An Open Letter To President Bush

Mr. President:

All across our great nation there are millions of grieving parents — they have lost their children and our government, in what was an original effort to help children, is stealing them for money! Unfortunately, this all revolves around the "Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008" — S.3038. We are asking that S.3038 be allowed to sunset and that the Departments of Social Services across the nation be thoroughly reviewed and reformed. We are the people and we are hurting.

The problem is readily apparent in the title of this act. As this act currently stands it stresses adoption and minimizes helping families in need. Because it is more economically feasible for DSS to adopt (and thus receive federal funding), than it is to maintain a family that is either under severe stress or simply has problems that can be easily remedied with proper interventions. Unfortunately, the act provides little, or substantially less, financial support to the states to help sustain the family.

What is more unfortunate is that most of the families suffering are not affluent or well spoken, exist from paycheck to paycheck, are usually not well educated, and are easily victimized by an All-Powerful Department of Social Services. They are trusting families who understand that Social Services are "there to help" are "honest and caring", only to find out that frequently they are guilty as soon as DSS knocks on their door and, because they are "guilty", DSS "needs" to adopt out their child[ren] as soon as possible.

They come from many diverse areas of this country, from the cities, suburbs, and rural areas, but one thing they all have in common is the unfailing love they have for their children. Perfect they are not, but loving, caring parents they are.

There are of course real cases of abuse and some of those require foster care and adoption. However, the American Public Welfare Association (APWA) conducted a special survey of child welfare agencies in 1986 and "actual percentage of 'founded' cases was 26 percent." That means one in four cases actually result in a 'conviction' of some sort. Considering that for a 'founded' case, the only thing required for a 'conviction' is a 'preponderance of evidence'. Simply put; there is a bruise, someone put it there, it can't be easily and readily explained as caused by anything else, so it is [substantiated] abuse."

Even when the child is an actual victim of abuse, according to a study highlighted by the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, "many children ... in foster care would be far better off if they remained with their own families even if those families got only the typical help ... commonly offered by child welfare agencies."

Please, we need you to help us to save our children. We are imploring you to call for and appoint a commission to hear from the people and review the practices of DSS. The impact of the wrongs of the IRS is nothing compared to the impact of a society where legalized kidnapping for money ruins families and children. This was highlighted by Georgia State Senator, Nancy Schaefer, in her address to the Senate on December 5, 2006.

Feel free to peruse Kidjacked.com for some very heartbreaking stories. Child abuse is real, but with the incentives this bill provides, real child abuse will never be prevented. Recent news stories are replete with stories of children dying from the lack of DSS action. Yet, our children are being taken and the funding is unlimited to keep them and adopt them out.

One recent post to kidjacked put it very well.

"In this county [in Arizona] social workers get $10,000 bonus for every adopted child, so instead of reunification, they push adoption, with a 90% adoption rate in the whole court, 100% in our courtroom. Another judge ordered that we could see our children and speak to them as often as we wanted, however the social worker again has threaten to remove the children for [another] reason if we [try] to see them."

All I am asking is that you help us to help ourselves, please, help us to save our children and the integrity of the family.

C. Hampton,
Manassas, VA

Labels: adoption, APWA, DSS, foster care, Kidjacked, NCCPR, President Bush, S. 3038, Senator Nancy Schaefer

Nothing compares to the sorrow a mother feels without her child. Sara grieves the loss of her boys.

My two sons were taken in 1996. The proceedings were conducted like a witch-hunt. I knew at the time if I got hold of the court transcripts (as is my right) that I would have a sure win case. I exhausted all avenues to acquire the transcripts and everyone gave me the run around. I was pushed aside at all turns.

Eventually I gave up and gave in. Pursuing this issue made the pain unbearable. I was too devastated. This occurred in the state of Maine. I found out afterwards that Maine is among the top 3 offenders regarding "stealing" children.

At this time many others were suing Maine for issues similar to mine and winning. Many of the cases were the instances of abuse by caseworkers and foster homes in the local newspapers at this time.

I have felt my loss everyday. Even now it is difficult for me to see your site because I get so sad for my loss the only way I’ve dealt with it is to lock it up and try not to think of my boys. My arms feel empty all the time and I have no closure.

Here is my question for you; is it too late for me to seek any kind of justice? I want to actively do anything I can, (even if it only helps others.)

My sons have been adopted out. My "father" has contact with them and their so-called new "parents." This is all well and good.

Recently, I found a recent picture of my eldest son in my father's photos. My son looked generally healthy but it was obvious that he has not brushed his teeth in what, years? The white gunk on his teeth breaks my heart yet again. What else is he not being taught?

I am a very bitter person because of my experience. Maybe the information I seek is already here on your website but there is so much of it here and I don't want to reopen old wounds for nothing. Is it too late for me?

Also, is there anything I can do to further the cause on a national scale? Point me in the right direction please. I’ve never used a forum and am new at this type of communication.

Thank you again and God bless you for your website.

Sara

Labels: adoption, grandparents rights, post parental termination

Tennessee House vote would change abandonment law as it pertains to foster care and adoption.

In Tennessee today, House legislators passed HB0351 with a 54-31 vote. The bill would specify that a parent whose attempts to visit or support a child are "prevented by the acts of others" would not be considered to have willfully abandoned the child. The Senate Judiciary Committee will wait until next year to take up the bill.

According to Rep. Brian Kelsey, a Republican from Germantown outside Memphis, the bill is unnecessary because the Supreme Court has already ruled on the case.

This bill could impact parents whose rights are being terminated due to the time constraints placed on parents.

In a sworn statement by James W. White, Executive Director of the Fiscal Review Committee the impact both fiscal and tangible could be significant.

The sworn statement attests that:

Summary of Bill:

Includes the provisions that a person who has attempted to support or visit a child but was prevented by the acts of others or circumstances beyond such person’s control is not considered to have willfully failed to support or visit as such pertains to the definition of child abandonment within instances of adoption and foster care. A person who files a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction to gain custody of such person’s child within a four month time period has demonstrated intent not to abandon such child. A parent who is appealing a termination of parental rights is authorized to continue such appeal after the one-year deadline.

Assumptions:

• Annually, there are 1,500 Termination of Parental Rights cases through the Department of Children’s Services. It is estimated that 10%, or 150, of these cases will be impacted by the provisions of the bill.
• On average, the delay in the termination of parental rights will require an additional 120 days of state custody. For each additional day there will be an approximate increase of $100 in expenditures per child. Such will increase expenditures by $1,800,000 (150 cases X 120 days X $100 per day).
• Of the $1,800,000, seven percent ($126,000) will be Title IV-E Federal funds; 45% ($810,000) will be through TennCare; and $864,000 in state funds.
• Of the TennCare funds, $293,706 is state funds at a 36.26% match rate and $516,294 is federal funds at a 63.74% match rate.
• The total increase in expenditures for additional days of children in custody is estimated at $1,157,706 in state funds and $642,294 in federal funds.
• The Department of Children's Services will need three additional case managers and one additional team leader which is estimated to increase expenditures by $221,500 which includes $177,500 for salary and benefits and $44,000 for communication, computer, travel and other expenses.
• Of the $221,500, 7% ($15,505) will be Title IV-E Federal funds; 45% ($99,675) will be through TennCare; and $106,320 in state funds.
• Of the TennCare funds, $36,142 is state funds at a 36.26% match rate and $63,533 is federal funds at a 63.74% match rate.
• The total increase in expenditures for additional staff is estimated at $142,462 in state funds and $79,038 in federal funds.

Labels: adoption, foster care, He Case, Tennessee

This morning brought the airing of the story of Gregory K. Many of you will remember him as the first child to actually go to court to "divorce" his parents.

The son of a self-absorbed mother and an alcoholic father, Gregory had been in and out of foster care. By the time he was 11-years-old, he had spent more time in foster care than he had with his own mother - having spent only seven months out of the previous eight years with his family.

After a lengthy legal battle young Gregory finally won his right to happiness, with his chosen, new family. Gregory K. legally changed his name to Shawn Russ and was adopted by George and Lizabeth Russ in 1992 at the age of 12.

Shawn's story was one that had captured the attention of the media in a big way. I can still recall the headlines as this shocking Florida story was reported nationwide.

As I watched today my heart when out to this child, forced to turn his back on his mother, who he felt in his heart, he could no longer trust as he made a life-changing decision to put his own happiness first – something he knew in Rachel Kingsley (his mother) could never bring herself to do.

I simply couldn't put Shawn out of my mind today; so I decided to try and track him down to find out if he felt he had made a wise decision 15-years-ago. While I wasn’t able to reach him, I did speak to his adoptive father, George Russ.

According to Mr. Russ, Shawn is doing well; today he is in college he comes home regularly to spend time with his adoptive family. Shawn had a great deal of neglect and abuse to come to terms with after his adoption. I was pleased to learn that Shawn was able to eventually forgive his mother.

Sadly though, she died several years ago without having seen or gotten to know the young man that she brought into the world and Shawn will be forced to live with things that were left unsaid.

When a family enters into an adoption arrangement one never knows where the road will lead. If the parents are compassionate and understanding towards the child's feelings and needs, the outcome can be beneficial for all. In the case of Gregory K., it appears the child was wise beyond his years and was able to see his mother’s heart clearly and knew that he had found the love and acceptance he desperately needed in the Russ family.

Sadly, many children aren't as lucky as Shawn Russ, in finding a good home with a good family. Often adoptive parents simply aren't prepared to raise another's child and in all too many cases in recent years, children have been unwillingly separated from their own parents, forced into an adoptive situation that will do them more harm than good, in the long-term.

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• Gregory Needed the Divorce

Labels: adoption, family court, Gregory K., Shawn Russ

This letter (the first of three) was sent to me from jail by Ms. Vasquez, dated September 27, 2006. Minor corrections were made for clarity only.

Dear Annette,

How wonderful to hear from you.

As you can imagine its quite awful in here. Almost six weeks in here without even being able to talk to my children on the phone.

I was getting two visits per week with my precious children. They were all so happy, especially my youngest daughter. When I was saying goodbye, she would say to me, as she hugged me tight around the neck, "Please mommy take me home, so I be happy again." Her words.

Interestingly the social worker (CPS) offered in front of the Juvenile Judge that she could bring me my children to their here in jail. I of course refused the offer, saying to my attorney, it would be too traumatic for them to see me in chains. So, instead I requested to the social worker to please allow me phone calls with the children, so they would know I'm all right and not be over worried.

I was denied phone calls. Imagine that (CPS) would rather hurt (traumatize) children rather than help them through this painful and confusing time in their lives. What ever happened to, "in the best interest of the child?"

I have been allowed to write to them but I don't believe my two younger girls have received anything yet. (Since, they haven’t allowed my son to go see them yet.) I’ve been here almost six weeks and they still have one excuse after another. My babies are suffering tremendously in foster care (group homes).

My almost 14-year-old son has been beat up too many times to count. They've even called the police to the house and according to my son; nine cops showed up and the staff locked him in a room with an older boy, blocking the door so he couldn’t get out and tell the cops how all the other boys were trying to beat him and cornered him against the garage.

My son also has RAD (reactive attachment disorder) so he loses his temper quite easily. He also lacks control. (He’s the child I sent to a therapeutic facility, in Utah for 18-months, due to severe problems at home.) He's been doing great since he came home a year ago in August. Now this poor kid is devastated. He wants to come home more than anything else in his life.

Well, anyway back to the story of the cops.

A staff person came in to tell my son that the police wanted to take him to an institution since he was a danger to the home. My son said he quickly begged them not to send him away to an institution and that he would never tell on them again.

Threat

That was a threat. That's how he is treated. Basically, he's being abused by the corrupt CPS system. I have so many more stories about the abuse my children are receiving and its sick, totally sick to see how no one really cares about the child, not their "attorney ad litem" not CPS. Their rights are consistently being violated and no one does a thing about it.

Why I was arrested:

Criminal Court

Way back when I bailed out on one million dollars. The D.A. also gave conditions for bail:

1. No contact with the children.
2. Can't leave the County of Santa Barbara.

Well shortly after that the Juvenile Judge ordered visitation with my children. When an attorney reminded him of the bail conditions, he (Judge) stated that he had the power to overrule that order (his order superceded any other order.) Also, I had to visit my children all the way in Camarillo, which is in another county.

Well, I have been so frustrated, upset and confused with this horrible court and CPS system that I started writing to one of my best friends, who lives in "Apple Valley." Well we e-mail several times a week but since I don’t trust anyone since my (several) house searches. So, I wrote to my friend and vented my pain and frustration and agony over the abuse my children are going through from CPS, courts and the foster care system, about dreams, wishes and fantasies regarding the return of my babies.

My friend, "Myrtle" was always letting me vent and always made me feel safe to say anything I needed to say whether stupid or not.

Well I had several letters for "Myrtle" in my brief case along with about 800 family pictures in an 8x10 size envelope, and two letters from Attachment West Center. Anyway, I told my friend in a phone conversation that I had written to her. She seemed surprised, "You did?" she said. (Since we always e-mailed or talked on the phone, she was not expecting to hear that I wrote to her. Anyway, I didn’t mail the letters first, because I didn't find her address at that moment. Second, after a few days of thinking about it, I felt these letters were too intense to send.

On one of my supervised visits with my 12-year-old daughter as I pulled out a load of about 100 pictures (8x10 maybe), the letter (not addressed yet) got caught by a corner and some how fell out or something, maybe it landed half way under the couch. (We visit in a garage downstairs.) It has the laundry there, a pool table, a couple of refrigerators, computers and three couches plus a coffee table in the center. So it could have easily have fallen without us noticing. The supervising staff is just staring at us at all times.

I always placed my large brief case on the floor next to me leaning on the couch. My precious daughter would then sit on my lap or next to me with her legs on my lap (since she’s a big girl and can’t quite fit on my lap any more).

I have no idea when this could have happened but a few days later I received a call form my attorney's office. I was told letters had been found in my daughter's room. (They do room searches every week.)

I knew I hadn't given her any letters but suddenly I remembered Myrtles letters. I ran to check, took everything out of my bag and started shaking. Later we found out my daughter said they appeared in her room. Well I have no access to her room and I would have never wanted my precious child to read my pain and fear in those awful letters.

CPS sent an e-mail to the D.A. and the D.A. requested I be arrested for violation of bail. Since she said in court that "Myrtle" did not exist and it was just a fictitious name. She said those letters were intentionally written for my daughter.

The judge asked my attorney if "Myrtle" existed and my attorney refused to clearly admit it, by saying it doesn't matter if she exists or not since the order has been superceded by the Juvenile Judge several months earlier.

The judge was getting more and more angry but said he would take a minute and call the other judge. (Since it was almost 5:00 p.m. on a Friday.) The Juvenile Judge had already left.

The Criminal Judge came out and said to my attorney, "Do you want to take 5-minutes with your client and see if you can produce Myrtle?" My attorney refused as I begged him to talk to me and I kept saying to him "Bob she's my friend you met her once." He just said very annoyed, "I know." Then continued to annoy the judge who finally said I would be arrested. And I was immediately arrested.

I was shocked. My friend is real; she's not a fictitious name. I feel sick since then. I asked my attorney in court the following Tuesday to please file a motion to reconsider with the judge so we could prove to the judge that yes "Myrtle" is a real person and also that the order had been superceded.

Well he said, "No, the judge will never reconsider." Then he does a writ a week and a half later. Nothing was said in the writ about my friend "Myrtle."

Since then he has never come to see me in jail (6-weeks and no attorney). I had just paid him the last $55,000. I owed him to go through trial and totally finish my case. Total given to him is: $90,000. And I'm here in jail.

A court appointed attorney would have been more caring. I just can't believe I'm here again. By the way in the new paper it says: D.A. said Myrtle doesn’t exist it’s just a fictitious name.

I say someone in the group home found the envelope and opened it, saw it was for Myrtle and read about the children, which of course I mentioned in the letters and took it to my daughter’s room. It was not an accident this was cruel and intentional.

D.A. is thrilled to have me locked up again. How could I ever have a fair trial if even the judge signed the arrest warrant for me based on lies from the police report? So he actually obviously believes the report. He is biased already. How can I expect a fair trial when I'm in jail over something that is based on lies?

Just like the media said: Myrtle doesn't exist and it's a fictitious name. Also, the media said the children were locked in the basement with no windows and possibly malnourished.

1. I don’t even have a basement.
2. Children were never found locked up.
3. Every bedroom has at least one window.
4. There are at least two exit doors from downstairs.
5. Children are very healthy.
6. The children were taken to the hospital, stripped and photographed. No bruises or any signs of abuse were found on any of the children.

Lies, Lies, Lies

Mostly by the D.A. and police or detectives.

Annette, can you please type this for me and send it to my home (xxxx Foot hill Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93105) so I could keep a copy. Also, feel free to update your link for me and I wish you could let (Squidoo) know too. I used to belong to her group.

Annette, thank you for trying to talk to me on the phone. That was really nice of you. Also, I'm not allowed anything here unless it comes from the publisher, meaning a book, which I would love to have. And no, we have no access to a legal library.

I’d like it if you could let others know and maybe they could write to me or send me information or other things or their stories to keep me busy so I won’t be so terribly lonely and hurting for my babies.

Please send me an update on your stories and the Gravelle's also what ever else you can do would be greatly appreciated. My precious son William turned 21 while I am here in jail. Imagine his pain, so young yet with a horribly heavy load on his back. He is so supportive to me; maybe someone can send him a note to give him strength and support. He's really just a kid and a wonderful pianist.

He is now living back at home. (The same address I gave you earlier.)

Sorry about my scribbles, we are only allowed tiny 3-inch pencils and it's hard to write with them, we can't even have a pencil sharpener. And yes the abuse of power here is unspeakable. These people can get away with anything they want.

When I first came here I wasn't allowed toilet paper for eighteen hours. Yes, I'm totally serious. Others here have worse stories than me.

I'll stop now to give you a chance to breath. Again thanks for your support and concern.

Please send me reading material. You have my address here already. By the way, how did you find out I was in jail?

Thanks a million!

Sincerely,
Sylvia Jovanna Vasquez

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• Sylvia Jovanna Vasquez Writes from Jail

Labels: adoption, California, foster care, jail, Vasquez

Now comes the Baker's trying to appeal to the public about their heartache and pain over losing little Anna Mae.

Little Anna Mae He

In this recently released video Jerry and Louise Baker are shown shamelessly coaxing Anna Mae for the camera. The Bakers are asking for help in their bid to continue their efforts to forever steal an innocent child from her natural parents.

Hasn't the He Family been through enough? The Bakers had the financial resources to prolong this battle for over six long years. Those are six years that were forever stolen from the Hes and can never be returned. This gripping drama will play out for many years to come as little Anna Mae struggles to cope with the love of two families.

But is it really love that the Bakers have offered? If they really wanted what is best for Anna Mae He, wouldn't they do their best to make this transition easier? Wouldn't they have done their best to ensure visitation with her natural parents during this lengthy court battle?

An Emotional Casey He

In an article, which ran on February 20, in USA Today, Casey is depicted as being prone to emotional outburts.

In the early years of the court battles, Casey He was prone to strong emotional outbursts. And Jack was accused of sexually assaulting another student when he was attending the University of Memphis, causing him to lose his scholarship and his job. He was acquitted...

The Bakers are candid about their strategy to show Anna to the public now. "We want people to rise up and say this is not right," Jerry says. What difference could that possibly make at this point? Perhaps, he says, a court will rehear their case and let them keep the child. Losing her, he says, would be like suffering a death.

I simply can't believe what I'm reading... They steal another couples child under the guise of being helpful Christians, then they want sympathy from the general public for their plight. I'm sorry but what do they think they have put the He Family through?

I personally think Casey was entitled to being "prone to emotional outbursts." As a mother, I couldn't blame her if she went after the Bakers with a Samari sword, sawed-off shotgun or a a doberman pincher. You simply don't mess with a woman's child. It's like teasing a black bear with marshmallows... it's just not done.

Since the courts were aware that the Jack and Casey He were appealing the lower courts decision, wouldn't it have been prudent for them to order regular visitations between Anna Mae and Jack and Casey He? Why didn't the court take care to protect Anna Mae's interest and heritage?

This case brings to mind many more questions than answers and leaves a thinking person scratching their head wondering what in the world is going on in this country. The State of Tennessee should be prepared for a lawsuit and to pay for the years of counciling this family will need in order to get over the trauma inflicted upon it by the Great State of Tennessee.

I do hope that Jerry and Louise Baker get the counseling they need. They claim to be a good Christian family but where I come from Christians do not behave in this manner. Christians try to lend a hand to others, they follow the Golden Rule and show compassion. Where is the Baker's compassion for the He family they claimed to be helping through a rough financial situation?

It is my hope and prayer that the Bakers grow up, bow out gracefully and help Anna Mae transition back to a happy healthy life with her parents; not because that's the easy thing to do but because it's the right thing to do.

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Labels: adoption, Chinese couple, He Case