http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/child-welfare-workers-held-contempt-nakia-venant-suicide-article-1.2960738
This article discusses how the Child Welfare system was blamed for the death of a Miami teen. In a two-hour long Facebook Live video, the teen discussed that she blames the system for her sexual and physical abuse since she was placed in the foster care system in 2009. The video was streamed live and a friend that saw the video reported it to the police and responders tried to save the girl but went to the wrong address first. They found her at 3 am hanging in her foster parents bathroom while they were still asleep. The teen's biological mother spoke out and said how she trusted Florida foster care to take care of her daughter and now she has to bury her.
I'm not sure the entire blame could be put onto the child welfare system. They should have removed her from any situation that she was unsafe in, yes, however, this article does not explain the extent of the abuse (if it had been reported, etc.) and how often the workers made contact with the teen.
I am curious to find out what happens with this case because the workers refused to show up in court to explain the teen's case.
This is awful. It wasn't just the case worker that didn't show up. They ask for a representatives of the Department of Children & Families, and no one showed up. I wonder how much contact the case worker has had with this child and the foster family. Also, what is the foster family role in all of this? Like you, I'm curious what the department excuses is. I wonder what the investigation reveals.
ReplyDeleteI have had personal problems with Florida's child welfare system, and they are awful. I'm not saying that that the child welfare system is all to blame, but I wouldn't be surprised.