How do these people slip through the cracks and become foster parents?

Question

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/4831503/girl-12-left-die-food

I just can't believe that in this day and age there are so many children placed into the homes of people like this and nobody seems to know what's going on. I feel physically sick thinking of what that poor child went through, and this was supposed to be the better option than her previous home?

How does this keep happening?

Answer 1

What a horrible story.  This kind of stuff just makes me sick.  I pray that the child is at rest now...with God.

Answer 2

I'm sad to say I used to live in this particular town.  I have a pretty good idea of what the home in question was like.

People get paid to foster these children from similar backgrounds.  Blame should be wide spread from the foster parents, through to the social workers and the school (Palmerston schools have truancy officers to investigate why children are absent from school).

I think more good people need to step up and help others in the community, the children, frail elderly, victims of abuse and intellectually disabled.  Friends of mine still foster kids in Palmerston.

Why aren't the carers up for murder?  The girl was obviously very ill and everyone knows the importance of food and water for life, and they forced the family to deny her of these.

Answer 3

I remember hearing of this when it happened last year, and it made me so sad. Imagine what this poor girl had been through, obviously there was a reason why she was in foster care, and then to have to go to a home where it was not any better must have been a nightmare!

I think that there are just so many overworked social workers out there who try their hardest to make sure that children are being well looked after, but there are never enough to deal with all of the children who wind up on their books, so to speak. It is stories like these that make me determined to finish my degree and get into social work to help reduce instances such as these!

Answer 4

I know exactly what you are saying - I used to be a social worker before I quit to be a SAHM, pray for these kids and encourage people you know who are caring, patient people to become licensed.  And people - please stop being afraid of "getting involved!"  If you see something going on with a child and you feel like something isn't right, chances are IT'S NOT!  Call the police, the department of human services, etc.   If only a neighbor or school employee would have stepped up......

Answer 5

So many people let this child down. Why isn't the social worker being charged with dereliction of duty and neglect or assisting in the homicide? I know everyone is over worked and underpaid but to be in that home and not remove that injured child is beyond sad, it is a crime. The people who are foster parents are sometimes the nicest most giving people and give their foster children everything they can, more then the stipend the state allows. Then there are the people like those sisters who think caring for the hurt, physically and or emotionally abused children is an easy buck. The system needs an overhaul. I hope the individuals involved do prison time.

Answer 6

That story is sad and sickening. Obviously since she wasn't able to walk, something is wrong with her, so the foster parents should have seen a doctor. I hope they get the maxium sentence, and when they are in prision, I hope someone beats them with a stick, just like they did with that little girl. And they shouldn't recieve medical attention, so they know what that little girl went thru. And make sure they don't get any food or water and left to die.

The government should have stepped in, but I can't believe that neighbors didn't call or anything about the little girl. I know in order to get the approval to operate a foster home, there are random checks done in the very beginning, but after the license, I don't think they continue to check, which in my opinion they should.

Answer 7

There are a LOT of people out there that aren't fit to breath let alone be Parents.

It disgusts me too. They ruin Foster Care for everyone. I grew up in Foster Care and have nothing but wonderful memories, but the horrible stories I have been told, I have to wonder if my Parents *Foster* were one in a million (like you).

It's a crying shame that this happens. I can't see how the got through the cracks, I know how many hopes we have had to jump threw.

Answer 8

Because so many foster parents are needed; because so many ppl have UNPROTECTED sexual contact.

Grant it, I don't know what made you ill, or what this is about, but I am right there w/ you.....!

If I could I would be a foster parent!!!!...  Have you considered it?!  (I have too many physical conditions...)

Answer 9

If people didn't have children they can't provide for there would be fewer kids ging into foster care and better use of resources to place them in responsible families

Face it the natural parents gave her up to a system that they know is corrupt. They are as much to blame