Dying Too young: Join the Conversation

Debbie, Leonard does all that he can, from where he is at; but none of us can battle this issue alone. I WILL say, however, that there is STILL hope. Here in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition is reaching out to communities across the state, and even this nation, and working to re-build this system; so that families who do not need to be disturbed or seperated are left alone, and children who ARE AUTHENTICALLY abused, are PROPERLY protected and given a better quality of care whilst in custody. If you, or anyone you know, would like to find out more; or, even, become involved in driving this change, visit www.sq745.org.

Be the change that our families and innocent children deserve. - Clarence Ciioer, President & Chairman, Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition. "The man who prefers his country, before any other duty, shows the same spirit as the man who surrenders every right to the state. They both deny that right is superior to authority." - Lord John Dalberg-Acton

Oh, and by the way, we used to be able to get a big public uproar going with one of our SWAT Operations (Sudden Widespread Awareness of Tyranny) and later with the Shock & Awe Operations. Now it seems like people are burnt out from fighting tyranny, and there's always a NEW gross Tyranny to fight (the past few months have been an AVALANCHE of Tyranny). People are just overwhelmed and seem resigned to the pending doom. I don't think the law of Public Opinion has been repealed, but it's about the only law left. People seem to just be shattered and disenfranchised. It may be time to go read "Animal Farm" again. Or "1984".

Debbie, we have all sorts of HELP available at -- http://familyrights.us/how_to/fight_cps.html -- For us to do more, personally, is Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL). And you bet there are people who would love a chance to kick our butts for that. As for REAL CHILD ABUSE, those are CRIMES, which CPS cannot do one blessed thing about. CPS people are NOT "Law Enforcement Officers" (LEO's). CPS people can only do deception and coercion to get people to VOLUNTEER for "services", thereby VOLUNTEERING their and their children's Constitutional Rights away. CPS destroys every life they touch. I have difficulty finding any good they do, or any success cases from an "intervention". We have LOTS of studies finding kids have better outcomes when left in their "terrible" homes (and some homes ARE terrible) than they have in State Custody. There's no spin or smiley face to put on CPS incompetence, malfeasance, insolence, officiousness, mendaciousness, maledicency, and calumnies. Believe me, I know what those words mean and I don't stutter when I say them.

The question then simply becomes, "if they, (DHS) are required, is it required that they be evil, (illegal, unlawful)?

Hmmmmmm well I must put my input in here, AFRA is a good idea, but to be so honest and blunt I have seen nothing come out of it. I have looked to them for help for the last 2 years on my grandkids and still only see a lot of want to do but no actions that truly help. Leonard is a great guy, but to say there is no need for some sort of child welfare is to say we don't need to breathe anymore. THERE ARE parents who hurt their children unfortunatly. Is DHS the correct sitting right now to take care of them, no I don't think so, but it is the only agency right now that appears to deal with it. There are MANY MANY MANY things wrong with DHS that need to be addressed right now, My grandchildren are in DHS in a kinship home, and are being abused. They were abused in the Pauline Meyer shelter where they were placed for a week after being taken from their dad. They have been not fed correctly, not dressed correctly, emotionally abused and neglected, our babies arm was broken, their stuff was sold, they were lied on, we were lied on and all of this at the hands of the kinship provider that has done so much they are now afraid of being found out, so they had to build up such a wall to keep others away. DHS has allowed this to happen and confirmed lies they knew were lies but they can do it because their the state. So yes they are not good parents, not at all but unfortunatly they are a required evil in this world.

Looking at the AFRA website objectively-- The #1 purpose of the AFRA website is to make the MISSION CRITICAL, Need-To-Know Info quickly and easily available to people falsely accused, so they can learn their Constitutional Rights, and learn how to put up some sort of a defense in the constitutionally unencumbered courts of NO DUE PROCESS. The secondary purpose is to educate clueless CPS workers and legislators what is going on. The AFRA website looks the way it does on purpose, because ALL of the above victims, CPS people, and legislators have really short attention spans. We have no interest in looking like a Republican site with too many words and attempting to come across as intellectuals. We are WARRIORS, and the AFRA website is the expression of our peaceful defense in the government's WAR ON FAMILIES. There is plenty of intellectual stuff packed in our White Papers directory. We just put on a BRAND NEW ONE yesterday-- "Keeping It Simple" by William G. White, MSW, LMSW. William sent it to us for publication, and we were honored to do so. As for looking like we are right wing- Families ARE the very definition of "conservative". Whether we are a "right wing loony farm" depends on your world view, and obviously yours is pretty far over there in the left wing looney farm. We chose the motto "The Voice of America's Families©" with the moral authority to make the claim.

Insider, that is very useful information; and we sincerely appreciate that. In its initial stage(s), the website is meant to be just black and white. Content is content; however, we are currently developing a much more dynamic site that will surely present everything in a light that is necessary. Keep your eyes peeled... Who knows, you may even be impressed.

Although not DHS here's another state employee with control over children's lives.

http://www.newsok.com/juvenile-center-intake-officer-arrested -at-oklahoma-city-park-on-indecent-exposure-complaint/ article/3360177

BTW...no insult intended. Free professional advice.

Actually Leonard, federal funding of child welfare goes back to the early 1900's. Here's the next hyperlink:

http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Foster_care_reform/LegislativeHistory2004.pdf

Have you looked at your web site objectively? It looks like an advertisement for a right wing looney farm. Seriously. If you really want to have an impact and attract people other than the right wing fringe to pay attention to you, you must present yourself and your organization as mainline. Otherwise, you will get some hits from people on the extreme right, but not enough attention to really do any good. There are three axioms for website: Professional presentation, menu and content oriented, and focusing on solutions for presented problems. Take a look at walmart seb site for examples on how to do it right. Coop's web site is not quite as bad, but suffers from some of the same maladies. Coop, you website is all over the place. Your content is reasonable, but terribly unorganized. It could use some professional looking polish, expecially on backgound, banner, and heading presentations. Same suggestions that I gave Leonard. Presentation, Menu/content, problems/solutions. Just some thoughts.

Thank you very much insider9909, for that extremely useful tidbit of information. I had no idea that this mess goes clear back to Roosevelt's New Deal. What a guy. I did know that so many new bureaucracies were created at that time that they started using acronyms. They called them the "Alphabet Agencies". Of course, this trend has rather expanded.

Leonard, see hyperlink. And, yes, I am breaking my own rule this once.

http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/financinghistory.htm

OK, insider9909, different question. How was alleged child abuse handled prior to the introduction of Federal Funding Streams to be harvested?

Another Criminal docket of a current DHS employee.

No. CM-2007-3111
(Criminal Misdemeanor)
Count # 1.
Count as Filed: PCRG, FAILURE TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD , in violation of 21 O.S. 1-375
Date Of Offense: 06/09/2007

CANNADY, NANCY
Disposed: CONVICTION, 12/08/2008. Guilty Plea.
Count as Disposed:FAILURE TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD (PCRG)
Violation of 21 O.S. 1-375
No. CM-2007-3111
(Criminal Misdemeanor)


And the lawsuit recently filed regarding the case.
No. CJ-2009-97

Leonard, here is a hyperlink to the history of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. If you choose to read it, you will notice that the department was informed as part of an Oklahoma Constitutional Amendment in 1936. Also, if you choose to read, you will notice that child welfare was one of the first 4 programs instituted with OKDHS in 1936. Here is the hyperlink:

http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/O/OK098.html

In response to "insider9909"'s question, I respond with a question-- Do you know how these problems were handled prior to 1974?

Leonard Henderson, AFRA

Insider, I am always a fan of intelligent conversation. We are open to your input, good sir. What sort of proposals would you put forthe to our elected officials and public servants? How can WE help YOUR COMMUNITY change this system; so that INNOCENT FAMILIES and CHILDREN will receive the protection and liberty that they so richly deserve?

Coop, you may be assured that I NEVER use anything but my own equipment for personal reasons and I never take my equipment to work. Besides, my stuff is better than theirs anyway. For now, I will watch and see what your organization does and remain safely anonymous, if you know what I mean. Leonard, if you have read this newspaper in the last few days, you will remember several stories that involved abuse of a child by parents. I totally disagree with your premise about the need for CPS. In the most recent story about the beaten child or the countless cases of child abuse identified by OKC teachers, what would you do with the child? Put the child with family? The history of the Ryan Luke case is one in which the CPS workers tried to put the child with the grandparents, only to have the grandparents secretly take the child back to the parents, resulting in that child's death. Neighbors are increasing unwillingly to take abused children. You advocate closing shelters and stopping foster parenting. So you tell me, what happens when a child is abused. We can debate about dirty living conditions, no food for the children, and parents with substance abuse problems. All of those conditions are deplorable, but I am open to debate. But when a child is 2 years old, covered with bruises, unable to walk or talk. What happens to the child? What happens when a mother is a crack head? Your solution of disolving CPS may be salve on your feelings because of what happened several years ago, but has very little to do with reality. I am open to your suggestions, but keep the propaganda out of the conversation.

Insider, I will say these three things: 1) You should take some time to visit with a few of our members. We ARE here to HELP Oklahoma Families. 2) Leonard, William, T.... These are all people whom I know and have a PROFOUND respect and admiration for. They, as many of us, "work their tails off" to being about a change which TRULY benefits the families and children of our nation. The problem that most "mud - slingers" have, with them, is that THEY SPEAK FACTS AND HAVE THE HARD EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP. So I say, hats off to you Leonard, WIlliam, and T! 3) Even though you may not be "on the Red River Clock" per se, using a company laptop (even when off duty) is STILL a misuse of resources.

Wow Insider, that was a thoughtful well spoeken argument. You may be surprised that I agree with you on most of what you said. YOu would also be surprised to know that the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition is working with the Legislature on the very things that you mentioned. The OKFRC is aware that only registered voter's signatures are necessary on the petition in order for the signatures to count. Considering this petition was started by one man almost 90 days ago, and now has grown to a rather large group of volunteers working to help engage Oklahoma citizens in this issue, I believe this is a hot button issue. As a member of this group, I can tell you that out of every 100 people I talk to about the problems with the DHS system, at least 90 are genuinely concerned and agree. Most of the people I've talked to have either personally be affected by this broken system, or knows someone who has been affected. This organization has grown expendinally in less than 90 days. From one person to hundreds! It may take time and more than one attempt to affect change, but change usually does take time. I think if you came to a meeting or talked one on one with one of our members you may find that we agree on several points. You would find that we want more funding, more training for workers, more services for families. We want the vague, ambiguous child abuse laws to be revamped. However, what we want the most is for the constitional rights of all Oklahoma families to be protected and observed so that families are unnecessarily ripped apart. We want to make sure that no more children are removed from their families just because their parents are young, poor and lack resources. We want DHS to no longer be the feared entity that it is currently, but a place for families to get help without the fear of being torn apart. That was what it was intended to be in the first place.

Oh. Now I see you had sent up a fairly lucid statement down there. The problem with your entire premise is that CPS is important and needed. Those terrible cases of child abuse and murder cited to support the "need" for CPS, are NEVER "investigated" or "prosecuted" by CPS- Because those are CRIMES, handled by POLICE investigators and the DA. To the contrary of what everybody THINKS CPS is for, they are NOT. CPS in reality does NOTHING but fabricate "civil" lawsuits from thin air, mostly by Character Assassination.

I can just smell the pathology. Did you have a point to debate? I forgot what it might have been.

OOPS. Fruendian slip. Only blog when I am not working. I am sure that Leonard will rip me for that one.

Leonard, too bad I don't live in Oregon. Then I could live off of your money.

But only when I'm not on the clock. I don't troll, excuse me I mean blog, when I am not working.

Oh, and no I wasn't comparing you to King George. I am saying you are one of the "Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance."

You are one Thomas Jefferson referred to as "glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers."

Leonard, troll works for me.

T and Cooper, in all seriousness, let me state a fact and then ask you a question. The current Oklahoma legislature is the most employee-unfriendly anti-union anti-government legislature in the history of our state. If ever you were going to get this kind of far reaching legislation passed, this year was it. However, nothing of the kind is even pending. That small bill they passed a few weeks ago is not even close to what you want. How do you explain that? Also, getting 117,000 plus about 20,000 to spare, just in case the state supreme court thows out a bunch of your signatures, is no easy task and you only have around 10 days to go. I have never seen you or your comrades gathering signatures in any of the major shopping centers, events, or anything else and ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES DON'T COUNT. You have to have the real written signature on a real piece of paper along with the address that matches them on the voter registration file. Also, everytime you fail, you have to start again and gather signatures all over again. The people who signed it the first time have to sign it the second and third and etc. Aside from a few activists, like yourself, this is not a hot button subject here in Oklahoma. You want to know why I rant and rave? I'll tell you. So far, most of the posters have vented their spleen and employees who do EXACTLY what they are told to do and, you're right, they don't get enough training. Considering the starting salary, DHS has not one chance in hades of getting qualified employees. William refuses to recognize that DHS can and does fire employees who brake the law. If you guys really want to make a difference, protest at the legislature. Insist they fully fund salaries and hire qualified CPS workers. Insist they fund adequate training. Insist that more CPS workers are hired and decrease the average caseload. Insist that judges and police officers work with CPS worker, not against them. Insist that parental training and assistance services be increased, not gutted. In that effort, I would willingly join your effort. But as long as the target is state employees, expect me to be here wasting your time. I personally have no time deadlines, you do.

Now that's funny insider9909. I play with Useful Idiots like you all over the country. Every day. That's the advantage of being 100% disabled. Beats watching the glass toilet. Difference between me and you is, I have citable facts and I cite the LAW. You have pointless debate and slime. Aren't you just special. You must be super-bored at your job-

bu⋅reau⋅crat [byoor-uh-krat] –noun
1. an official of a bureaucracy.
2. an official who works by fixed routine without exercising intelligent judgment. Or is being a TROLL your job description?

Leonard, When did I say that I represented anyone but myself. I am spokesman only for me. Also, Leonard, you have to have character before it can be assassinated, which leaves you out. Wow, comparing me to King George of England, I must be in good company. In any event, I promise if I post something on you, it will only be public record that you yourself have posted on the internet. It's not my fault that you use your real name. As for me, I can just sit back and take pot shots. Did you ever stop to think that I am not doing anything but WASTING YOUR TIME and the madder I make you the less rational that you will think and the less effective you will be.

Insider, you were doing well focusing on the issues, then you went back to the character asassination!
The problem is in the system! A system that would hire unqualified workers, give them virtually no training and allow them to make life and death decisions using vague laws and policies. No wonder there is a high turnover rate! The common thread of all the comments of the people you are bashing is this: We must fix the system! The people who are posting here are working to do just that. Why are you so apposed to that? Making workers accountible by ridding the system of those who are violating policy and engaging in criminal activity makes the system work better for families. Making the system work for the benefit of families makes it easier on the workers.
The fact that a group is putting this petition forth is proof that they are "putting up". It's that sort of resolve that built this country.

And this is STILL going on? I am really curious about "insider9909, Durant". Obviously he/she is a deeply entrenched Trained Monkey with a vested interest in preserving the bureaucracy. It seems to me since this person thinks they are so right and pretending to be the spokesman for the majority, they would be brave enough to identify him/her self. Since this person has threatened to launch a Character Assassination campaign, which is the standard operating procedure for slimeballs in government, it is ridiculous to even answer him/her. This person is nothing but a devil's advocate and Leninist Useful Idiot. This person is described in the Declaration of Independence-- "He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance."

Actually, Insider9909, the MINIMUM signature requirement, to get this petition on ballot, is 8% of the population (or 117,013 verified signatures); and I will tell you the same that we have been telling everyone: Even if we do not make the verified signature count this time; we are going to REFILE and continue pressing until changes are made. The Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition is NOT going away, my friend. The families and children of this state NEED these changes, and we will be there through it all. - Clarence W. Cooper, II www.sq745.org

Again the issue of my postings here has concerned investigations into corruption and the removal of state workers who commit crimes, some might think these would be positive and productive changes to our system. I don't know why anyone truly concerned about children and the well being of our society as a whole would object to these ideas.

I don't know why I am getting excited. You guys will never get 225,000 signatures before April 14.

William, do you have ANY original thoughts or are you just capable of post propaganda from anarchist sites. I bet you own a whole ARSENAL of assault riles and emergency supplies, waiting for the new world order.

insider;
No, I wouldn't take the job. But it's not because of the money, $30,000 a year isn't bad to do a job your not qualified to do. I'm just willing to admit I'm not qualified to do it.
I have never put forth any issues other than state employees being derelict in or failing their duties, or those who have committed criminal acts. And the fact that our system has a part in allowing it. I fail to see why anyone would think people in either category should be allowed in positions of power or why a system that's allowed it does not need to be overhauled. And yes I'm in OK.

Insider9909, you say "Be the man that helps a kid in trouble"... Well, my good friend, WE ARE MEN & WOMEN WHO ARE HELPING ALL MANNER OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. From those who are not being protected, to those who are being abused from the VERY INSTANT that they are separated from their loving families. We give without expectation of reward, to help the children and families of our state. Do you hear of members of the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition asking for a raise? No. We VOLUNTEER our time, money and every available resource that we can muster. For what? Change, nothing more or less. I would encourage you to do the very same thing that thousands of Oklahomans are doing right now. Get out there; help drive a change through educating, communicating, coordinating, and facilitating a change which will benefit EVERY child and family of this state. You say "either put up or shut up"; I say we ARE. What, exactly, are YOU doing to help your community become better? Moreover, how much do YOU expect to be paid? Are you aware of the term Pro Bono? One of its definitions is "done for the public good without compensation". I will extend an offer of community partnership to you. Help your communities to drive a change for the good of the people. Seek nothing in return but the knowledge that you are giving a gift, to families and their children, which will last for generations to come. Become part of the solution. I am not asking or demanding that you choose a side. I am merely stating that you are only speaking half - truths, limited to the propagandic information that you are conditioned or pressured to believe and regurgitate. Be the solution=) Has it not occurred to you that, through your actions, you are already becoming part of the solution? The initiative petition (SQ745) is seeking to re-engage and re-empower the people of this state. That being so, you would be forced to admit that your regular inclusion of statements continues to validate the purpose of the initiative petition. If you are engaging your communities, then you are providing much - needed input into the progression of our mission; to effect truly positive, truly lasting, and truly effective change. Why stop there? Why waste valuable energy and intelligence on incessant attempts to assassinate the characters of others. Food for thought, not just for you, for everyone=) - Clarence W. Cooper, II www.sq745.org

William, I have no intention of reading you cut and pastes from CW stories all over the country, and I doubt that it many people will. I will ask you one question. Would you do that job for $30K a year? How about you, coop? DHS ALWAYS, and I mean always has openings for CW workers. So, either put up or shut up. Go apply for one of those "high paying" jobs and make a difference. Be the man that helps a kid in trouble, that walks into a house that has a lot more cock roaches than food, that smells like it hasn't been cleaned in a year, where the kid has insect and abuse marks all over their body, and take that child to a safe place. Do YOU have the courage to do it at all, much less than for $30,000 a year. If not, don't criticize the people who will do it. I suspect that william is just a loud mouth jerk who only wants to tear down, not make better. Why the hell aren't you over at the legislature every day lobbying for reform, or do YOU even live here in Oklahoma, William? And, btw, those bonuses had nothing to do with child welfare, but rather to reward DHS for being the best in the country in getting people from welfare to work. OKDHS placed in the top ten every year for several years and continues to lead the country in those statistics. The raises to cw workers only got them close to a pay scale in which they would not themselves qualify for foodstamps and child care. So, Ok, loudmouth, put up or shut up.

More examples of the need for accountability; I wonder what that DHS worker in Guthrie was doing with all those files in her home?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Nashville man is facing charges that he tried to sell 1,600 stolen names, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents arrested 27-year-old Steven K. Gilmore on Wednesday after he sold the information to an undercover TBI agent for $2,800.

Just in June 2008, Delaware Child Support Program Employees were caught stealing from taxpayers and the children. Just over a year ago, we demonstrated how Theft was Running Rampant in State Child Support Programs. Fort Bend Woman Guilty in Child Support Fraud Ring ~ "Fort Bend County jury has found 42-year-old Debra Hodge guilty of engaging in organized criminal activity for her part in bilking over $40,000 in fraudulent child support from the Texas Attorney General's Office."

Child Support Worker Arrested in Bribery Scheme ~ "ORLANDO, Fla. -- A former employee of the Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement program was arrested Thursday on bribery charges." (Local6.Com "Child Support Worker Arrested In Bribery Scheme" March 8, 2007)

Title IV-D Employee Embezzles Quarter of Million in Child Support Enforcement Money ~ "A Natomas woman stands accused of bilking the state Department of Child Support Services of more than $250,000, turning her procurement job into a means of buying a Lexus, hot tub and big-screen television, among other things."

The Weekly Standard Indicts CSE Title IV-D Welfare Program ~ "There is mounting evidence that the system now encourages marital breakup and exacerbates fatherlessness by creating a winner-take- all game, where the losing parent--commonly a father wanting to save the marriage--is unfairly penalized by the loss of his children and by a federally enforced child support obligation."

Federal Child Support Enforcement Program Makes Little "Cents" to the Taxpayer ~ "So the man, named Michael Eugene Lamb, is going into prison at the age of 49, sitting there on a federal conviction, and coming out sometime when he is almost 51 years old. The federal system will charge the taxpayers for his 1.5 year confinement at a cost between $30,000.00 to $50,000.00 depending on the facility and not including any health issues of the confined."

Child Support Clerk Charged With Embezzlement: More Government Corruption ~ "Another County employee, this one in Lauderdale County, has been indicted by a grand jury on felony embezzlement charges for allegedly stealing more than $216,000.00 of program money, paid for by taxpayers, by writing unauthorized checks to herself from January 2002 through April of 2007. This employee was released on a $10,000.00 bond, which no doubt was probably a drop in the bucket considering she has already been sitting on the $216,000.00 plus her lush salary."

Two Main Media Outlets Reprot More Thieving Title IV-D/CSE Employees ~ "Two separate reports have come out about a Maine Child Support Enforcement Worker (Title IV-D Employee) that has been stealing money orders from children the agency touts to protect. This most recent employee, who is now on administrative leave pending investigation, was reported as intercepting money orders and depositing them in her personal bank account."

Mounting Accountability Problems With Child Support Programs: Data Stolen ~ "Yuba County scrambled this week to contact 70,000 people whose names and personal information were on a laptop computer stolen from the new Child Support Services office in Linda. County officials said the stolen laptop contained Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and other private information on 70,000 people+."

Identity Theft: Opt Out of Family Court Services Before it Happens to YOU! ~ "...customers in at least three states have already experienced serious breaches in their personal information, including social security numbers being compromised and potentially handed over to hackers that might want to steal identities in the last few months alone."

Implementing more data safeguards, limiting the size and scope of the the Federal and State Child Support Enforcement programs, tightening controls on confidential records, and more needs to be done to protect the taxpayer. We need to reign in the program and make sure it serves the purpose of real needy families rather than as a data harvesting tool for the federal and state governments on nearly every divorcing couple in the United States.

Lary Holland is Host and Producer of the popular online talk show, "Get Your Justice Live" with current content from Legislators, Decision-Makers, Professionals, and parents on government accountability, necessary judicial reforms, and more. Get Your Justice Live broadcasts live every Wednesday and Sunday Night at 8PM EST. Visit the website for more information.


Lary Holland

Host and Producer of Get Your Justice Live

http://spotlight. getyourjusticeli ve.com

Insider9909, I believe that you are taking what is known as a "subjective" stance on the issue of OKDHS - CW and the affiliated organisations. I know that many of us have stated that there are good public servants out there; and we say that not to be sarcastic. However, the facts are still the facts. I find it very disturbing to see that everyone chooses to "point the finger" whenever an issue such as this is called to front. That falls back to the whole "when confronted, blame the other guy" mentality which plagues our system in its current state. Being a 15+ year veteran in the Information Systems and Technology field (but then, you knew that already didn't you), I often revert back to a very old proverb which I adopted years ago: "When a problem arises, many choose to attempt to fix the blame first. If one really seeks to resolve an issue; then forget about the blame and fix the problem." It must be understood that DHS, Elected Officials, Judges, Law Enforcement, Legal Professionals, and other affiliates are not the only ones who should be viewed in this situation. ANYONE can unnecessarily traumatise a family (in EITHER sense), ANYONE can suffer unnecessarily (in either sense), and the ONLY way that the COMMUNITIES are going to fix the problem is if the COMMUNITIES work CLOSELY with elected officials and public servants to create, and effect solutions which WILL work for ALL people. Throwing money, senseless rantings, or accusations at an issue never HAS fixed an issue. Instead of narrow - mindedly supporting the problem; people should think lond and hard about becoming part of the SOLUTION. =)

Regarding pay and funding
"In an effort to reduce turnover within the Child Welfare program, monetary incentives have been implemented. In October 2004 and 2005 all OKDHS employees were given $1,000 stipends from federal bonus awards the agency received for high performance in several of its programs. Pay increases were provided to Child Welfare specialists and supervisors in November 2005 and December 2006. A performance based pay incentive was implemented per State legislation in 2006. Eligibility for the performance based pay is dependent the county’s annual State CFSR results, time employed in the county office, annual employee evaluation, and completion of training hours."
~ 2007 Child and Family Service Review.
This shoots down all the "low pay" poor DHS worker, (bonuses two years in a row and raises two years in a row) as well as the "legislature doesn't give DHS enough money" argument now doesn't it? This is their data so if they dispute it they're calling themselves liars. And if it is true it proves them to be liars and frauds every time they say higher pay and more of funding are the answers to fixing the problems, they got those things and children are still being abused and dying at a horrible rate.
Money is not the answer. If you received raises and bonuses but then failed at your job,(DHS) resulting in a loss, (abused and dead children) then told your employer, (the public) it wasn't your fault and that you're not responsible, (no accountability). But then said give me a raise, (more funding,) and then I'll do better, how would that go over?

A quote from jacqeline, "It is not to say ALL DHS employees are committing crimes but a large majority of them are and why should they get away with it?". That is NOT what you said. You are right, the minimum for the entry level is a bachelor's degree. You want to know why DHS can't get CPS with workers with degrees in social work? The legislature doesn't pay for it. CPS workers start out in the mid twenties and rarely make above 30K. Your wrath should not be directed at the employers, but at our corrupt legislature, both democrat and republican, as well as the Oklahoma citizens, for believing you can get something for nothing. You want to improve the system, PAY FOR IT. Instead, you get a lot of posters on here who have had kids in JV, dead beats who have have trouble with Child Support, abusive parents who have lost kids to CPS, and just general government haters, all screaming against the employees. It get's dammed old in a hurry. One of the basic tenants of CPS is to protect the child first. If they react too soon, and the allegations are proved false, people scream in anger. If a child is killed or injured and DHS wasn't clairvoyant enough to see it coming, people scream in anger. Bottom line, people be good parents and take care of their kids, CPS would go out of business. Believe me, CPS workers would happily go find other jobs. Considering the salary and sure hell CPS workers endure, I am surprised you can find anyone to do it. The reason they do the job is that because they care. Knowing that, I rage against the mal-contents that rage against them. You want to make war on DHS admin or, preferably, the legislature, go ahead. You make war on workers, I get mad.

Well Insider, you have said one thing that we can agree on. CPS workers ARE seeing the worst in people, and they do go into situations taht would gag a maggot. That we can agree on. However, not every situation that they go into is that bad. Not all parents they make contact with are bad. I think because of the way the system is set up, many CPS workers become extremely jaded. They receive minimum training, aren't required to have a degree in social work, and are expected to make life and death decisions about families. The Good CPS workers don't last long, they move on to other things, because they get frustrated with the system. Of the ones that stay, many either become so jaded that they only the what is bad in the family and refuse to see the strengths of it, or they let the power that they have go to their head and become dangerous. Ripping a child out of a home is not the only solution! However, as the audit shows, that is the first. knee jerk reaction that occurs.

If your car isn't working right do you run it off a cliff? No! You take it to a mechanic and you FIX the problem. Wanting to improve the system is not the same as wanting to destroy it. Can you honestly say that the system can't be improved on? Can you honestly say that every child that has been removed from their family needed to be? And as for what Jacqueline said, all she was saying was that anyone, CPS employees included, who have committed a crime should be held accountable. Can you honestly say that CPS employees should be immune from prosection when they break the law?
The System is broken! It's tires are flat, the windshield is broken, and it's leaking oil like a sieve. As Oklahomans it is our duty to do what we can to fix it. Who knows, maybe fixing the problem will make it easier on the caseworkers!

As long as people like jacqueline are screaming for the heads of state employees, claiming most are criminals that should be put in jail; as long as people blame the employees rather than the legislature, as long as the goal is to destroy and not to improve, I will be here, fighting for my former brothers and sisters. CPS employees don't last long. They, like police, are always seeing the worst in people and never the best. By the time they are called, things are already in a mess. They have to go into situations that would gag a maggot.

From an article about the Drug Court Audit:
"There are about 4,000 funded slots in the program, but auditors said only 3,000 are needed unless more people participate in the system."

So what was done with the funding for the "funded slots" not being used?
Until we get some true accountability in our system nothing is going to change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
News OK.com article; Drug Court Audit

By Josh Rabe
Staff Writer
A recently expanded drug court program designed to divert substance abusers from prison isn't working, and its funding should be cut, according to an audit of the state's prison system released Dec. 31
Auditors said prison receptions appear to be unchanged despite $16 million in annual funding that has been pumped into the drug court system for the past two years.
The state is paying for more slots in drug court than it needs and should evaluate those needs on an annual basis, according to the audit.
There are about 4,000 funded slots in the program, but auditors said only 3,000 are needed unless more people participate in the system.
Jeff Dismukes, spokesman for the Department of Mental Health, which oversees the program, said he disagrees with the auditor's calculations.
Dismukes said the agency currently has more than 4,000 drug court participants. He said auditors may not have considered that drug abusers often stay in treatment longer than one year.
"I think it's good criticism, Bob Ravitz, chief public defender for Oklahoma County, said of the recommendations.
In Oklahoma County, prosecutors target only offenders who would otherwise be headed to prison, but other judicial districts may use drug court only for lesser offenses.
"For drug court to work effectively, it has to be used for prison-bound offenders, Ravitz said. "It may be good public policy, but you have to weigh the cost.
Ravitz said if any changes in funding are made in the program, money taken away from counties that don't target prison-bound offenders should be given to counties that do.
"We passed the drug court statute specifically to be a prison diversion program, said David Prater, Oklahoma County district attorney.
Prater added that he thinks prosecutors have succeeded in diverting people from prison.
"We absolutely are, Prater said.
Oklahoma County's drug court has about 580 participants and is funded for about 600. Ravitz said the program will be at capacity by March.
Dismukes also questioned an auditors' claim that the program hasn't created a measurable dent in prison receptions. He said his agency is reviewing the auditors' findings, but the state's prison population would almost undoubtedly be higher if drug courts did not exist.
"The Department of Mental Health stresses to use drug court for prison-bound offenders, but there is no cookie-cutter approach to it, especially in rural areas, said Tom Landrith, a Pontotoc County district judge.
Landrith estimates his county has saved the state millions of dollars in incarceration costs by participating in the drug court program since 1997, but doesn't think that is the ultimate goal.
"The point of drug court is not to save the Department of Corrections money, but it is an added benefit, Landrith said. "If we had more money for it, we would save the Department of Corrections even more.
Aside from keeping drug offenders out of prison, the program has had a visible impact on drug use in the community, Landrith said.


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Part of this issue has to do with the fragmented systems in place to help identifiy and protect Oklahoma's children. Its not the total answer obviously but just a piece of the puzzle. This state underfunds and or punishes people with inadequate parenting skills in most cases no fault of their own. Its passed on from generation to generation. The state and federal authorities grossly underfund adequate mental health and substance abuse services despite not paying attention to our lenghty history of both such problems but our current problems. I realize money is not the only answer. Other answers include getting faith based organizations on board. De-stigmatizing addiction and mental illness is also another. Folks whether you want to believe it or not, they are BRAIN diseases and needed to be treated as much in most cases. We dont treat them that way we lock them up. Yes some do need to be locked up but not most. When the fact of the matter is that 76% of those incarcerated have either a mental illness or addiction we are missing the boat. Again some do need to be locked up for their crimes especially when violent. It would seem like to me that ODMHSAS, DHS and DOC ought to be at the table constantly as well as faith based organizations and the recovering community. This is all of our problems and especially elected officials. Maybe some of this is going on and a story on this might be needed.

You all remember the carrying capacity experiment in highschool? Put the oatmeal and a fly in a jar. The fly lays eggs and then the eggs hatch. Pretty soon a lot of flys are buzzing around and then they all start dropping dead. The environment was reaching it's carrying capacity. In nature, is it possible that this could happen as well? You may say not with abuse, accidents, ect. Well, I would guess the dead flys were otherwise healthy. That was nature's way of balancing the environment.

agreed

The real issue is how many people really care? Based on what's been presented her how many people will join if not the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition then some other group trying to effect change? How many will take the time to call or write public officials to re inform them that there are problems in the system that need to be addressed? How many will even tell their friends and neighbors about this news story and comments section so that more can become aware of what's going on.

Let's all try to regain focus on the matters - at - hand. Issue: While many children perish as a result of circumstances beyond the control of ANY person or organisation; evidence that our system fails MANY, either through failing to protect or unnecessarily separating families, is present. It is the sovereign right and duty, of every person in this state, to come together and work with our elected officials and public servants to adopt a truly positive and truly effective solution. The measure of power given to our system(s) is almost unacceptable, and it can be proven that it is not often wielded in the best interests of ANY person in our communities. It is our right and responsibility to be the voice of governance for our elected officials and public servants. For without it, we give birth to scenarios which can only be closely associated with "blind leading the blind" scenarios, tyrannical abuse of authority, and all manner of actions which, often, appear to border actions not unlike the inquisitions hundreds of years ago. The truth of the matter is that a solution is not necessary, it is NEEDED... badly; and the only way that we are going to achieve this solution is to regain our places as the vigilant eye and voice of governance; especially where matters of Oklahoma's families and children are concerned. Visit www.sq745.org, www.familyrights.us, or www.parentalrights.org to learn more on how YOU and YOUR COMMUNITY can help to really drive this much - needed change for Oklahoma, and our great nation. - Clarence W. Cooper, II

If his motives and concerns were based on DHS not taking a child when they should have you'd think he'd support bringing accountability and quality to the system.

Strange, but I don't recall calling anyone any offenive names, or threatening anyone with any type of harm. My comments are all still here to be seen. I'm discussing the issues, which obviously you are NOT willing to do. Perhaps you Sir, are the one that is bitter about DHS not taking action when it should of in a case?

Excuse me 9909, were you defending yourself or state employees? You posted, "Now here is a promise to you. If your actions result in one single state employee losing their job, I won't just screw around with you and taunt you and insult you. I will find every public pertinent fact I can about you and your cohorts and blast it all over the internet."
Since I'm appearently one of these "cohorts", and it was I who posted information regarding someone with a criminal record, (possibly felony) working at DHS, (is that bashing?) And since I have proposed calling for investigations into the "background check scandal" and the removal of any state employee with a criminal record am I now to be a target also?

it's not a threat to expose those who are committing crimes and destroying families. They will be exposed!!! It is not to say ALL DHS employees are committing crimes but a large majority of them are and why should they get away with it? There is evidence to prove that there is a major problem and it needs to be exposed and fixed and those whom committed crimes should go to jail for it~!

I guess the DOK is engaging in selective censorship. People like T, william, and C. Cooper can get on here and call state employees any kind of offensive name and threaten me and no problem. I defend myself and DOK hits the delete button. I guess if you are a conservative, anything goes, especially if it is bashing DHS employees.

Isn't it interesting when some people are pressed to address the real issues, and can't produce logical, thought provoking examples to support their stance, they resort to mudslinging and personal attacks? "Great people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about things.
Small people talk about other people."
Author: Unknown

"It is just as cowardly to judge an absent person as it is wicked to strike a defenseless one. Only the ignorant and narrow-minded gossip, for they speak of persons instead of things."--Lawrence G. Lovasik

To Veronica,
Even though we may bring forth different issues I certainly agree with your take on the situation, "They do not care about our children" may sound harsh to some but again look at the record, read the reports and documentation. Many have put forth information and documentation to our elected officials, although we may sometimes wonder if they are listening. I commend your work, to even get two officials to act like they care can sometimes be an acomplishment in itself. Regardless of the issue as "T" posted earlier in regards to addressing problems in our system, it comes down to the people, (like you) doing something.
And you're correct, we can unelect them, they work for us. And it's a "pretty good gig" ain't it?

OOOOO....I am soooo scared.

I am the grandmother of one of the boys shot by another. My son & I have attempted to engage the lawmakers to get the Child Access Prevention Law enacted. All of the senators and reps were invited to our presentation. Two came. The CAP law states: If you have a gun, put a lock on it; or lock it out of the reach of minors. If a minor uses an unlocked gun to kill someone, the adult goes to prison. It doesn't say you can't have a gun, just be a responsible adult. FL enacted this law, & one year later the death rate from children dropped 51%! We, the people of OK, need to contact our elected officials, and let them know that if this law is not passed, they will not be reelected. They do not care about our children. They just want the NRA to keep their pockets lined.

The people of Oklahoma should:
educate themselves on how the system "works" (and trust me, I use the word "work" in the loosest of terms), realize that the taxes they work hard to pay are being mishandled, realize there are children that are being abused by the very system that was put in place to protect them, and work with an organization that is actively working to change the system. they can also contact their legislators and edcuate them as well. A wise man once said that "Nothing motivates legislators more than money than thousands of registered voices waiting to be heard." If a person doesn't like the system, they need to engage their lawmakers to change it. It's the right and duty of every American.

The proverbial 800 pound gorilla is sill in the room, and his question is "what's going to be done?". The people of OK. must answer that question.

John in Cushing says "..What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Ms. Hull is still employed by OKDHS because it was found she committed no crimes." Leonard says- You just nailed THE PROBLEM on the head. With CPS, there is NO "Innocent until proven guilty". CPS people are NOT "investigators"- They are VALIDATORS. Even when the CPS "investigation" finds ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, they don't say "innocent"-- They say "Unable to determine"-- And there is no such thing as an innocent CPS worker. They commit Federal Capital Crimes every day and in every case. CPS workers are completely ignorant of the Constitution and they are completely ignorant of the LAWS they are required to observe, such as Reasonable Efforts and Kinship Placement. I have searched high and low, and I cannot find ANY AUTHORITY that a CPS worker has. Quo Warranto- "By what Authority" do they operate? They lie to the police to come back them up with their dirty deeds. They lie to the judges. They lie to the Federal Government to collect the Federal Funding Streams. They scare people into "cooperating", and the second anybody cooperates with them, they have VOLUNTEERED their Fourth, Fifth Amendment, and Miranda Rights away. Any argument you want to offer to that?

Wow. This thing is still going on? I see the useful idiots are still lurking around. I see insider9909 takes a shot at assassinating my character down below about the war on drugs-- So why don't you take a squint at http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul515.html -- Brand new article today. See who wrote it? You guys can't seem to figure out whether you are fascists or commies. Or is it just any port in a storm that you can use in a slime tossing? You must have a mind-numbing world view. On the use of my name-- I stand behind my statements, publicly. Not hiding like a coward behind an anonymous handle. I can do that because I have moral authority. You don't.

insider, I can only assume from your posts that you see nothing wrong with the current DHS CHild Welfare System. I ask you, Sir, what evidence do you have to support your opinion? Mr Cooper and William have both shown thoughtprovoking, logical arguments. Where is yours? Are you too busy slinging your mud to look for information to support your stance? Or is it that you can't find any supporting evidence because their isn't any?

Take Mr Cooper and William's arguments out of the equation. Evidence from DHS own statistics, the latest Federal Review, and a $400,000 taxpayer funded independent audit support the claim that DHS is seriously flawed. Our state couldn't even meet the minimum standards outlined by the Federal Government. Our state was just one of many of our states that failed. This failure is not just here, but Nation wide. And we, the taxpayers, are paying for it.

I believe that Mr Cooper, William, and Leonard have all proven they are here to inform people of the issues so readers can make informed decisions. I ask you, dear sir, what are YOU here for?

Insider9909, no, my father is not a baptist minister in Ms.; and no, I have a very high ethic when it comes to professional practise. I do not "blog at work, I never misuse corporate resources. I do not "do this" for any kind of "living". The members of the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition are ALL volunteers. That's right folks! We believe in this so much that we do not expect to receive pay to drive these changes. Insider9909, if I am to gather, from your recent enquiry, that you are attempting to "research" my family. I will advise you, at this time, that "public information" is not the same as invasion of privacy. I have no problems with speaking to the public of my past, present, and future; but the moment people begin to invade the privacy of my family, friends, or colleagues, is the very moment that I will be forced to pursue actions to the fullest extent of the law; and you are not above it my friend. I will not tolerate ANY harrassment of ANY member of the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition. Nor will I allow any person to be made to feel endangered by the actions of hurtful individuals. Please respect the privacy and efforts of the people who comment.=) I may be overstepping my boundaries where the Oklahoman is concerned; but I just cannot, in good conscience, allow for you to go down the path that you are treading. Leonard does not appear to be a very easily intimidated person. Perhaps you could benefit from some wisdom... "It is better to keep a closed mouth and let the world thinkg you're a fool; than to open your mouth and eliminate all doubt."=)

hey, coop! Is your dad a baptist minister in brandon, mississippi?

“What kind of a legal system is this where we're going to design our rules to encourage guilty people to plead - or innocent people to plead guilty? It's crazy.” Justice Scalia

Really...

DHS WORKER PLEADS GUILTY
A longtime Department of Human Services employee pleaded guilty Wednesday for wrongdoing in a political campaign involving Kiamichi Technology Center. Barbette Estelle Hull, 46, of Poteau will be on probation for a year for conspiracy. Hull faced 13 felony counts of lying to the state grand jury but reached a deal with prosecutors. Under the deal, she must testify at the conspiracy trial of Davey Joe Sutton, former director of the center’s Poteau campus.

Public record at OSCN:

Count # 1.

Count as Filed: PERJ, PERJURY , in violation of 21 O.S. 456,491-505
Date Of Offense: 08/07/2007

Party Name:
Disposition Information:


Defendant: HULL, BARBETTE ESTELLE

Disposed: DEFERRED, 12/03/2008. Guilty Plea.
Count as Disposed:AMENDED TO CONSPIRACY TO MAKE ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION (PURSUANT TO INFORMATION FILED 12-2-08) (CCL)
Violation of 21 O.S. 187.1

William, are you aware that a DA can indict a fence post if he wants. The indictment against Barbette Hull was dropped when it was found that the indictment was against the wife of a democratic activist in SE Oklahoma by a republican politician. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Ms. Hull is still employeed by OKDHS because it was found she committed no crimes.

RE; Blogging at work:

Mr. Cooper is it true OKDHS and other state agencies access non-government related websites like yours and AFRA during business hours on taxpayer supplied computers?
The Grand Jury regarding DHS employee Hull that resulted in 13 indictments involved her using DHS computers for political campaigns.

To insider9909;
The mother was a minor on probation,(OJA)and had incidents already that would have assured the removal of the child in most cases, since there were DHS records cited they must have had a case of some sort and were required to visit and were or should have been aware of the situation in the home stated in the articles. Maybe it's like the Keenan Taylor case where DHS workers admitted falsifying reports regarding his situation, Keenan Taylor died also, a lawsuit resulted and the people of OK. once again paid for DHS's failures. There is also the question of why the DA's office didn't pursue the other arrest or request more DHS investigation of the situation and safety of the infant. Again we see many loose their children upon allegations with no proof, and others not loose children when proof is present.

To insider9909;
The Regier incident revealed the ghost children being used to commit fraud while real children suffered. It should be noted those involved in the system can't even agree how many children are in the foster care system.

"OKDHS data, from April 1, 2007, shows that Child Welfare workers, (excluding CPS) average 23.5 children per caseload. This exceeds the Child Welfare League of America’s (CWLA) recommendation of 12-15 children per caseload. OKDHS data, from April 1 2007, shows that Child Protective Service (CPS) workers in the state average 13.4 cases, slightly higher than the CWLA’s recommended 12 active cases per month" ~ 2007 Child and Family Service Review..
Has anyone heard them mention CPS before? How many CPS workers are there?
Why are they excluded from the data? Haven't we been told 1000 DHS "Child Welfare Specialist" handle all these cases?

July 1, 2008 KOCO Oklahoma City
"(We have) 11,500 children, 1,000 people doing the work of the entire child welfare system in the state. You do the math,"
~ George Johnson, DHS Spokesperson
And if there 11,500 children divide that by 1000 and you get 11.5 Right? So how do they get the 23.5 per caseload and other numbers like the statement below that comes from the complaint filed in the current class action lawsuit.
"For each of the past six years, the Oklahoma Child Death Review Board has
recommended the hiring of more caseworkers to meet reasonable professional standards in order to reduce the number of deaths due to child abuse or neglect. While those standards limit caseloads to twelve to fifteen children per caseworker, DHS caseworkers are regularly assigned more than fifty children each, with some caseworkers responsible for more than one hundred children." (statement from the petition filed in the class action lawsuit February 13th. 2008).


Regarding the numbers
In February 2005 the daily average of children in foster care was 6,522. In February 2007 the daily average was 7,757 children in foster care.
~ 2007 Child and Family Service Review.

July 1, 2008 newsok.com Oklahoma City
“Currently there are 7,600 children in foster care in about 3,500 homes” ~ George Johnson, DHS Spokesperson
July 1, 2008 KOCO Oklahoma City
"(We have) 11,500 children, 1,000 people doing the work of the entire child welfare system in the state. You do the math," ~ George Johnson, DHS Spokesperson

"This case is brought by the Named Plaintiffs, nine children in foster care,
on behalf of themselves and the more than 10,000 children of Oklahoma who have been removed from their homes by the State. These foster children, who are or will be in the legal custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services" (statement from the petition filed in the class action lawsuit February 13th. 2008).

The large discrepancy in the numbers (around 3000 ) is an issue that has to be answered. How many children are there? If there are 7600 why do other sources give such higher numbers? And if the higher counts are correct like the 10,000+ cited in the lawsuit then what explains the drastic increase from 7,757 in February 2007 to 10,000+ in February 2008? If those numbers are correct then that raises other questions doesn't it?

It should be noted that after this information was posted on internet forums that the number of children in state care sudenly dropped, and the article below states the highest count was 7,883. But in April of 08 the director of Oklahoma County Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA stated nearly 14,000 were in foster care.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of children in foster care drops
KTEN Local News

Associated Press - November 19, 2008 11:35 AM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The average number of Oklahoma children in out-of-home foster care each day is below 7,000 for the first time in more than three years.

The state Department of Human Services says the average daily number in September was 6,902 and is the sixth straight month the number has fallen.

The last time the average was below 7,000 was July 2005 and reached a high of 7,883 in May 2007.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Wed April 2, 2008
Court volunteers speak for foster children

BY DAVID McDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Court Appointed Special Advocates
For more information about the CASA program, call 713-6456 or e-mail casa@okcountycasa.org

By Ann DeFrange
Staff Writer
Nearly 14,000 children are in foster care in Oklahoma, and each of them must be monitored by a judge. Four judges in the Oklahoma County juvenile court system supervise about 3,000 cases of abused or neglected children.

"They're making decisions every day to put families back together or to take the children away for the rest of their lives Lynn Connell said.

The court's burden is why Connell is director of Oklahoma County Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, a nonprofit agency which serves as the "eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of the children.



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research and educational purposes only. GRG [Ref.http://www.law. cornell.edu/ uscode/17/ 107.shtml]

I dunno, coop. I seem to have done a pretty good job of "getting a rise" out of people for the last few days. I sure got rid of Leonard. People who are dumb enough to share their real name and then post stupid stuff about legalizing drugs should know better. His post of March 12 in an Oregon blog endorsing legalizing drugs has destroyed all of his credibility here. I doubt we will see him again. Maybe you're his friend. I wonder about how you feel on the subject. BTW..is this what you do for a living, or are you just cheating your employer by blogging at work?

Insider9909, your obvious attempts to "get a rise" out of good people is in vain. Where your voice is one, there are TENS OF THOUSANDS, across this nation, who testify to this problem as well. Are you going to call of of them liars? Are you saying that the children of these families are not important? Are you willing to stand out on that limb and say that you do not believe the cries of all of these children and their families, simply because you have not researched your information? It is not MY goal to destroy anything. It is the goal of our COMMUNITIES to overhaul this system, and provide a true solution to this problem. You are welcome to join us and see for yourself=) You do not have to become a member to become OBJECTIVELY informed. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead | Clarence W. Cooper, II www.sq745.org

William, please tell me how DHS could have prevented the Earles baby death?

William, if you are saying that Regier is a slug, I agree with you. A typical David Walters appointment that just "magically appeared" on the payroll one day. However, what does Regier have to do with this blog?

Cooper, your goal is not to improve but to destroy. As long as that is true, keep the mudflaps on.

When accused with no proof and no injury to a child many loose their children forever, In other cases where injuries have occurred they do not, why are some cases treated so differently, the case below raises questions as does the investigation into H. Hendricks son being burned and not receiving immediate attention.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tulsa World
Saturday, August 04, 2007

Abuse case, prosecutor pleads guilty: Deal brings deferred term, dropped counts

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
8/4/2007


MUSKOGEE -- David "Mike" Littlefield, a former assistant U.S. attorney, pleaded
guilty Friday to one felony count of child abuse in a plea bargain that led to
the dismissal of four other counts against him and his wife, Dawn Littlefield.

Mike Littlefield, 57, will receive a two-year deferred sentence.

He appeared Friday in Muskogee County District Court with his wife and family.
He would not comment.

The conviction could be expunged from his record if he does not violate any laws
and follows all the requirements of the agreement, one of which is to continue
with a Department of Human Services treatment plan.

His attorney, Mark Green, said Littlefield will not be able to continue as a
prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Muskogee as a result of the guilty
plea. But there is no objection to his practicing law, he said.

Littlefield pleaded guilty to hitting his 10-year-old son in June 2006,
resulting in bruises to the boy. Charges alleging that he beat his 17-year-old
daughter's head against a metal bed frame in November and allowed his wife to
beat her, too, were dismissed.

Photographs of the girl's injuries reveal "a large goose egg on her forehead"
and other bruises, records show.

A felony count that alleged that Dawn Littlefield beat her daughter in March was
dismissed, as was an application to revoke a one-year suspended sentence she
received in 2006 for misdemeanor domestic assault and battery. She remains on
probation.

It is too early to say what action the Oklahoma Bar Association will take
against Mike Littlefield. A letter of admonition, a private reprimand or
suspension are some of the options.

Littlefield has worked for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District
of Oklahoma since 1990.

U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling said Littlefield tendered his application Friday
for immediate retirement.

"I deeply regret the loss of a good friend and colleague," Sperling said.
Littlefield "is a fine trial attorney. I'm going to miss him, and I wish him
very well."


Susan Hylton 581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com


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in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The OKBAR has not dealt with this quickly like it did attorney Gassaway. And of course all this is "under seal" (see link below)

http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=97888&db=Appellate

By the way, Mr. William, good show on the presentation of information. =)

K, although I will not condemn the Prices (as I firmly believe that no human is divine enough to do so), I will say that I am appalled to see that story. The good news: this child will probably have a good chance at life now; because she WILL be protected. The bad news: certain "powers - that - be" will EXPLOIT this child's tragedy as a means to maintain their juggernaut status. Insider9909, did you not read the previous statements? We have our mud - flaps on=). Perhaps you should think about how you're throwing stones whilst standing in a glass house. I do not think that the purpose, of this thread, is to berate your fellow community members. If many of you put as much energy into RE-ENGAGING each other, and working toward a solution, as you have with your egomaniacal rantings, we'd bloody-well have a solution already; or at the very least be many steps closer.=) THINK before you SPEAK.=)

Let's remember were dealing with a system that has also resulted in the Rader lawsuit where many children were raped and abused while those in charge were busy using "ghost children" to collect benefits.

okcbusiness.com
Saturday, July 19, 2008 12:29:33 PM
PRESS RELEASE

Representative Gilbert Rebukes Selective Memory of Regier’s Prior Service
7/18/2008

Representative Darrell Gilbert, D-Tulsa, commented today on the support given to Jerry Regier, interim director of the Oklahoma Construction Industry.

“Jerry Regier has exhibited a pattern of unethical and inappropriate judgments in past positions of vast importance, and it baffles me that he manages to secure any position that merits transparency and public trust,” stated Representative Gilbert.

Representative Gilbert was a member of the Mental Health Committee in 1999 at which time Regier was the chief architect of the plan to close Eastern State Hospital in Vinita, which treated mentally ill patients.

“I served on the Mental Health Committee when Jerry Regier was the acting Secretary of Health and Human Services, and it was under his watch that we lost Eastern State Hospital,” stated Representative Gilbert. “He pushed to close this facility as quickly as possible, regardless of the fact that alternative facilities were not ready to handle the displaced patients. We warned him repeatedly of the dangers of closing this type of facility prematurely, but he dismissed these concerns, to the detriment of these patients and the surrounding community. The homeless population in Tulsa doubled following the closing of this hospital.”

Jerry Regier has previously resigned from two state agency positions in Oklahoma and Florida for ethical impropriety. Regier was under fire by federal authorities when it was discovered that an agency he led, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, double-billed for some services provided to delinquent youth, and billed on behalf of youths who were no longer in state care. The audit was conducted by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and concluded that the juvenile justice agency made billing errors in nearly 30 percent of claims in a particular case-management program, according to published reports.

During Regier’s brief stint as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families from August 2002 to August 2004, allegations of ethical misconduct by the acceptance of gifts, trips and entertainment by Regier and two of his top staff members were substantiated. Both Regier and the staff members involved subsequently resigned due to their fraternization with lobbyists who did business with the agency.



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Hays Daily News 7-03-08

Lawmakers criticize Regier hiring

By RON JENKINS
Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The hiring of Jerry Regier as interim administrator of the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board has drawn criticism from two state lawmakers.

Sen. Debbe Leftwich, an Oklahoma City Democrat, and Sen. Harry Coates, a Seminole Republican, issued a news release Thursday saying it made no sense to hire Regier on an interim basis.

Regier, a former cabinet secretary under Republican Gov. Frank Keating, resigned a state post in Florida two years ago after he was accused of ethical problems.

Leftwich and Coates said the CIB is unnecessarily delaying the hiring of a permanent director. They said the agency has been accepting applications for the position for at least four months.

The two senators are co-chairmen of the Senate Business and Labor Committee.

"The Board has had months to fill this position and it makes no sense for them to hire an interim director when they've had so many good applicants," Leftwich said.

"It's my understanding that they were looking at applicants from out-of-state when there are qualified candidates that live in Oklahoma," she said.

Leftwich said the CIB is "acting like a typical bureaucracy, which has lost its focus and is becoming derelict in performing its duties."

Coates questioned the wisdom of hiring Regier after his problems in Florida. "Taxpayers are fed up with agency directors who are not operating in an ethical manner," Coates said.

Larry Shea, chairman of the board that oversees the agency, confirmed the hiring of Regier on Wednesday. He said Regier was a "good fit" until a permanent director could be hired. Regier previously headed the agency.

Shea was not available at his electrical contracting business Thursday afternoon and did not immediately return telephone calls to his residence.

Regier was secretary of health and human services under Keating and was acting director of the Oklahoma Department of Health after a scandal involving ghost employees and bribery hit the agency.

Regier said he agreed to take the CIB job because the agency had "some reports and things that are stacked up." He said he was not interested in the job permanently.

Regier became secretary of the Department of Children Florida under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

He resigned after an auditor's report detailed favors Regier received from a contractor who did almost $2 million in contract work with the Florida agency Regier headed.

The favors included a birthday party thrown for Regier by the contractor and a stay at the contractor's beach home.

"I was cleared of all of those false charges," Regier said Wednesday.

Bush said accepting those favors was inappropriate, but said Regier had been effective in training welfare workers and reducing a backlog in child abuse investigations.



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By The Associated Press
Two state senators are urging the removal of Jerry Regier as interim administrator of the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.

Democrat Debbie Leftwich and Republican Harry Coates say they believe the board gave Regier a job to qualify him for drawing a $1,236 monthly retirement check.

They say that is unfair to qualified applicants for the post and a waste of taxpayer money.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Oklahoma Ghost Employees - Oklahoma State Department of Health



First made news in May 2000 from a federal investigation into corruption at the department A Multi-County Grand Jury investigating the scandal issued 302 subpoenas for witnesses a nd evidence, heard from 150 witnesses, examined 1242 exhibits and issued 12 indictments involving 15 individuals and 159 separate criminal counts.

The Grand Jury also found cases of shames, involving jobs were no real worked expected or required. These were mostly where current and former members of the Oklahoma Legislature had used their influence to secure employment at the health department for family members, friends and associates, often without regard to the qualifications of those hired.


Former state employee loses bid for pardon
During its meeting last week, the pardon and parole board also denied a pardon bid for a former state employee convicted of misusing state funds. Jo Ellen Patterson, 41, a former administrative assistant at the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, pleaded guilty to taking state funds for personal use.

Patterson was given a five-year deferred sentence by an Oklahoma County District judge. Patterson was indicted by a state multicounty grand jury as part of an investigation into allegations of state workers getting paid even though they didn't show up for work.


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Regarding the instances of DHS workers being sued and arrested documents are available at www.sq745.org and OKFAMRA@yahoogroups.com as well as links placed in these comments. Everyone can decide for themselves who's lying.

In today's news: "Chrissy Price, a 26-year-old mother of three, told sheriff’s investigators she never stopped her husband when he left belt-shaped bruises on their 5-year-old daughter because he was her husband, and therefore the disciplinarian. " OMG!!!!!

This is exactly the IGNORANT B.S. that I'm talking about. Get Educated People! How could it ever be right for a man that size to beat a 5 year old with a Belt ???? Makes me sick, but the mother makes me even sicker, to stand by without protecting her child is unreal. I hope they both rot in hell.

Crime Case Files Network - http://www.crimecasefiles.com/forum/

November 6th 2008
TULSA — The mother of a baby killed by a hungry dog tested positive for drug use the next day, but told police she smoked marijuana after her baby died, according to records released Wednesday by the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Linzy Earles of Tulsa, who was 17 at the time of the death, told police she had a prior drug problem but was not then using drugs. Her later confession of drug use was a result of the blood test the day after her 2-month-old son’s death; she told police she smoked a "bowl” of marijuana the night before, records show.

Earles, now 18, was charged in Tulsa County District Court’s juvenile division with second-degree manslaughter, accused of leaving Zane alone and unsupervised on July 28, when he died.

Earles was on probation for theft of a controlled substance, according to a July 29 Department of Human Services report that included information provided by juvenile probation officers.

The report was provided to Tulsa police to help in the investigation.
The report said Earles tested positive for drug use during her probation but that she stopped using drugs while pregnant.

The report stated that Holly Earles, Linzy’s mother, "is on a lot of medication” and "she stays cooped up in her room all day.” Stan Earles, Linzy’s father, told officers Holly Earles had undergone brain surgeries.
The baby died at the home of Stan and Holly Earles, where Linzy Earles and Tyler Ogden, the baby’s father, both lived.Attempts to reach Linzy Earles’ attorney, Robert Brown, were unsuccessful.

About the boy’s death

Police found the infant dead in a bedroom, lying on his back, wearing a sleeper and the remains of a diaper. His stomach, groin area and left leg had been mutilated.

"The victim has what appeared to be claw marks on his lower abdomen and around the main thigh wound,” the report states.

The puppy, a black Labrador mix, was about 8 weeks old and was euthanized. Linzy’s 16-year-old sister had been assigned to take care of the dog, police were told.

None of the family members knew the last time the dog had been fed, police said. An examination of the dog’s stomach, which yielded pieces of the baby’s body, revealed no presence of commercial dog food, according to a forensic report.

Officers took Linzy Earles to the front porch after they arrived. When told her her son was dead, a previously hysterical Earles "sat down on the porch with little emotion other than to cuss and push the dog away with her foot,” the report states.

Linzy’s parents told police they were afraid their daughter might try to commit suicide, because she had tried in the past, the report states.

Holly Earles was taken to the hospital for treatment of anxiety, and Linzy Earles was taken for treatment of depression.

Police noted "the house was filthy and there was dog and cat feces all over the house.” Animal control officers removed the Lab, another dog and two cats.

After seeing the baby’s mutilated body, Holly Earles chased the Labrador in an attempt to kill it, the report states.

Ogden told police the dog "is always trying to bite on things” but had never injured Zane.

A decibel test was done in both bedrooms, which were less than 75 feet from the swing. The tests indicated that anyone in the bedrooms, even with the doors closed, should have been able to hear a crying baby, the report stated. A baby monitor had been turned off.

Court date set

An initial juvenile court appearance for Linzy Earles has been set for Dec. 3. Mark Phillips of the juvenile bureau of the district court said she surrendered after the charge was filed but is not now in custody.

Earles is charged as a juvenile because her son died when she was 17. She turned 18 on Oct. 24.

Earles’ drug problems date to June 2006 when she was charged with possession and purchase of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Five months later she was arrested on complaints of possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 2,000 feet of a school.

The first charge was dismissed; the district attorney’s office declined to file charges in the second incident.


Crime Case Files Network - http://www.crimecasefiles.com/forum/

Earles was on probation for theft of a controlled substance, according to a July 29 Department of Human Services report that included information provided by juvenile probation officers.

The report was provided to Tulsa police to help in the investigation.
The report said Earles tested positive for drug use during her probation but that she stopped using drugs while pregnant.

The report stated that Holly Earles, Linzy’s mother, "is on a lot of medication” and "she stays cooped up in her room all day.

A decibel test was done in both bedrooms, which were less than 75 feet from the swing. The tests indicated that anyone in the bedrooms, even with the doors closed, should have been able to hear a crying baby, the report stated. A baby monitor had been turned off.

Earles’ drug problems date to June 2006 when she was charged with possession and purchase of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Five months later she was arrested on complaints of possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 2,000 feet of a school.

The first charge was dismissed; the district attorney’s office declined to file charges in the second incident.


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Why did the ABA not issue a final report or act upon the information revealed, why will the OKBAR not act in defense of children's rights. Go to this link to see the response of OKC. lawyers supposedly concerned with children and legal issues. http://courthouseforum.com/forums/view.php?id=1055281, then read other topics there like Judge Welch,(one of several former DHS employees now a judge) being sued.

Dave, I am sure the conservative christians still consider wives and children propery. How dare the government tell them not to beat their children.

I guess the state should just stand back and let child abuse and sexual exploitation happen because, after all, it's not constitutional. Also, you are a liar in which you state of the "many" instances of DHS employees being sued or arrested. This has happened rarely, but anytime you employee humans, sometimes you have problems. Please also tell me how DHS could have prevented a dog from eating a child. What is DHS supposed to be, clairvoyant? I suspect you are just another loser who has had a run-in with DHS.

John Duncan;
Anyone who defines themselves as a "Constitutionalists" should be aware that DHS operates outside the Constitution. "Standing orders" allowed by state law have been issued to circumvent the 4th.Amendment regarding in DHS cases, (see audit results). Through Administrative Law you're found guilty, (confirmed, substantiated) by DHS before you ever go into a courtroom. Read the ABA report and it is apparent the Constitution is regularly violated there. Two Judges here have been overturned for violating due process by wrongly jailing people in DHS related cases. In the forum link below you'll find a discussion in which a GAL states "DHS cases are civil cases and the Constitution doesn't apply" http://www.okctalk.com/family-matters/14091-dhs-steals-abuses-kills-children.html. The people of OK. need to demand Juvenile cases be opened like AZ. and other states have done. Instead what we see in OK. is Mr. Hall's case and other appeals cases removed from OSCN, (ran by a judge)and the Juvenile Law Reform Committee, (Juvenile court insiders)seeking more secrecy after the records were made public about the failure of the system to protect the Earles baby from being eaten by a dog. Even the OK. Supreme Court made a failed attempt to seal many more court records to keep them from public view, (see FOIA Oklahoma).

To Tracy in Cushing;

To begin with we must use the term "investigated" loosly, very loosly. I think we'd all agree child abuse is a crime, right? Who investigates crimes?, the police/detectives. The DHS "child welfare specialist" or CPS in OK. are not required to be social workers or even have specific schooling or degrees in their feild. The five weeks of training provided by DHS by no stretch of the imagination qualifies them to investigate any crime. I don't believe their training is the equivilant of the CLEET course required for unarmed security gaurds here much less investigators.
Now we again look to the facts in the situation, #1 The "background check scandal" exposed by newsok.com reporters proves screening was not in place to keep the wrong people from getting into the system. #2 the many instances of DHS personell being found to have problems, getting sued, and even arrested for crimes against children confirms that some of the people that are “investigating” parents and “protecting children” shouldn't be.
Given those facts I would agree that you were lucky, but the point is the quality of the investigative process shouldn't be a “crapshoot”.

That was a posting on a website in Oregon in which Leonard Henderson of Oregon, the same Leonard, Otis., proposed the legalizatin of drugs. How now, Leonard. Would you care to deny this? What a nut job.

Just so that everyone will know the kind of person that is a "staunch" defender of children's rights are. Our friend Leonard is a proponent of legalizing drugs. Maybe this had something to do with his chile abuse in Oregon.

It would be good for Freedom and Liberty to break out everywhere.
Ever since Lyndon Bane's "Great Society" and the"War on Poverty", we have had a long series of "Wars on ...", which ALL have made the problems WORSE. Much worse. The problem isn't exactly "liberal" or "conservative". It's a government corporate socialism problem. The agencies that have sprung up around it have a vested interest in perpetuating the problem. THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE GOBS OF MONEY FROM IT. Just like alcohol prohibition created a HUGE organized crime problem in the 1920' and 30's, the problem with our southern border is OUT OF CONTROL. Pheonix Arizona is now the #2 kidnapping capital of the world and they have had BEHEADINGS there because of the Drug War. I personally have absolutely no use whatsoever for dope of any kind (especially the rotten stuff our Pharmaceutical companies are poisoning the world with). But as a Constitutionalist, I have a HUGE problem with government micro-managing people's lives. Things are really bad for us little guys down here in the proletariat

Dave, I believe that it is important for every parent to raise their child(ren) with values and traditions which are handed down. For some, corporal punishment is still a practise that is used to punish for severe infractions (e.g., they'd rather put a whack on the child's bum than to see the child brutalised in prison later in life). For others, alternative methods are sought. Still for others, BOTH methodologies are applied. Regardless of HOW parents decide to discipline their child(ren), and so long as they are not AUTHENTICALLY ABUSING their child(ren), it is the PARENTS' RIGHT to choose how they raise their child(ren); NOT the government's. Forcing the seriously flawed and one - sided beliefs of Dr. Spock (who really should have just kept his views to his self, or kept them with like - minded people) is no better than imposing one's views of faith on others. I would much prefer a free - thinking society of families over hordes of PAC brain-washed conformists. I feel that is is ABSOLUTELY important for parents to rar their children with love, education, proper nutrition, impartiality, strength and discipline; TRUE ABUSE is NOT okay. Yet, on the same token, isn't the unnecessary seperation of families ABUSE? I encourage people to shed the shrouds of narrow - thought, and OBJECTIVELY determine the path to truly effective solutions which will NOT encroach upon the fundamental liberties of the people of this state and nation. Who knows, the next item to be labeled as "abuse" may be sending your children to "church camps"....

Wow Dave. Do you have any idea how obsolete that old line is? Or are you just looking for an argument from Christians? You old lefties are incredible. 40 years of this social experiment has resulted in social chaos, and is a total failure. Or is that success, since destroying America was the goal.

Spare the rod, spoil the child. This biblical teaching kills kids. We should teach it is never OK to strike a child. Not on the hand, not on their butt, not anywhere, anytime.

Perhaps they should teach their workers how to identify child abuse.

www.sq745.org

The case that you describe is REAL abuse, A criminal act that the police investigated, a criminal act that was tried in court using proof beyond a reasonable doubt. What you have described is how the system is supposed to work. When they follow their mandates the system protects children.

However, the vast majority of children are taken into custody not because they are beaten beyond recognition, but because the parents lack resources. DHS own statistics show this. The vast majority of the time DHS doesn't follow the Federal mandates. The audit that the State paid for says they are taking too many children unnecessarily. They are going against the Federal mandates and taking children that are not being abused.
I think it's great when they do their job! Sometimes they do get it right. It's just obvious, if you look at the information presented in the audit, the class action lawsuit, and their own statistics that many times they aren't. And they should be held responsible for that.

Leonard~I believe I am blessed, not lucky. I love children, I own my own Child Care Home, and I am a child advocate. I feel that our children are being abused when they are not disciplined as well. I believe when a child is removed, and all things are shown, lives can be changed. I have a cousin I never got to meet because his mother and father didn't care about him. He passed at only 3 months of age. Look Him up, Samuel Lee Barber, No matter how many times they had been turned in she still kept all the children, and when they moved she had him. I would have loved to meet him and someday I will. I just pray for the children~some of those who are given back to the drug addicted parents even though the foster parents want to adopt. I admit, our system is BAD. I deal with DHS daily, pretty much, being a licensed home. I do lots for my families I come into contact with and teach the children as much as I can about what "real" abuse is and telling stories about crying "wolf". I just know what I have seen, heard, and don't want to happen again. Beat your dog one time and have it taken away from you, it doesn't matter if the dog was attacking someone, or what. If you take "Puppy parenting classes" and build it a new home, you won't get it back. BUT...you can beat your child for sassing, she can be taken into foster care, you can take classes and go to rehab if needed. You can just clean up your house a little and rid the roaches for an inspection, and you get you child back. For some, that is ok, for others that ends in death. Don't just take my word for it, look at the cases in our state. Children are innocent, as well are some of the parents, but I feel it is usually better safe than sorry. Just my opinion. Don't flame me for it. I value yours as well. Working together to better the system can save lives, children as well as Parents.

DHS saved my 2 year old grandbaby from going back into the home of the mother. They called my son-in-law from a foster center and had him pick up our precious baby the day after the beating. The Children's Hospital called DHS from the emergency room and they retrieved her after being observed by the medical staff. The hospital also called the police and arrested the mother and boyfriend. We did not even recognize her as her head and whole body was blue and black and swollen. Her eyes were swelled shut. We contacted the medical staff at the hospital and the ER doctor told my son-in-law that she was unconscious and unresponsive. He stated that it was the worst beating of a child that he had seen where the child was alive. My baby has been in my son-in-laws home ever since and DHS did keep checking on them and coming unannounced. Hooray for DHS for doing their job. They also sent the mother and boyfriend to prison for 15 years. Until you deal with REAL child abuse, don't condemn DHS--they have regulations which they must follow which are federally mandated. In my case, they did everything right and my grandbaby is a happy go lucky child with no memory of her beating.

Oh, I assure you, THE CHILDREN are suffering from this ungodly system. It is really common for kids to lie, especially since they are being well educated in public school to yell abuse at the slightest provocation to get their way about something. They think being in CPS custody is going to be Christmas Every Day and nobody ever says "NO". They quickly come to rue the day they got themselves and their family into the system. As for your case, it is really uncommon for CPS to walk away from a golden opportunity. You are a lucky and rare exception. Believe me, you are.

Leonard-My step son admitted to his mother that he lied about me hitting his sister with a belt on her bare back...hence no bruising, no whelps nothing, and he said he only wanted he and his other sister to live with his dad and me...DHS spoke to all the children and us... yeah that was PROVED that nothing happened...yes our system is bad, but don't forget the children is my point...

Tracy in Cushing says-- "This is not just about the abuser!!!"-- After having been "investigated" yourself (and I wonder how you Proved a Negative- that NOTHING HAPPENED), it seems to me that you would be careful to use the word "alleged" in front of the word "abuser". Please do not misunderstand-- The CHILDREN who are being KIDNAPPED by CPS are being victimized by CPS incompetence and malfeasance. Is anyone aware of the ROUTINE drugging that CPS does to make the children "compliant" when they are bawling their eyes out because they have been KIDNAPPED from THEIR HOME? Is anyone aware that CPS is violating the CHILDREN'S Fourth Amendment Constitutional Right-- "..to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."-- WHY ARE THE allegedly abused CHILDREN being "arrested" instead of the alleged abuser?-- Think about that for a while, and then realize IT'S ABOUT MONEY, and that's all it's about. The Character Assassination of the ALLEGED abuser is nothing but a smoke screen to cover CPS malfeasance and evil-doing. The CPS workers HAVE NO AUTHORITY and are pathological LIARS and SOCIOPATHS. The unconstitutional courts of NO DUE PROCESS is where the "rubber hits the road" to a dystopian hell. This is why the Parent's Rights Amendment is being introduced soon-- http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=93333

Tracy I'm glad that you were cleared of the false allegations. But I must warn you. Even if the charges of abuse were unfounded, your name is now in the DHS child welfare system. All it takes is one disgruntled individual to make a number of false allegations similar to those made against you before, and a unscrulpous caseworker with an axe to grind, and you WILL be investigated again. Enough allegations and enough investigations and DHS can come in to your home, open a case on you and your children are placed in foster care.
No one in there right mind wants to see a child abused. I say if someone has truely hurt a child then charge them with abuse in the criminal court.But the fact is removing a child from their home is always traumatic, and is sometimes more traumatic than leaving them in the home and offering services to the family. It is more cruel and less cost effective to take a child and place him/her in a foster home, then to get help for the child while still at home. DHS won't do that! I know of a case where a woman went to DHS for help because her new boyfriend had abused her. Instead of helping her with filing charges against him and getting him away from her, they instead, refused to help her and pick up her children!
DHS and child welfare courts are different than criminal courts. In criminal court, guilt has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The state has the burden of proof that a crime has been committed. In Child Welfare court, DHS can say whatever they perceive as the truth and 9 times out of 10 the judge agrees. You are guilty until you prove yourself innocent. I'm not a history expert, but wasn't that one of the reasons why our founding fathers left England and revolted against the Crown?
The fact is that Child Welfare has almost complete immunity against charges of wrongdoing. they don't take a child out of a harmful situation...nothing can be done to them. If they take a child unnecessarily and traumatize them by placing them into foster care....nothing can be done to them. They are all powerful and many people within the child welfare system use that power to the detriment of children. That is jsut as abusive as living in an abusive home.

The facts are very clear, people. The issue is very real. The time to take action, and drive positive change, is now. Regardless of what your view(s) are, you are all still members of COMMUNITIES. Communities which are largely made up of FAMILIES. Review the information that is available through sites such as www.sq745.org, www.familyrights.us, www.parentalrights.org, www.newsok.com, and FIND THE TRUTH. The fact that so many stand united for the same cause, and many for the same reasons, speaks for itsself. Turn a blind eye, deaf ear, or hurtful sneer to this issue, and you will, eventually, be forced to ask yourself "Why didn't I do the right thing when I had the chance?" To those of you who choose to flail hurtful comments, I say this. We have mud - flaps on=). Fling as much as you like, if it makes you feel better. Do not anticipate a violent response, as you will never get one. Do not be surprised when many of us respond with exactly what you were not expecting, the truth... supported by physical evidence. We encourage you to get involved, be a part of your community and become part of the solution. Help to secure the futures of our FAMILIES. - Clarence W. Cooper, II www.sq745.org

REMEMBER!!! This is not just about the abuser!!! There are some children in our world who have been so maltreated and some murdered by the ones who were supposed to love and care for them. When there are approximately enough children murdered each year by their own parents or caregivers to fill up a school bus, we have a bigger problem than false accusations and such. John and Leonard~do something to help a child and quit being so self centered...it's really not about you...even if these children are still alive after all the KRAP they go through, they have a difficult time understanding what happened and that not everyone has the same thing happen to them. I have been investigated before, my husband's ex wife, and I love children, my life is working with and teaching children. Being accused is neither fun nor funny. I would have rather NEVER had to go through all of that, but when it all comes down to it I am glad that they ivestigated and showed that I never did what I was accused of, rather than letting a child POSSIBLY go through the abuse I was accused of doing. My children were and are safe, as well as the ones I care for. I wish all children could be safe and not tortured and murdered by those who are supposed to love and care for them. NOW, You may have stirred up that "Hornet's Nest thing" you were boastful about before.

John, I don't see the humor in you stirring a hornet's nest. Being "accused" as a child abuser, does not make one a child abuser. I personally know of families that have been separated due to ex spouses making false allegations of abuse. I know of caseworkers making knee jerk reactions of removing children just because one digruntaled person calling in 20+ false allegations on a neighbor. DHS policy is that if that many calls come in, there must be some validity to the call! They will look for any reason to open a case on someone, no matter how minor the issue, because the more cases there are in the state, the more federal money the state gets. I know of caseworkers removing children from good foster homes as retaliation because the foster parent filed a complaint on the worker. It meant as punishment for the foster parent but the child is the one that was punished.
It takes a fairly myopic person to look at the information that has been presented in the news that past few years, and the information in the independent audit to think that there is no problem with DHS. Even DHS has admitted that they need to make changes! The union to which many case workers belong says that there are problems. Why is it so difficult to think that the parents of children placed in foster care would agree that the system is broken as well?
Folks, some people are just so stubborn that they will not realize that the house is on fire until the flames are at their feet. John, I sincerely hope that you or anyone in your family never have the experience of a caseworker showing at your door because you have angered someone by being unruly, arrogant, rude or obnoxious toward them. I can assure you that if you act to toward the case worker as you have to those here on this board, they will find fault in you and your ability to parent. Ultimately it is the children who will suffer from that type of behavior. The people here that are actively working for change in the system are not only doing it for their children, but the children of all Oklahomans, even the children of those that are unruly, arrogant, rude or obnoxious such as yourself. Wheather you think so or not, they are working to make sure that has happened to their children will not happen to the children in your life. Good luck to you, sir.

So, John in Cushing, you enjoy baiting people who have had their lives wrongly destroyed by the fascist CPS. You are a sick puppy. I guess you missed the fact that I WON. I proved the allegations against me were absolutely false. So just keep on being an obnoxious left wing nut and useful idiot. We are very impressed. You are out of credibility, and I am going to jeer you down.

I sure did stir up a hornets nest. Too funny.

Leonard, I am still rolling on the floor laughing at you. No, I am not a cps worker. I'm just an unruly arrogant rude poster, trying to be obnoxious. I used you as an example on how to do it. LMFAO. Thanks for confirming that you are an accused child abuser, seeking retribution for percieved wrongs done to you by bad old CPS. Like Mr. Cooper, you should have spent your time and resources taking care of your kids to begin with, instead of trying to purge your wrongs from the public books.

John in Cushing, who is ribald, arrogant and insolent, but denies being a CPS worker- refused to answer my question "By what authority do you do these things?". The truth is, CPS workers have NO AUTHORITY and certainly not LAW ENFORCEMENT authority. -- See http://familyrights.us/news/archive/2009/march/by_what_authority.html -- CPS workers use TERRORISM and THREATS to get you to VOLUNTEER your Constitutional Rights away. If a policeman, who has no business believing a CPS worker, THREATENS you trying to get you to VOLUNTEER your Constitutional Rights away, he is committing a CRIME. Judges who believe CPS worker LIES are committing CRIMES and Prosecuting Attorneys who do not PROSECUTE CPS workers, policemen, psychiatrists and other COLLUDERS-- the prosecutor is committing the crime of OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruction_of_justice -- CPS and those who collude with them are committing FEDERAL CAPITAL CRIMES every day. WE ARE MAD AS HELL AND WE AREN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE

I agree Tracy. We should all actively work to change the system so it benefits the children, not the states funding or the caseworkers egos. I encourage, challenge even, Tracy, Phil, K, Aaron, Rhonda, Cletus, Jerry and anyone else that has read this comment section and knows that the system is broken, to go to www.sq745.org. Sign up to either have a circulator contact you in your area, or even to become a circulator yourselves. It doesn't take alot of time. Even if you just get your family and friends to sign that's great! You can put in the amount of time that you have to help change the broken system!

If you don't like what is going on, so someting...find an organization such as Let Our Voices Echo Inc...go to www.letoutvoicesecho.org and find out more about advocacy...YOU can do something! If you like Motorcycles join BACA~if you want to volunteer and have time check out CASA...don't just sit and complain, but put your voice out there for an innocent child. REPORT REPORT REPORT...do research and find out what and who and everything about this growing epidemic! there are MANY things that can be done, but please don't just put in comments and complain~Do something!

For those that think that the only people that compain about DHS are spitting sour grapes:

I have been working with DHS in a variety of capacities for over 12 yrs. foster parent, adoptive parent, advocate for the system, and a CASA volunteer. I cant tell you without a doubt that the system is dangerously broken! Our abuse and neglect laws are so vague that what one caseworker in a county says is abuse another in a different county says it isn't. Look at DHS CW own statistics (http://www.okdhs.org/NR/rdonlyres/A97A74BB-D25E-4DC4-9E81-C9DFDB5634E5/0/S08204_ChildAbuseAndNegelctStatisticsFY2008_okdhs_12012008.pdf)and you will see that the majority of children taken into custody are due to a lack of resources on the part of the parents. Instead of helping the parents with child care, access to parenting classes, and a supportive hand saying "hey I know how hard it is to be a parent and I'm here to help you" (which is what social services is supposed to do) DHS come in like a lion, swoops in and takes the child and labels the parent as a monster. Meanwhile the child sits in a cold heartless shelter for awhile, then moves to a foster home where their is a chance that they will get sexually abused by another child in the home. (Children in foster care have a higher chance of being abused in custody than staying in the home. A statistic which is also supported by the DHS's own statistics)Every day the child is placed out of the home is damaging to the child. DHS even admits that!

Are all of the deaths referred to in the news story due to DHS? Of course not! But many of them are a direct result in DHS either not removing children that should have been or by taking children into care that could have been better served by providing in home based services. The question is why aren't more in home base services offered? Because there is a Federal financial incentive to place children into care! The more children in foster care, the more $$$ the FEDS give the states. Yet another fact that is supported by OKDHS's own statistics.

I used to believe that the only children who were taken into custody where those whose parents lousy, drug addicted, criminals. I was one of the biggest, most vocal, advocates for caseworkers. Working within the broken system has enlightened me to the truth.

K, Perkins, DHS lies so much the employees don't often know the difference between truth and falsehood. Much of DHS power is built on lies, half-truth and innuendo. This is the result of too large a government with too much power and a complacent and ignorant populace.

Oh, and if you think I'm just full of myself, here's a little treat. My attorney has evidence that can prove a DHS caseworker lied under oath on multiple occasions. If they're willing to lie under oath, why not in DHS documents too?

It's blatantly obvious that too many people who have somehting to say on this subject have never faced this problem themselves. Unfortunately, DHS isn't the only problem. They are a major part of it, but the corrupt legal system that assists them is also greatly to blame. How about a Payne county judge who willingly accepts a DHS document as fact (even after four witnesses stated they NEVER said what DHS claimed), yet the same judge won't accept a document from a Federal agency because DHS and the assistant DA believe it is hearsay (as if their own documentation is not). Or the fact that photo after photo of serious injuries while in DHS custody are presented with NO action being taken. How about a child who suffers a head injury and complains about it 24 hours after the fact, yet isn't returned to the emergency room for further checks, and the caseworker could care less. I guess the caseworker missed the news lately about Natasha Richardson dying from a head injury that didn't seem serious. Oh, and on the subject of seatbelts, how about a DHS worker who comes to "kidnap" children and is too incompetent to correctly install a child seat. That's right folks. A DHS worker who immediately jeopardizes a childs life because she can't get someone to show her how to properly install a car seat. These people falsify reports, make up their own referrals, ignore what happens in foster care, and blame the parents for everything. How about the fact that they routinely ask for the impossible from the parents? Try making $900 a month, and having someone tell you that you have to spend $700+ on psychological evaluations, $250+ on anger management classes, $70+ on parenting classes, plus legal fees. Then they also have the nerve to state that you must be able to be financially secure to get your children back. If this is not hypocritical, I don't know what is. As for those of you who have not had the displeasure of fighting the system, give it time. You'll get your chance soon enough, and when you do, you'll be begging those of us with experience for help. Keep up the good work Mr. Cooper.

A family never fully recoups after a run-in with CPS. Ten months of hell, we went through, as I tried to "jump through their hoops." My daughter being raped twice during, and DHS saying if I was cooperating, it was my fault, etc. DHS does not make mistakes (in their eyes.) Eleven homes and ten months of dealing with and researching DHS, I brought my children home against their recommendations. Do I have a case? You bet I do. Do I have a chance? Unlikely. As one attorney told me, "We are all retained by DHS and we have to make a living in this town." The most honest attorney I talked with wouldn't go against the system. However, another had no problem draining my account and told me to trust them. Every opportunity I find, I try my best to inform others before they, too, fall victim to unchecked social workers and the family destroying system referred to as DHS.

I saw the video Cooper. Great job! Thanks for posting that Leonard.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Md. Woman Is Charged In Deaths Of 2 Girls - Children Were Found In Adoptive Mother's Freezer Last Year
Washington Post March 30, 2009; B01
Bowman, 43, came to the attention of law enforcement last year, when the girls' 7-year-old sister jumped out of a bedroom window of Bowman's home in Lusby and was spotted by a neighbor. She was infected with sores and lesions and had injuries on her feet and knees, ligature marks and extensive scarring on her neck.
Bowman, who had been a foster parent to each of the three girls, received $2,400 a month from a federal program that encourages adoption of children who are wards of the state.
The city's Child and Family Services Agency recommended Bowman as a suitable adoptive parent, even though she had filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001, the year she adopted one child, and had just emerged from it in 2004, when she adopted two others.
At times while the bodies were in the freezer, Bowman sat at her computer and went shopping for a fall wardrobe. She considered faux-fur cropped jackets and bought a pair of inexpensive ones on eBay. She bought a gold ring with fake diamonds shaped into a heart for $27.01 and a gold bracelet that said "I Love You" for $36.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/29/AR2009032902104.html

Because CPS does what it wants to do, against custody orders, tells the cops what to do, etc. They are a criminal racketeering agency that kidnaps children for billions in federal funding. Lack of any empathy at all.
CPS Defies No Contact Custody Order Dead Tortured Kids - Ariana(4) & Tyler(5) Payne
To hear the Tucson head of Child Protective Services tell it, her staff did nothing wrong when it intervened in the lives of Ariana and Tyler Payne.
Nothing wrong, despite the fact that CPS told police to leave the children with their father, knowing that a judge had denied him contact.
Nothing wrong, despite the fact that investigators never did a thorough background check to make sure the father was a safe choice.
Nothing wrong, despite the fact that the kids are, well, DEAD.
One found rotting in a storage locker, other never found thought to be in the landfill. Broken bones, massive head trauma, broken collar bones and her spine was snapped in half! CPS is POS baby killers!
http://findmissingkids.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=373&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Clarence Cooper's story is at- http://newsok.com/custody-loss-leads-father-to-fight-dhs/article/3349688 Trying to assassinate our characters with innuendo isn't going to work. If/when the system goes after you, you will come to understand. Hopefully, you will learn and know ahead of time HOW TO FIGHT CPS http://familyrights.us/how_to/fight_cps.html This is certainly where what you don't know WILL HURT YOU.

J. I have stated, many times, that I never “gave up” on my children. I think that you have never been forced into a scenario such as that. Otherwise, you would not be so quick or abrasive in your mud – slinging. In fact, I COMPLETED EVERY SINGLE ITEM requested in their “case – plans”. Their problem was that I would not apologise, to the state, for telling them that they had absolutely no right to tear my family apart the way they had. My children were begging me to "tell the judge" to let them come home, and all I could do was tell my children that we just had to let the courts decide. I did what they wanted for me to do and still, they pursued what is known as the "death sentence" for parents. If you are curious as to the allegations, review the Fox25 news story which aired last December (available in the documents archive of www.sq745.org). I relinquished my rights for one reason only, to prevent my children from being further tormented by the actions of the courts. However, I will tell everyone this now. I still fight for my children, not in the hope of regaining custody (though I would be overjoyed if that were to be a result), but to help other ensure that the futures of OUR children will not suffer the same actions as we have. There are a couple of / few things that I wish to make ABUNDANTLY clear for you, J.: 1) NOONE FOLLOWS me; for I am no greater or less a person than the next person. We all LEAD this change. Every one is a leader; some merely need to be shown that they can lead. Every community becomes involved in driving this change because they BELIEVE in a cause that is RIGHT and very much needed. The cause is to protect the FAMILIES of this state. 2) Every person, who drives this issue, KNOWS beyond doubt that they can ask me of my story, and I will tell them every detail. Many have already heard it, including Jay Marks. I have nothing to hide from anyone. 3) I am a member of a community, it is and should be my duty to maintain concern and respect for other members of my community, including the FAMILIES of my community=). Finally, J., I will PUBLICLY invite you to meet with us, in person. Come to one of our community meetings; you will not be harmed by any person. We are not here to harm anyone. In fact, the only way to achieve a truly effective change is to LISTEN to the voices of ALL communities. Your concerns / questions / comments could be addressed in a public manner. I find it rather intriguing that you are so quick to deprecate me before learning the whole story. I would like for you to PUBLICLY state why this is so; Quid pro quo. If you are unable to attend our community meetings; then reach out and request contact via our website. I am more than willing to speak with ANY person who is expressing an interest in the issues here in Oklahoma and across our nation. I await your response / contact=) - Clarence W. Cooper, II

I just have to wonder why Mr. Cooper cares more about other people's children than he did his own. He is fighting so hard for others, but did not for his own. If he had, he would have never relinquished his parental rights. What is your story, Mr. Cooper? Why did it take so many years for you to give up on your childen? Why didn't you do what you needed to do to get your children back? You talk about the whole truth. Why don't you enlighten your followers with your story so they learn the truth? I have never seen or read anywhere where you have told the public what happened for your children to be removed from you. All you have ever said is that DHS was wrong. Enlighten us, Mr. Cooper, so your followers know who they are following.

K, good advice and thanks for the number, but unfortunately that won't do any good as the moment you report these parents DHS takes the kids and they are as good as dead..in Oklahoma you can't win...the parents are too incompetent to care for the kids and the system is too incompetent to care for the kids.

I have seen so much in my time. I saved a 14 year from a overdose
drugs. I found this 14 year old out in the cold she had been locked
out of her own home,her own mother was a drug addict. what was the
final result of this DHS said that the 14 year old needed to be
taken Counseling. The 14 year should have been removed from the
home. when the 14 year old got to her Senior year in highschool
her drug addict mother planted drugs in her car and called the
police and told them that she had drugs in her car. The mother
finally confessed to setting her up,but as the result the School
would not let the student finish her Senior year they told her
she would have to wait until the next school year.Though,the
student was so hurt that she took the GED Test and I even paid for it
Oh; even the student was tested for drugs in her body and the test
showed no sign of any drugs at all,even the local police told the
school board what had happened,the board said even if the drugs
was planted in her car she still had to take the punishment. It was
bad that the DHS would have the child removed when she should have
been removed. So the drug addict mother and the DHS ruined this
childs life. She is now grown and in College and I am proud. She
really made DHS look bad. Jerry

As many can see, "picking sides" is still important to many people. The question that I have, for those of you who have NOT viewed all of the information available, is: Do you really think that you can OBJECTIVELY reach a conclusion when you can't even see past your own nose(s)? I am not asking this to be abrasive. Those of you who make the truth available, know who you are; and I thank you. Pick a side, and you will always be blinded to the whole truth. Stand in the middle, tear the shrouds of ignorance from your eyes, and view both "sides" of an issue. The whole truth will always maintain itself dead centre. Perhaps many of you have heard / read the following: "Thus I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends, stolen forth from holy writ, and seem a saint when most I play the devil." We see this sort of madness occurring every day. The arm - chair warriors (no offence to those who have no other choice) preach their messages of "choose your sides" whilst the problems only exacerbate. Why? Because no one gets up to do something about it. People, more often than not, begin to take up knowledge (the most effective tool in any battle against tyranny) and spread this power amongst their communities. They are branded as "sensationalists, radicals, wack - jobs, crazies, etc etc." without any REAL proof to support their labels. Who brands these people? The very entities who are slap TERRIFIED of the resulting questions which arise as a result of educating the communities. The harbingers of truth are beaten down quickly, in the spirit of true character assassination, and their words are often lost in cesspools of lies. Whilst the problems continue to grow, to infect, unchecked and unavoidable. No one, within the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition, spouts "sensationalist" claims. We only do what is necessary to effect truly positive, and effective change. We act in the spirit and compliment of our friends and neighbours; in addition to the spirits of those whom have been spreading truth for decades. Leonard being one of them. Many families have been undeniably harmed by a defunct process. Many families sit on a side that they were FORCED into; not one which they CHOSE. Yet, somehow, we have become more organised in our endeavour. We are no longer one or two standing by the way-side, shouting for justice and crying out for the losses that we and our children have suffered. We are THOUSANDS... WE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS... emerging, finally, in such a way that cannot be denied. We bring truth, regardless of how others may label us, and OBJECTIVITY to this matter. Not to be vengeful; but to seek change. TRUE change not just words on paper and the careless spending of tax-payer dollars. I am not here to "slam" caseworkers; for I have seen both good and bad ones. I will say that, supported by hard evidence, there are more bad than good. I am here to say that if you seek a solution, then RE-ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITIES people. Stop throwing stones in glass houses. I hear legal professionals, time after time, saying "I cannot stand what DHS does; but there really isn't anything that can be done..." and I have to stop them and say "You are a LEGAL PROFESSIONAL. Why aren't you helping the people do something about it?". The fact that many people see something so sad as this as an opportunity to berate the families who have been decimated by an unjust system is merely a reflection of the unbridled ignorance and arrogance which has been plaguing our communities for quite some time. DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR HEARTS. DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL FAMILIES. BE THE VOICE OF GOVERNANCE FOR YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. Overhaul OKDHS and keep our families together through COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, COORDINATION, and FACILITATION of TRUE HUMAN SERVICES. Clarence W. Cooper, II; www.SQ745.org

Eat crow dude! Signing off.

Adolf Hitler urged “the state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people; as long as government is perceived as working for the benefit of children, the people happily will endure almost any curtailment of liberty.”

OK, on that subject- DHS Watch- The compilation of DHS stories here at the NewsOK website- http://newsok.com/news/dhs

The OKLAHOMA legal documents
http://www.childrensrights.org/reform-campaigns/legal-cases/oklahoma-dg-v-henry/2/

Oklahoma (D.G. v. Henry)
Children’s Rights filed this class action in February of 2008, together with the Oklahoma law firms Seymour & Graham, Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers, and Day, Edwards, Propester & Christiensen and the international firm Kaye Scholer, on behalf of the more than 10,000 children living in Oklahoma’s child welfare system. The federal complaint charges the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) with violating the constitutional rights of children by routinely placing them in unsafe, unsupervised and unstable living situations, where they are frequently subjected to further maltreatment and deterioration while in state custody. Among the systemic problems identified in the complaint:.....
http://www.childrensrights.org/reform-campaigns/legal-cases/oklahoma-dg-v-henry/

The State of the Children: An Examination of Government-Run Foster Care
NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS 210
http://www.ncpa.org/studies/s210/s210a.html

Oklahoma Class-action lawsuit could shake up DHS
http://newsok.com/article/3205428/1203229713
The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday against state DHS officials has the potential to rock Oklahoma's foster care system — just like earlier class-action lawsuits shook up the state's prison and juvenile justice systems.
"It's going to cost the state millions and millions of dollars to do the right thing — which is to fix the broken foster care system,” predicted Steven Novick, a prominent Tulsa civil rights attorney.
Lawyers in the lawsuit against the Department of Human Services are asking for class-action status so they can represent all children brought into DHS custody because of suspicion of abuse or neglect.

TONS OF LINKS ON THIS ONE - News On 6 Investigates: Department Of Human Services Under Fire
Updated: May 16, 2008
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=8300687&nav=menu682_2

Former DHS worker convicted in abuse case
June 2006
A former Department of Human Services worker accused of permitting sexual abuse of a child was convicted Thursday by an Oklahoma County jury.
The jury chose a sentence of 30 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for Janice Cooke, 53, of Oklahoma City. Formal sentencing is scheduled for July 7.
Cooke's husband, Paul Cooke, pleaded guilty in September to counts of rape, forcible oral sodomy and lewd acts with a child under 16. Paul Cooke was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Prosecutors were able to convince the jury in Janice Cooke's trial that the 12-year-old victim repeatedly told her about the abuse and she failed to tell authorities.
"This defendant made that choice, and she should be punished for it," Assistant District Attorney Matt Ballard said during his closing argument. "This defendant chose her husband over a child."
Jurors deliberated for about five hours and returned a verdict about 7 p.m.
http://newsok.com/print.php?article=1866064

Oklahoma DHS workers back lawsuit - Union joins effort to make case against troubled agency a class action
February 13, 2009
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-dhs-workers-back-lawsuit/article/3345532
A state employees union — including more than 300 child welfare workers — is endorsing a class-action lawsuit against the state Department of Human Services.
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association, with DHS workers accounting for at least a quarter of the union’s 10,000 members, claims such lawsuits are necessary to fix problems with public service programs in Oklahoma.
An unnamed child welfare worker is quoted in court paperwork.
"We need this lawsuit, and the kids need to win it. If that doesn’t happen, nothing will ever change,” the worker said. "We know what to do, and we’ve told the administration what it needs to do — administration just won’t do it.”
It is an unexpected but welcome ally for the New York-based Children’s Rights organization that is suing on behalf of more than 10,000 children in state custody.
Group sued a year ago....

Oklahoma DHS Lawsuit Filed
Updated: Feb 18, 2008
http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=7865906
FEATURED VIDEO
Lawsuit Filed Against Department Of Human Services
Lawyer Speaks Out On Child Foster Care
The lawsuit, known as D.G. v. Henry, charges Oklahoma's Department of Human Services with violating the constitutional rights of children by routinely placing them in unsafe, unsupervised, and unstable situations in which many suffer further abuse.
A child advocacy group is suing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services trying to force change in the foster care system.
Anne Sublett represents a 13-year-old girl taken into state custody because of sexual abuse who was then raped in a group foster home.
MORE LINKS
Children's Rights
Lawsuit Against DHS

The Department of Human Services faces a federal class action lawsuit filed by the group Children's Rights and several law firms. The lawsuit claims many children have faced appalling treatment in foster homes and it calls for sweeping reforms of the child welfare system. News on 6 Anchor Craig Day reports on the allegations and has DHS's response.
Attorneys say the lawsuit outlines horrific stories that are just the tip of the iceberg. The lawsuit against DHS was filed on behalf of nine foster children ranging in age from 4 months to 16 years. It claims DHS routinely puts children in unsafe, unsupervised, and unstable conditions.
"While it is horrific, and shocking, it's also not surprising to me, because I have seen this sort of thing over a long period of time," said child advocate Anne Sublett.
The suit, says Oklahoma's rate of maltreatment of children in foster care is among the worst in the nation. And, the state often bounces children from one unstable foster parent to another.
"Many of them leave the system worse off than when they came in," said child advocate Anne Sublett.
The child advocacy group, Children's Rights, which is backing a lawsuit, says DHS is chronically understaffed. It wants a federal judge to require more foster homes, caseworkers, treatment for abused children and oversight.

Audit Finds Too Many Children Removed From Homes
February 25, 2009
Oklahoma City, NewsChannel 8
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0209/598406.html
An independent audit of the Department of Human Services says Oklahoma children are removed from their homes almost twice as much as the national average.
It adds that the number of children in the custody of state child welfare workers places a strain on the state system as well as children and their families.
The $400,000 audit by Hornby Zeller Associates was released Wednesday by House Speaker Chris Benge and other lawmakers.
The audit makes 25 recommendations to improve the system. Among them are making sure that children are removed from their homes only if there is an imminent safety threat and that the agency is involved with local law enforcement officials in all removals of children.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of foster children last year seeks to overhaul DHS.

Ok John Cushing, you're on. Yes I have lived in OK and may at some time work with the Fitzgerald agency near Oklahoma CIty.
Not in OK eh? You are ON baby! ---------------
Confidential DHS Documents Left Behind in Home
March 4, 2009
Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9
http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?S=9939734
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A DHS worker left hundreds of confidential documents behind after she was evicted from her rental home in Guthrie.
The documents obtained by NEWS 9 contained names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. They also contained the names and addresses of children involved in sexual and physical abuse.
Normally, this type of paperwork is heavily guarded but it was discovered when a DHS social worker moved and left it all behind.
Sandy Chanel was shocked when she discovered the condition of her rental home, from cat feces on the floor to food left in the kitchen. She says her house is trashed.
[Something about glass houses and throwing stones.]
"I would not live like this," Chanel said.
Yet, it was a box in the basement that caused her the most concern.
"I saw a box of paperwork, which I thought was trash, then when I started looking though it, I thought, ‘This is not good'," Chanel said.
What she found was page after page of confidential DHS paperwork; some dating back five years.

Obviously, you still haven't looked at http://familyrights.us. I am Leonard Henderson and I live in Oregon. My phone number is there. An internet search will find me quite easily. I won my CPS case 9 years ago. And I am still Mad as He**. Mad enough to co-found American Family Rights Association. And obviously you ARE a CPS worker. You have the exactly correct tone of arrogance and insolence. How about telling me "By What Authority Do You Do These Things?" I really want to know.

M.D. Nancy Schaefer is a republican state senator from Georgia. We have a few nut cases like her here in Oklahoma, like Randy Brogdon. Big fish in a Very Small Pond. Sometimes it seems that all of the nut jobs and racists have migrated to the south. I guess they want to fight the civil war all over again.

Leonard, you will never know who I work for or what I do. However, what I do on my own time and what I say is nobody's business, regardless of who I work for. I still know a loser when I hear one.

You cannot overlook the work of Senator Nancy Schaefer of Georgia. www.nancyschaefer.com. Look at her Newsletters link, then the UPDATE on her report on the corruption in the child "protective" services. They protect themselves and federal funds. If you really want to know the truth, search deeper. I used to think children had no value, to have the lax child abuse laws that we see nationwide. Now I see the most important factor is who is adoptable and who is unadoptable. One day, there will be accountability, open courts, and the children will be heard.

Leonard, translation for anyone who reads your post. You got in trouble with Arizona DHS/CPS and they took your children and put them into a foster home. You are crazy with anger and rage and guilt and the only way you can recover your honor is to libel, slander, and lie about the very group of people who deprived you of your parental rights to abuse your children. Go home, Loser!

So John in Cushing- I take it you are a CPS worker? Why else would you think you have a horse in this race. Does your Supervisor know you are fighting with people on Comments pages? Or are you a Supervisor? A couple weeks ago, a CPS worker in the Payne case in Arizona got in a lot of hot water for that. As a matter of fact, I have been in Oklahoma several times, which matters not. Loved it there. Obviously you did not read my last message. You bet I paint ALL CPS workers with the same brush stroke. It is red paint and it fits on the Hammer and Sickle great. Government employees are supposed to be PUBLIC SERVANTS, which none are. They are all PARASITES, the new NOMENKLATURA. However, the real problem goes back at least 40 years, and it's not just CPS. I am trying to teach American Civics, and you aren't going to get away with yelling me down. http://familyrights.us

K, ditto my last message to J. Keep the faith.

Why don't all of you right wing nuts talk about Oklahoma? I am betting Rhonda or Leonard have not ever set foot in our state. Social workers are people. I am sure that if you scour the internet for cases in which Child Welfare workers have committed crimes, you can do that. After all, we are a nation of 300 million plus people. However, what you will NOT find is a case about an Oklahoma Child Welfare worker doing this. You cannot paint all CW workers in one broad stroke. Wende, blaming DHS for 95% of child deaths is just plain stupid. When Child Welfare workers are granted telepathy by clairvoyance, then they will stop all child abuse deaths. Until then, blame the abuser not the worker. You can all be anti-government if you want, and I am sure you are. Remember, government employees are citizen taxpayers, just like you.

There is no question about the ignorance of so many parents in OK. I am still amazed at how many times I drive by cars with unrestrained children standing up or moving around the vehicle. Or parents smoking in the car with the windows rolled up! And you have plenty of uneducated ill-equipped teens getting pregnant and then abusing their babies or allowing their boyfriends to do so. Something has to change! Even with all of the incompetent parents, DHS has to do their jobs...they are ALL these abused children have left! If you think a child is being abused, get involved! Call (800) 522-3511 to report abuse.

I am shocked to see so many people who cannot imagine (or remember) what life in the USA was like before the government started so many "Alphabet Bureaucracies", most of which come straight from the Communist Manifesto.

Ron Paul paraphrased-

What if our Child Welfare policy of the past 40 years is deeply flawed and has not served our national interests?

What if we wake up one day and realize that the "child abuse problem" is a predictable consequence of our meddling with national morality?

What if propping up repressive CPS agencies endangers the United States?

What if someday it dawns on us that the 11 times higher abuse rate of children and the 7 times higher death rate in state custody is not a fair trade-off for the disfranchisement of American children from their biological families?

This is exactly why a Parent's Rights Amendment (H.R. 97 last year) will be introduced in Congress next week. See http://www.parentalrights.org/

We have a sick society, and it has happened in the past 40 years. Anybody have a clue what happened? We do.

American Family Rights Association-
http://familyrights.us

Drug Testing Pregnant Women Produces False Positives (And Kills Babies) Posted in Chronicle Blog 7/02/2008
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/jul/02/drug_testing_pregnant_women_prod A major and underappreciated problem with drug testing is that the stupid tests don’t even work. They say people took drugs when they didn’t. The problem is particularly apparent in the case of pregnant women who are frequently targeted for drug screening, but whose changing body chemistry throws off the results:
Hospitals' initial urine- screening drug tests on pregnant women can produce a high rate of false positives - particularly for methamphetamine and opiates - because they are technically complex and interpretation of the results can be difficult, some experts say. Tests for methamphetamine are wrong an average of 26 percent - and possibly up to 70 percent - of the time, according to studies by the University of Kansas Medical Center, U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. [DailyNews] -------------------------- False results put drug tests under microscope USA TODAY 11.04.2008 http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/all_headlines/101579.php "The tests have no validity," says former FBI narcotics investigator Frederick Whitehurst. And as more organic products come on the market, "the potential for civil rights violations when these presumptive tests are out there is phenomenal."

I blame DHS for at least 95% of the child abuse deaths. Car accidents may or may not be because of the children not being properly restrained. I believe everyone that has a child killed in an accident that was not in a car seat or seat belt should be charged with murder one. This is child neglect and against the laws of most states and defiantly of Oklahoma. However you look at it all of this is very sad.

THE CHILD PROTECTION RACKET
How the mental health industry subverted Child Protective Services—leaving ruined families in its wake
Freedom Magazine - Published by the Church of Scientology


Regular Version, pp 7, 11, Tucson child
http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol38i/index.htm

Flash Version, pp 8, 12, Tucson child
http://www.freedommag.org/english/vol38i/flash/index.html?firstPage=1

Foster Kids Nazi Experiments: Brain Scans, Heavy Drugs, Radiation Injected - Las Vegas Now reports (below) that Dr. Mark Collins, director of the Montevista Hospital and contracts with several residential treatment centers is ordering brain scans for foster children prior to their being prescribed highly toxic psychotropic drugs.
According to a legal complaint by Children's Attorneys Project, submitted on Sept. 5, to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, foster children in Nevada are being overdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, on the basis of a dangerous brain scan. Prior to the brain scan children are injected with radioactive material "to illuminate blood flow in their brain." Only a caseworker stands between a child and a controversial procedure.
http://www2.lasvegasnow.com/docs/spect_complaint.pdf

Feb 2008 Child Porno Case - SW Florida Child Protective Services Promoted Press Secretary Zimmerman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fgA9et8-2s&feature=related
The press secretary for Florida's child-welfare agency created an alter ego and used a state computer to e-mail one of the boys he used to produce child pornography he then sold to a magazine in Scotland and a porn ''broker'' in Germany, federal agents said Monday.

--------------------
ALBERT ZIMMERMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
January 21, 2009
http://tampa.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2009/childporn012109.htm
-------------------
See also: his buddy -
Ex-DCF computer tech admits lying
05 Mar 2009
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/030509_Ex_DCF_computer_tech_admits_lying
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A former state worker has admitted to lying to authorities who were investigating pornography allegations against a fellow Department of Children & Families employee.
Michael Hernandez, a former computer technician at the agency, pleaded guilty Thursday and could face up to five years in prison.
He initially lied to FBI agents when they questioned him about ex-DCF spokesman Al Zimmerman. Prosecutors say Hernandez helped Zimmerman erase files on his work laptop and destroy his home
computer.
Investigators accuse Zimmerman of taking nude photos of at least two teenage boys for distribution to overseas pornographers. One of them has been identified as a foster child in DCF's care. Zimmerman has pleaded guilty.
Both men were fired last year after the probe. Authorities say the two had a sexual relationship.

Mass CPS corruption P2 – Target 32 News – social worker speaks out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8h4SOwWXdc&feature=related

Forgotten Children of Texas – From the Hell Holes in Texas Foster Care
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VEhdOOOzZg&feature=related
NO CHILD should die because they “misbehave” in foster “care”

It's the same everywhere. Its based on federal funding, manipulating statitstics, falsifying documents, false allegations, and the contractors (cookie cutter case plans) that the state pays to assist in their fishing expeditions.

Georgia
Senator Nancy Schaefer's Scathing Report Speech Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2131732860292570032&hl=en

---------------

Kentucky
Repulsive mess; Social-services scandal needs strong cleaner
Jan. 19, 2007
Sadistic and criminal aren't words usually associated with social workers. But they come to mind while reading the results of a yearlong investigation into a Kentucky child-protection bureaucracy that was allowed to go rogue.
Social workers gave each other nicknames like "The Queen of Removal" and "Terminator" and laughed as they stripped children from their parents.
Workers and supervisors lied and falsified documents to cover up their misconduct and misled an accrediting agency. Those who protested or tried to report the abuses were targeted for retaliation, while some of those responsible were rewarded.

Inspector Delivers Scathing Child Services Report
January 11, 2007
http://www.wlky.com/news/10723437/detail.html?subid=10101262
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Office of Inspector General in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services issued a scathing report of a year-long investigation of child protective services in central Kentucky.
The 61-page report is a summary of the OIG investigation and lists several conclusions.
Several instances of false documentation and dishonesty by staff, including false signatures and omission or supplementation of case records, have been reported to the Hardin County, Ky., commonwealth’s attorney.
The OIG found several cases of unprofessional conduct by staff and supervisors. According to the report, regional managers abused their power, neglected to follow the chain of command and stripped supervisors of their authority, including case review.
Some caseworkers exuded an attitude of superiority with clients and held birth parents to higher, often difficult-to-meet standards when determining whether to recommend a child’s parental rights be terminated, the report said.

J, Oklahoma City...Keep the faith.

So, exactly how is it that DHS is responsible for the deaths of the children who die in car accidents, the children who are accidentally shot by their friends or in driveby shootings, or even children who are murdered by parents or the parent's boy/girlfriends that never become known to DHS until the event occurs? Why are the parents not being held accountable for the situations in which they place their children? People are so quick to blame DHS and make judgements without knowning the entire truth behind the circumstances. Never once have I heard the reporters ask the parents they interview why their children were removed in the first place and why they haven't worked their treatment plans to get them back. People want DHS/CPS to get involved and then when they do people moan and complain about it. Those are the same people who tell the investigators they knew there was abuse going on, but they didn't want to get involved. It is every citizen's legal obligation to report suspected child abuse/neglect in Oklahoma.

Some of the posters below have proven my point about, when in doubt, just blame DHS. Did anyone ever stop to think that the reason we have a high child mortality rate is because Okie parents are terrible. Let's just keep on burying our head in the sand, blame DHS, and do absolutely nothing about the culture that creates these deaths. Exactly what the reich wingers want.

Statistics may not lie, but they can certainly be used to paint whatever picture a particular group wants to paint. God fearing? Would that fix it? I guess that part in the Bible about stoning an unruly child to death should be edited out? This has nothing to do with taking God out of schools. Otherwise, it would be the teachers murdering the children. DHS? Seriously? What about the parents who are responsible for taking care of their own children? Shouldn't the blame lie there? And way to get sexist, Phil. It's because the women went back to work. Have you forgotten what life was like when only dad went to work? It wasn't illegal to take a belt to a kid back then. Beat them into submission. It was called "discipline." "Just wait until your father gets home." Please. Do you know how many children were murdered during the beginning of the Holocaust? Any idea how many children died in Somalia today from starvation? Seven children were killed last week going on a ski trip with their parents. That wasn't here, however, so I suppose that doesn't count. Accidents kill more children than anything else. Someone said car accidents. Belted in or not...car accidents kill more people - usually alcohol-related - than anything else. Should we outlaw alcohol and cars? And what is this garbage about "legal smokers" being harassed? It's the second-hand smoke that causes respiratory problems in kids. Just because it takes a little longer for them to die - maybe not until they become adults. The bottom line is everyone dies. Sometimes it's "too early." Sometimes it was avoidable. (or at least seemingly preventable) But coming on here and saying it's because of this or that and then the problem wouldn't exist is ignorant. Do some research and look up your history. There was a time in this country when children died from working in sweat shops. Or in war. Now we just don't care about those things because they don't happen here. Plus, it's easier to blame DHS and mothers who work and the absence of prayer in schools. Keep up that thought process and see how many children you save. I'd bet not many.

Well if you are interested in helping push State Question 745 on the ballot then they meet at IHOP on Northwest Expressway and Classen every Saturday from 5pm to 7pm!! They have signatures sheets there and talk about the "HOT TOPICS" of Oklahoma DHS and CPS. They are doing some "BIG" movements here in Oklahoma for our children and for our families.

Being more "God-Fearing" would help us? Well, then, in one of the most populous evangelical states in the country, how come so many kids are dying? Huh? We have wall-to-wall Churches in this state. Many towns don't even have a doctor, but they'll have at least a couple of churches, by cracky. So tell me how much more God-fearing we need to be so as to quit beating our kids to death?

This boils down to incompetency by DHS.

jacqueline... you are soo right. Sad that we trust these folks to care for these babies.. and they harm them worse. DHS is a joke and needs to be overhauled big time OR shut down.

Percy there is no such thing as improvement when children are dying daily. I dont care if the numbers are going down .. we need to get to the root of the problem and help our YOUTH & PARENTS get back on track in whats real in this life here. Removing God from schools and kids lives has made a visiable change is society ( that we can all see ).. and we need to go back to a God Fearing world that does right by him.

Children have always and will always die. It's part of life. As we read this, there are children dying in America outside of Oklahoma, in car wrecks, fires and other tragedies.

Whether there are specific factors in Oklahoma that lead to a higher mortality rate than any other locale is probably commensurate to level of income/economic stability, prevalence of drug use, crime, poverty, and level of education.

I noticed someone was not willing to accept poverty as a cause for the mortality rate of children or at least attributed little to its role in the deaths of children. The leading indicator of poverty world wide has been and is now "infant mortality rate". Oklahoma may have the highest incidence in the U.S. but the U.S. has the highest incidence of all western democratic countries. Our infant mortality is as high as many third world countries. Poverty is alive and well in this country and especially this state. I read an article that the Tyson poultry plant in Ponca City was closing and 580 employees would lose their jobs. If that fact is not sad enough, the average wage was $10 per hour. I challenge us to put a pencil to that and see how a family of three can live. I would agree with all the causes that the gentleman mentioned are valid but those behaviors are symptomatic of much deeper issues. Poverty being one.

If you want to have a better understanding of why children have died at the hands of DHS and CPS visit www.sq745.org. This site has a lot of information about children not being adequately cared for and returned to homes that were abusive or put in foster homes and shelters that abused these children. This State Question 745 is pushing to overhaul DHS and CPS to protect our children and families. So if you care about your children and families I encourage you to visit this site and get involved to change these numbers that were put out today of how many children have died and reduce these numbers NOW!!

Cletus I dont agree with what you say most of the time, but what you said is true. Seat belts are the way to save your kids lives and I am sick and tired of driving down the road seeing kids UNBELTED roaming the vehicle so their parents can deal with their kids. If parents would start acting like parents again instead of friends to their children things would go better for this country. WE would see less children going to prison, less children dying because they were not belted in, and more children behaving in school and out due to parents being actual PARENTS. Todays society has forgetton the old ways of actual teaching your children right from wrong.. and we are seeing the results of this today in our youth. Time to stand up again and be parents.

Don't say that Jamie..you'll get yelled at on this site because I bring up seat belts all the time and I get my posts pulled or told to shut up. Okies don't care about their safety or their kids safety, and it shows in the statistics...statistics don't lie in this case. If Oklahomans cared about their kids they would strap them in EVERY time they drove, even if it was a mile to the 7-11 to get their cancer sticks.

it says "they die the most from car accidents" I have seen too many times kids in cars with their parents with no seat belts on.. kids wandering around in the vehicle without belts or anything else. People here dont take belting up their kiddos seriously, and the police dont help as they dont enforce it enough either.

With over 1100 or 1200 deaths registered in the early 80s and somewhere in the vicinity of 700 in the last few years, including fewer deaths the last two years than in the year of Tim McVeigh's terrorist act, wouldn't Oklahoma's 4.8 per 100,000 tend to reflect an improvement? All of the reasons for a "bad" report given thus far are directly antithetical to the statistical data. "The growth of the problem" has actually been a reduction of the problem over the last three decades. The reasons given for the "growth" need re-examination if there is a reduction.

The director's attempt to ascribe the "ranking" to a methodological difference is moot. The numbers have decreased, so the the more discerning criteria used by Oklahoma, which the director alleges makes us include more people, actually show we are making some headway numerically. That is no consolation to the 4.8 in the 100,000, but it does show we are trying.

Wages are more "decent" (where decent means higher) now than they were in 1980-85, and our child deaths are lower than they were in 1980-85. Maybe the author is correct in that relationship that the lower wages of 1980-85 produced greater numbers of deaths, but if these children are currently "being dumped on teachers and day care workers" someone must account for the 1980-85 statistics when these children were inferentially (1) not being "dumped on teachers and day care workers" AND (2) they were in two parent homes at lower wages.

If statistics are true that children are safer in the two parent home, someone will need to re-examine the discrepancy between the 1980s data and the last two years in that light. There should have been more two parent homes in the early 80s than there are now. Children should have been safer then than now. The numbers do not suggest that conclusion.

It is not DHS fault that these children are being abused. It is the abusers' fault. It is not DHS fault that these children are dying. It is the perpetrators' fault. In some cases, it is no one's fault at all. It's called illness and accident for a reason. It is, however, DHS role to prevent the abuse and death of these children ONCE it has come to their attention. If they have any failure to account for at all, it would be the number of children who are abused and die after DHS assumes legal jurisdiction. For that lapse, DHS must be held accountable.

Alan, Edmond, +1! All the rest is just numbers to us, but someone real to those who cared. We need to find a way to do even better for each "someone real."

How many of these kids died because DHS wouldn't listen to the warnings of others while they were put back into dangerous situations with their families? Every one that did is a murder that should be on DHS's hands.

Nolan Clay did a good job on this story. Thorough and well done.

On the other hand, we could all just blame DHS. That's what usually happens in this state.

In the first place poverty, aside from the poor choices of the parent(s), has extremely little to do with this problem. The growth of the problem of abused and neglected children began over 3 decades ago when having a parent at home became atypical. For nearly half a century, most children have been raised by electronic baby-sitters or strangers. Over half of today's children do not live with their biological father which is primarily caused by births to unmarried women (30% of all births today) or bigotry in divorce/custody (nearly 50% of the remaining children are effectively divorced from one parent and most often without valid reason). According to the US Dept of Justice, statistically, the safest place for children is in the home with both biological parents. The worst is with a unmarried mother or mother and 'new' husband or 'boyfriend-of-the-week'. (I can hardly wait to read the excuses that will undoubtedly start pouring in). Throwing money at a problem often only makes the problem worse and it has never been more true than when it comes to abused or neglected children. Caring and moral parents (plural) is the answer to a large part of the problem of neglected and abused children. And by "moral, I do not mean "religious".

Yes, so very much of this can be avoided, with parental education and parental involvement. Also, employers in Oklahoma must pay employees a decent wage so that the parents can properly engage in the lives of their children, rather than dumping the problem upon teachers and day care workers.

The time has come to realize that Oklahoma should take the time it is using to harass legal smokers, and instead use the time to help parens become better parents.