This was posted on KSL yesterday. It is this story about a 21 year old woman abusing her 7 year old daughter into a coma. The really sad part of the story is the child was in DCFS custody just 3 months ago.
How does something like this happen? How does this happen to a child the state has had their hands on? Whose fault is it? What can be done for this little girl? How can we stop it from happening to another child?
The answers are complex and have many facets to them. As I’ve mulled it over the last couple of days I don’t know that I have the answers. I felt a lot of ignorance and self righteousness portrayed in the comments associated with this article. AND THAT MADE ME ANGRY. The fault lies with the mother.
Who else may be feeling residual fault? The foster family that this child recently came from, they may be wondering if they could have said or done anything more to have prevented the child from leaving their home. The case worker who is over worked and underpaid. The therapist that thought the mother was ready. The judge who’s ultimate decision it was to send the 7 year old back home. Undoubtedly investigations will ensue to decide if any of these parties could or should have done more.
What can we do as tax payers, citizens and neighbors? Keep your eyes and ears open. Be aware and be willing to help. If you see a mother struggling, do something about it. Offer to be a safe place for her and her children. If you feel the child’s life is in danger contact DCFS and make them aware of a situation.
Also contact your legislature. Tell them that this is a problem. Tell them that the resent cut to the department is not going to prevent this from happening again. Tell them that social workers in Utah turn over EVERY 3 YEARS. Tell them that children in custody are important and deserve better from US. These children are not a liability. They are precious and important to our future. Look out for them, love them, and do something more to protect them.
YOU can make a difference in one child’s life if you stop making blanket judgments and start seeing individuals. Next time you see a troubled child do more than sequester your own children protectively behind you. Ask a loving Heavenly Father what you can do for that one child who needs more love, commitment, and understanding from us because he or she might not get it anywhere else.
4 comments:
That is a horrible story. When A left our home to live with his grandma I was worried about this same type of thing happening because then his mom would know where he was. One of the things that bothered me was that at the end of the article they said that she had 2 other kids that didn't seem like they had been abused. They would have had more than enough abuse just watching their sister get abused. Being a foster parent now, I feel so sorry for the foster parents that had her and what they must be going through now. You are so right, we need to do all we can to make sure that things like this don't happen. We need to protect the children.
Breaks my heart. Thanks for the call to action, what an amazing reminder to step up and be a contributing member of society. How does the saying go?...It takes a village to raise a child. I wish we acted that way more, and less overprotective of our own children.
great post. that is such a sad, sad story but unfortunately it is happening often. i can't imagine living a life like that and i truly do admire families who foster. you guys amaze me.
Lisa, you can join the group too!!! Great last paragraph E. It has opened my eyes in how I view children. I used to get so frustrated and make very blanket statements about kids and how they are this or that...but not anymore. Most of the time I can see how the kids environment has a serious effect on the kids and I choose to act with more understanding and compassion.
Anyway, great blog
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