Comments on: When Neglect Isn’t Enough Part II by Rambling Raven

By: Darnetta

Darnetta — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:58:04 +0000

I’m praying for him….i see this all the time

I work in collaboration with the CFS here…I work with children like the young man you described above….it’s very disturbing and frustrating that it takes so much to get children the help they need. I provide high-fidelity wraparound for my clients…building that village spoken of…that, in itself, is VERY hard work.

It isn’t easy for social workers right now. Everywhere there are budget cuts, lay off’s, early buy-outs, unfair firings, program closures, etc…etc… One major thing that’s happened here recently is CFS cut their ENTIRE visitation department..sigh… So where are families able to spend time with their kids now? Who will get them there (transportation is gone too)? Who’s gonna oversee supervised visitation cases….and again…where?

I’m sure it’s hard for them to have to ‘prioritize’ cases when it’s apparent kids like these need help. But trust, they hurt too…the s.w’s…they’ve just had to say ‘no’, ‘hold on’, monitor…so much it begins to seem like they don’t care…but they do. They just can’t do anything about it.

But you all stood up and were persistent and did your part…blessings to all of you Raven. That’s exactly what I do on a day to day basis…it’s the core of my job.

By: Raven

Raven — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:13:43 +0000

Yeah, Stephanie and it drives me nuts when you know a child is in danger but the agencies don’t see it as severe enough.

By: Stephanie G.

Stephanie G. — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:33:30 +0000

Hi Raven. Working in an area of a large city that is in the top 10 worst areas in the nation for murder, I see the neglect of children everyday. I am a teacher and the proverty rate is so low that some

Hi Raven. I tried to reply to your first story but it got too hard to do so. Doing so now isn’t really easy. I have been teaching for 33 years and I have seen it all. Two years ago, I had to move to a school in an area that has the lowest poverty rate and was on the top 10 list for murders rate area in the nation. I have seen it all and this is on the elementary level. Even with five year olds there is the physical violence and they can tell you more about sex than you know. All because they don’t have someone to watch them at night or there is an older sibling there that doesn’t pay attention to them.
In my school, we do have different counseling services working with too many children. Some counselors even take on the part of being parents in the evenings and on weekends. Here, a teacher can lose her job if they do not report a case of suspected child abuse. But just like you said, DFCS and social workers can just say that the child is not in that much danger and nothing is done until it is too late.

By: Raven

Raven — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:33:03 +0000

Thanks for the prayers, Rhonda. And yes, it is so sad that neglect is at an all time high, along with physical and sexual abuse. I think it is difficult enough being a teacher and witnessing the neglect. I can’t image being an actual case worker for these children.

By: Rhonda McKnight

Rhonda McKnight — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:59:09 +0000

Raven,
I’ve worked for DFCS for 11 years, not in child welfare, but close enough to know what’s happening in our communities and within the system. I pray for children every night, because the horror you describe in this story is common. It happens every single hour of every single day to some poor child. Families are not what they used to be and the agencies have never been sufficient to address the problem. The ever increasing caseloads, high burnout and turnover of staff, and shrinking funds have absolutely put neglect on the back burner. Drugs have increased physical and sexual abuse referrals a hundred fold. The state legislature has to care. Programs have to be funded and then leadership in DFCS has to be held accountable. Thank you for giving this child a voice. I will be praying for him.