Family Rights and Child Abuse News

A real 'snowpocalypse,' orphan tree, new hotel

Just think of what we're missing in the Poconos this winter. If you ever thought a foot of snow was bad, how about dealing with 18 feet of it! That's what one town in Alaska is contending with so far this winter.

Penn State alums looking for answers from the university's new president in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal may have been disappointed. Rodney Erickson had comforting words but little else to offer at one recent meeting.

poconorecord.com

January 12, 2012

A sector unheard

by Josh Curry-Bascome

Dunkirk -- Amid a mosaic of businesses and gridded streets within the city of Jamestown resides the headquarters of an organization called Child Advocacy Program of Chautauqua County (CAPCC) on the west end of Third Street.

Headed by Project Director Jana McDermott, CAPCC is an organization whose mission is to provide advocacy and support for individuals and families who may be the victims of sexual or otherwise physical abuse providing a place in which interviews can be conducted and where direct support to victims and their relatives may occur.

observertoday.com

February 20, 2011

A Suicide Side Effect-

by Rob Waters

What parents aren't being told about their kids' antidepressants

The risk Paxil may pose to children and teenagers burst into the news this summer, when British regulators issued a warning urging doctors not to prescribe the drug to children. They were acting on new data presented to United States and British authorities showing that among 1,100 children enrolled in clinical trials of Paxil, those taking the drug were nearly three times as likely to consider or attempt suicide as children taking placebos. "There is an increase in the rate of self-harm and potentially suicidal behavior in this age group," said a statement from the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). "It has become clear that the benefits (of Paxil) in children for the treatment of depressive illness do not outweigh these risks."

San Francisco Chronicle (CA)

July 16, 2011

A Teen in Foster Care Who'd Like to Find a Forever

by Christine Devine

It's Emmy season in TV-ville, but this week we have our eye on a different prize ... A permanent family and home for Jeric (1995) to call his own.

Jeric is an easy-going and sweet teenager who is looking for a family with whom he can form a connection and that can provide him stability and permanence. While it's known that Jeric likes to skateboard and play basketball, in any initial "making a connection" phase there will be many more interesting things to learn about Jeric as he is game for trying new activities and experiences.

myfoxla.com

September 20, 2012

A Warning To Prospective Foster Care Providers

by Linda Martin

Too often, fosterers ignore the threat of false accusations until its too late.

With the promise of government funding and the goal of helping a child, they accept the challenge of providing housing for state custody kids. When they start, most don't realize this decision can lead to personal heartache, financial ruin, and for some, even imprisonment.<br><br>About twelve years ago employees of the California Department of Social Services' legal division discovered a "secret room" in the Los Angeles child welfare office. It contained fifteen file cabinets with about 3000 files - each one describing allegations and incidents of child abuse in foster-incarceration and other state custody facilities.

Parent News

November 20, 2003