Oregon CPS News Archive

Opinion: Child abuse and neglect is for real

by Tina Morgan

Shocking as it may sound, child welfare officials with the Oregon Department of Human Services in Lane County received 4,687 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect in 2009.

According to the agency's records, 1,021 children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect last year, and nearly half of these victims were 5 years old or younger. [The author needs a real wake-up call. Do visit the link and post your comments.]

The Register Guard

April 7, 2010

Senate considers Safe Families networks as alternative to state foster care

by Michelle Cole

SALEM -- Tears pool in Karri Wittrein's eyes as she talks about what it was like to be a struggling single mom with four kids.

In 2006, her oldest child was experimenting with drugs and her youngest was having seizures. Often, Wittrein says, she was awake all night worried about one or both. [Senate Bill 991]

Oregon Live

February 12, 2010

Homeschool parents seek charter school in Medford

by Paris Achen

A group of parents who homeschool their children submitted an application today to found a public charter school for homeschoolers in the Medford School District.

Logos Charter School organizers say they want the K-12 school to serve as a guidance and resource center and to allow homeschoolers to earn regular diplomas. Students and their parents would continue to orchestrate their education at home but would have access to a licensed teacher. Students would have a $1,000 voucher to rent a laptop or take lessons.

Mail Tribune (OR)

January 20, 2010

Cries for help for Jeanette Maples got no answer

by Susan Goldsmith

EUGENE -- Many in this community were heartbroken last month when they learned that 15-year-old Jeanette Maples was killed, but few were surprised when authorities charged her mother and stepfather with murder.

For three years, people in Jeanette's life tried to get child welfare authorities involved, to no avail. Her step-grandmother, a concerned parent of a friend and educators all called the state Department of Human Services because she was bruised, constantly hungry and said she had been beaten at home.

The Oregonian

January 2, 2010

Oregon father sentenced to probation for using shock collar on children

by Angsuman Chakraborty

A northwestern Oregon man who used a shock collar for dogs on his young children has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation.

Court documents say Todd Marcum of Salem is prohibited from having contact with children without approval of the state Department of Human Services and his parole officer. He also is barred from using corporal punishment and participating in physical play with children.

Legal News

September 30, 2009

Abuse, neglect cases drop in county

by DD Bixby

Douglas County -- One report of child abuse or neglect was received every eight minutes in Oregon last year, with a total of 65,400 reports recorded in the state, an increase from 2007 figures.

A bright spot in the report was that the total number of children in foster care continued to sink, even though Oregon has the highest number of children in foster care in the U.S. 161 of the 728 assessments Child Protective Services conducted in the county were designated founded, while 449 were determined to be unfounded. Another 118 were classified "unable to determine."

The News-Review

August 27, 2009

Teen indicted after leaving baby in dumpster

A Medford teenager was indicted Wednesday after her newborn girl was found dead inside a dumpster at a hotel.

Denise Flanary, 19, was arrested at her home last Tuesday on charges of abuse of a corpse and concealing the birth of an infant. Flanary was released after posting bail.

KATU News

August 26, 2009

Help for Portland's foster children

by Dan Saltzman

Recent articles in The Oregonian have detailed how new state legislation will provide a safety net for Oregon's foster children on psychiatric medication or who have been sent to live with out-of-country relations.

Help for this vulnerable population is on the way from the city as well. Beginning this month, scores of Portland foster care children will receive services from programs supported with $5 million from the Children's Investment Fund.

Oregon Live

July 13, 2009

Out of the mouths of babes

by Claire McGee

"DHS stands for Department of Human Separation," said my seven-year-old grandson last summer. In May, my three grandsons will go to a family in New York, to "the highest bidder."

When DHS took the boys from their mother March 23, 2007 in Clackamas County, the oldest grandson was visiting me, and the mother said I could keep him. I immediately enrolled him in Yaquina View School. Despite the facts, DHS lied in court, saying he was not in school and got a court order to remove him from me, threatening me with a sheriff at my place of employment if I did not comply.

Newport News Times

June 2, 2009

House bill seeks to protect Oregon kids adopted outside U.S.

by Michelle Cole and Susan Goldsmith

SALEM -- Nobody mentioned Adrianna Cram's name during Friday's short House floor debate on a bill requiring more scrutiny when a child from Oregon foster care is sent to live with relatives in another country.

But the legislative sponsor, Rep. Carolyn Tomei, admitted later that she "definitely" had the murdered little girl from Hillsboro on her mind. "There needs to be more follow-up and much more stringent supervision of each child that goes anywhere," said Tomei, D-Milwaukie.

The Oregonian

May 1, 2009

California octuplets mom in Hiding

by Sunshine Simmons

Nadya and her six children have been staying at an undisclosed location since she created her bsite, thenadyasulemanfamily.com/ and started receiving death threats and other hate mail.

Nadya Suleman actually thought that the world would pour out their sympathy and donate money to support her family that she so selfishly created. No diaper companies, clothing companies, or car seat companies have jumped at the chance to donate to Suleman.

Portland Parenting Examiner

February 12, 2009

Attorney general criticizes Clackamas County judge in bail case

by Steve Mayes

The state attorney general's office accused a Clackamas County judge of "gross abuse of discretion" for ordering child-welfare officials to bail out a child-rape suspect, in documents released this week at the request of The Oregonian.

The Wilsonville man was arrested in April on charges of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse of underage teenage girls. It is clear that both the DA, DHS and the child's attorney think there are barriers to father's ability to parent, but no one has pled it, no real evidence on any problem has been offered, Darling said in a letter to attorneys.

The Oregonian

January 23, 2009