TO ALL PARTIES HEREIN AND THEIR COUNSEL OF RECORD

Plaintiff, ELIZABETH J. BRUCE, aka, ELIZABETH J. ALLDRIDGE, alleges as follows:

1. Plaintiff, ELIZABETH J. BRUCE, aka, ELIZABETH J. ALLDRIDGE (Date of Birth: April 17, 1972) is currently a resident of Clark County, Nevada, who lawfully changed her last name on March 8, 2007, from Alldridge to Bruce as part of her divorce decree. At all times pertinent hereto Plaintiff was a dependent of the Juvenile Court, County of Los Angeles, pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code §300(b) (and all predecessor statutes) and related California Regulations, subject to the control and authority of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services and related divisions or departments, including but not limited to what was known as the Department of Adoptions (hereinafter referred to as “Defendant DPSS”), throughout all proceeds related to or stemming from Plaintiff’s foster care and adoption.

2. Defendant DPSS was at all times pertinent hereto a department of a public entity created and existing under the laws of the State of California, with authority over children such as plaintiff.

3. The true and complete names of DOES 1 through 20 whether individual, corporate, associate, or otherwise are unknown to plaintiff who therefore sues said defendants by such fictitious names. At this time plaintiff does not have knowledge of all aspects of the claims set forth herein. Plaintiff will seek leave of Court to amend this Complaint to identify each Doe defendant’s name and capacity when same have been ascertained.

4. At all times herein mentioned, each defendant was acting through authorized employees or other agents, and was the agent, authorized representative, employee, or otherwise acting on behalf of each of the remaining defendants. In doing the things hereinafter mentioned, each defendant was acting within the course and scope of his or her employment, representation, and authority with the knowledge and consent of each remaining defendant.

5. The conduct of each defendant as alleged herein combined, cooperated, and contributed to the conduct of each other defendant such as to cause the herein described incidents, injuries, and events.

6. Plaintiff’s first suspension of any claim against Defendant DPSS occurred in late February 2006 or most likely in early March 2006 during a face to face meeting with Ms. Betty Anderson, a former aid of Assemblyperson Karen Bass, 47th Assembly District. Plaintiff sought Ms. Anderson’s assistance to acquire her Los Angeles County Department of Social Services records related to her foster care and eventual adoption. Plaintiff sought these records as part of her effort to find her biological mother (her biological father Donald Bruce died on February 26, 1974), and to acquire all available medical information related to both biological parents not only for herself, but more particularly for her children (her eldest son has suffered his entire life from Hydrocephalus.) During Plaintiff’s meeting with Ms. Betty Anderson, the Court records she was able to acquire from the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court concerning her adoption (all prior attempts to acquire DPSS social worker records were refused and/or denied) were discussed and reviewed. Ms. Betty Anderson pointed out to Plaintiff that it appeared the 1975 signature of her biological mother relinquishing all custody and control of Plaintiff when compared to signatures from Plaintiff’s biological mother’s criminal records appeared to be the signatures of different individuals. At this moment Plaintiff for the first time suspected that there may have been some violation of Defendant DPSS’s duties. Up until this meeting with Ms. Betty Anderson, Plaintiff was not looking for and had no suspicion or knowledge whatsoever of any type of a claim or injury related to any conduct of Defendant DPSS, as her motivation for acquiring records from Defendant DPSS was to find her mother and to find out all potential medical information she could.

7. On August 22, 2006, Plaintiff timely served by mail a Governmental Claim for Damages to Person or Property on Defendant DPSS pursuant to Government Code §911.2 (Exhibit A attached hereto). Defendant DPSS denied this claim in writing by mail on December 1, 2006. This suit is being filed within six (6) months of Defendant DPSS rejection of Plaintiff’s claim.

8. Plaintiff is the biological daughter of Brenda Joan Allen and Donald MacKenzie Bruce. In or about July 1973 Defendant DPSS initiated proceedings under Welfare and Institutions Code §300 et seq. (or their predecessor statutes), and eventually acquired physical and legal custody of Plaintiff. Defendant DPSS was under a mandatory duty to acquire either a Court ruling of involuntary relinquishment of custody by Plaintiff’s biological mother or acquire the signature of Plaintiff’s biological mother on a “RELINQUISHMENT (Out of County)” County of Los Angeles Department of Adoptions form before placing Plaintiff up for adoption. Defendant DPSS acquired neither. Plaintiff alleges on information and belief Defendant DPSS falsified, forged, or otherwise misrepresented the signature of Plaintiff’s biological mother Brenda Joan Allen on August 26, 1975, on a “Relinquishment (Out of County)” form in violation of its mandatory duties order to expedite adoption.

9. On September 26, 1975, Plaintiff was placed in the home of Harold Augustus Barlow and Carole Leah Barlow, potential adoptive parents pursuant to a Notice of Adoption. This placement by Defendant DPSS and eventual adoption of Plaintiff by the same adopting parents was in further violation of Defendant DPSS’s mandatory duties in that she was first required to be placed with family members of Plaintiff, who had priority rights to physical and legal custody of Plaintiff over her eventual adoptive parents. Plaintiff’s family was ready, able and willing to assume all physical and legal custody of Plaintiff, to provide for her in all aspects and to provide her with a loving home. Said family members of Plaintiff included, but were not limited to, her paternal grandmother and grandfather who sent Defendant DPSS and others letters repeatedly offering and in all aspects indicating their willingness to take care of their granddaughter in a loving home.

10. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant DPSS’s breach of the foregoing mandatory duties, Plaintiff was placed in foster care of Defendant DPSS and eventually given up for adoption to Harold Augustus Barlow and Carole Leah Barlow. Harold Augustus Barlow died before Plaintiff turned four (4) years of age, and throughout the remaining years of her minority Plaintiff was neglected, abused, and generally ignored by her only remaining foster mother Carole Leah Barlow. As a further direct and proximate result of Defendant DPSS’s breach of the foregoing mandatory duties, Plaintiff suffered personal injury, the loss of care, comfort, love and society of her biological family, suffered severe emotional and personal distress, and continues to suffer personal injury and distress associated with the loss of so many years of family love and support in addition to continuing to suffer the consequences of her life as an unwanted adoptive child.

11. The damages sought herein are in excess of the minimal jurisdictional limits of this Court.

WHEREFORE Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant DPSS, and DOES 1 through 20, as follows:

1. General damages in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this Court;

2. All medical, incidental expenses, and special damages according to proof;

3. Loss of earnings and earning capacity according to proof;

4. Costs of suit;

5. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest; and

6. For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

DATED: May 31, 2007 LAW FIRM, APC

BY: ____________________________

Jack and Casey He were going through hard times years ago when they gave their baby girl, Anna Mae, to temporary foster parents. When they tried to get their child back, Jerry and Louise Baker refused to let go. Now Anna Mae is eight years old and the foster parents are still filing court papers, trying to keep her. It is people like this who give foster parenting a bad name. This case has been ongoing for six years, since the Bakers filed a motion in 2001 to try to terminate the He’s parental rights.

In January the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Anna Mae should be returned to her parents “in an expeditious manner” but Jack and Casey He are still waiting because the Bakers, with the help of their attorney, Larry Parish, made a federal court filing on June 12 asking that the Tennessee Supreme Court ruling be overturned. If the federal court doesn’t intervene, Anna Mae should be reunited with her family late in July.

Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper Jr. filed papers on June 18 criticizing the Bakers and Larry Parish for “a number of extreme and horrifying hypotheticals” included in the federal filing. For example, Parish wrote that the Tennessee Supreme Court was “amputating [the child's] legs” and that Jack and Casey He were “strangers” who “have become monsters in her world”.

The only reason Jack and Casey He weren’t visiting Anna Mae is that Jerry and Louise Baker got a lower court judge to ban them from seeing her back in 2001. Is this is what the Bakers twist around to call ‘abandonment’? And if Anna Mae He now thinks of her rightful parents as “monsters” that most likely has been instilled in her by her foster parents. I believe this is called brainwashing.

The Bakers believe Anna’s rights are being violated. What about her right to live with the parents God gave her? What about her right not to have her mind poisoned by foster parents who hate her parents enough to fight with Jack and Casey He in court about custody of their daughter?

Source: Supreme Court Decision Stands for Anna Mae He by Teri Whitcraft, ABC News Law & Justice Unit, published June 26, 2007.

See also: the Jack and Casey He page at FamilyRights.Us where there’s an ongoing collection of articles about the He Family since 2001.