Thanks to Gordon E. Finley for the following.
ACFC
http://www.acfc.org/
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The following article was published in The Miami Herald
on Friday, April 23, 2004 on page 6B.
I would urge that it be circulated as widely as possible.
Gordon E. Finley
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8497613.htm
The Miami Herald
Friday, April 23, 2004
DCF: Agency blasted in abuse probe
A state attorney blasts officials at Florida's child welfare agency
for their 'reckless mishandling' of a child abuse investigation that
tore apart a father and two children.
by CAROL MARBIN MILLER
[email protected]In a blistering letter to the head of Florida's child welfare agency,
the state attorney in Fort Pierce has accused Department of Children
& Families caseworkers of ''coaching'' two children to falsely accuse
their father of sexual abuse -- allegations that robbed the man of
custody for several years.
State Attorney Bruce H. Colton blasts the agency for causing a father
who may be innocent to lose his children, while an alcoholic,
drug-addicted and neglectful mother was allowed to raise them.
'Although DCF employees are not technically guilty of committing a
crime in this case, it is evident that these children have no chance to
be `normal' due to the reckless mishandling of this family,'' Colton
wrote in the March 29 letter to DCF Secretary Jerry Regier.
``If the children are telling the truth in their latest statements, the
children have been sent on a six-year roller coaster ride of reckless
indifference by DCF from which they will probably never recover.''
Colton's letter concerns an ongoing dispute between DCF investigators,
caseworkers and attorneys in several Central and North Florida counties
and Dennis Gaffney, the father of boys ages 16 and 10. DCF's actions
in the case now are under investigation by the agency's Inspector
General's Office in Tallahassee.
''I feel very strongly about ensuring integrity and accountability in our
district offices,'' Regier wrote in a March 17 letter to Colton, asking the
chief prosecutor to outline his concerns over DCF's handling of the case.
Gaffney said he was heartened by Colton's remarks, which serve as a
kind of vindication. Since 1997, Gaffney has lived under a cloud of
suspicion that he molested his own son, as well as the teenage daughter
of his ex-wife's friend.
'It comes down to this: `Oops, we made a mistake,' '' Gaffney said.
``It is obvious DCF is not capable of policing themselves.''
Okeechobee sheriff's Capt. Dale LaFlam, who investigated the case, said
he has concluded Gaffney ``has not done what he is accused of doing.''
In surprisingly harsh language, Colton suggested agency employees made a series of decisions over several years that left the two boys at great risk.
During most of the past seven years, DCF caseworkers went to great
lengths to leave the two boys with their mother, Colton wrote, despite:
* An internal agency report that concluded ''the mother may not be a
stable parent.'' One report concluded the mother's alcohol and drug
abuse ``may present a substantial barrier to her achieving effective
parenting skills.''
* Reports from officials at a halfway house in which DCF placed the
mother and two boys said that they ''suspected that she leaves the
premises to drink,'' does not require the boys to attend school, has
allowed her car to be repossessed and is not allowed to visit her own
mother due to a domestic violence injunction.
* A sworn statement from a doctor who said the mother ``brings [the]
children to his office with alcohol on her breath.''
At a January 2001 court hearing, DCF officials blocked the introduction
into evidence of a videotaped statement by the mother who said ''that
DCF employees asked her to lie in order to obtain an injunction of
protection against Gaffney,'' Colton wrote.
''DCF first took the children away from the father based on an
inadequate investigation,'' Colton wrote. ``Then, DCF gave custody to
the mother who had past criminal convictions, abused alcohol and
controlled substances, and committed new crimes while having custody
of the children.''
''Is it any wonder that the children are rebellious and uncontrollable
at the present time,'' Colton added.
© 2004 The Miami Herald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald Home: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
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This one has really broken my heart. Just received it thru e-mail.
What I can't figure is why they can't be prosecuted for their 'ooops'
They did not do their job and the children pay once again. And then DCF asked the mother to lie. Hope they go all the way with this one and it scares the shit out of other agencies.
"During most of the past seven years, DCF caseworkers went to great
lengths to leave the two boys with their mother, Colton wrote, despite:"
That statement really hit home...
Well, this guy sounds pissed off enough that I wouldn't be surprised if he digs until he finds a charge that will stick. Then he'll throw the book at them.
If nothing else, the father sueing the workers for pain and past and future suffering, for the damage they caused the boys. That would certainly amount to a pretty penny. And if the state wanted to negotiate, if it were me, I'd be telling them either criminal charges will be brought, they lose their jobs for ANY state agency in the US, and they NEVER be allowed to work with kids or the lawsuit continues.
All DCF/CPS/DHS agencies should be shaking in their boots, and rightly so............
kitty c. Thanks for all the good info. ! I enjoy reading your posts. Your doing good work, and obviously a lot of it. Thanks again.
Very well said! I would love to send this guy my support.
I hope this hits every newspaper in the country. It should scare the hell out of people.
Another prime example of our tax dollars at work!
"Children learn what they live"
How the heck can you lose 189 kids? I was under the impression that foster parents were somewhat monitored. Periodic checks.
I also thought for a long time that if both parents did not want the child, why not have a family member come forward and take them. But it sounds like the grandpa just handed the kid back to the mother after getting permission from the state.
So glad you posted this. I knew the system fails the kids, but this is exensive.
"Children learn what they live"