Neighborhood Schools and Gang Activity in L.A.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-boyle-lincoln-20140317,0,6894934.story#axzz2wSsIWznq

The above article discusses the issue of neighborhood schools being moved around and the issue of heavy gang activity in the L.A. area. The two schools being forced to combine are located 2 miles apart but students explain the two schools as completely different worlds. The move will put two bitter rival communities in one campus. Roosevelt Academy's enrollment has been declining and they are asking to recruit kids from other neighboring schools as an alternative to combing the two neighborhood schools. Many experts say children not from the area will have no knowledge of what streets to avoid due to gang activity or what areas to avoid. The article discusses the issue of the school officials making these types of decisions without input from the children attending the schools or the parents. East L.A. is very territorial and this decision to merge the schools rather quietly could leave children in real danger. Often times school bureaucrats make decisions for school systems without the input of those truly involved in the school and who have a better understanding of the issues and concerns in the education system.

Charter School Nightmare

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/01/12/charter-failure.html

This article may be dated, but I found it a couple months ago and it still really shocks me. One thing that jarred me when I stumbled upon this news was the fact that I had sat in countless meetings last year at the community center I interned at listening to representatives pushing academy's and charter schools such as this. And at the time I was sold. I thought they had great ideas and seemed like they really cared about their potential students. Some of these meetings were with the group of Mom's we worked with through the Family to Family program and it struck me that they could have really bought into this idea of charter schools as a viable option for their kids. And these families were already struggling, so it kind of gave me the feeling of taking advantage of a population of people who are looking for some sort of "answer" which could be a big selling point. These families saw violence and bullying in their schools, are having financial hardships and really just want their kids to have a better future than what they are able to give them. Really what parent doesn't? But in this area, with these families that are struggling someone coming in and offering a solution wrapped up in a bow during desperate times really feels like preying on a weakness to me. It may not be as drastic or malicious in intent but it could definitely be viewed that way.  So what does everybody think, in terms of charter schools? With the public school system facing struggles are charter schools and academies the miracle cure? I think that some of these school really had good intentions and had the kids best interest at heart, but is our kids education and future worth the risk? and who takes responsibility for these failures?

Reading, Writing and Renewal (the Urban Kind)

MARCH 18, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/arts/design/reading-writing-and-renewal-the-urban-kind.html?ref=education&_r=0

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Henderson-Hopkins School in East Baltimore

Henderson-Hopkins School in East Baltimore

CreditMatt Roth for The New York Times

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Critic’s Notebook

By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN

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BALTIMORE — In many ways, public schools are gated communities, dead zones. They’re shuttered after dark and during the summer, open to parents and students while in session but not to the larger community.

A new public school in one of the poorest neighborhoods in East Baltimore wants to challenge the blueprint. Designed by Rob Rogers, of Rogers Partners in New York, Henderson-Hopkins, as it’s called, aspires to be a campus for the whole area — with a community center, library, auditorium and gym — as well as a hub for economic renewal.

This is the neighborhood where parts of “The Wire” were filmed. In 2000, when the city’s mayor convened local business leaders, the vacancy rate was 70 percent. Poverty was twice the city average. Crime, infant mortality and unemployment were all through the roof.

The idea that emerged — of making the school the centerpiece of a major redevelopment project — is a grand urban experiment. Operated by Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Morgan State University, the school, which opened in January, belongs to a $1.8 billion plan that also includes new science and technology buildings, a park, retail development and mixed-income housing. While gentrification might threaten to displace the poor, the school is to be the glue that helps bind the district together.

Like any kindergartner, the concept is full of promise. Can it work?

Built for 720 children, the school occupies several linked, low-rise buildings with lofty communal spaces arranged around nesting courtyards and interior streets that mimic the fabric of the neighborhood. There’s an early-childhood center for infants and toddlers and a grade school that runs through eighth grade.

“Baltimore demolished many great old school buildings in the 1950s and ’60s and replaced them with incredibly depressing places,” recalled Christopher Shea, president of East Baltimore Development Inc., the nonprofit organization overseeing the plan. “We wanted to go in the opposite direction. We wanted Henderson-Hopkins to be an inspiration and magnet for the neighborhood.”

Recess vs Increased Instruction Time

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/07/243713419/trim-recess-some-schools-hold-on-to-childs-play

The article, "Trim Recess? Some Schools Hold On To Child's Play" by Eric Westervelt discusses the trend in schools to decrease or completely remove recess time. The article focuses on Ruby Bridges Elementary School in Alemeda, California. This school utilizes the non-profit program, Playworks, that works with low-income area schools. Playworks promotes a healthy lifestyle and focus on academics. The article states that Playworks "creates a physically and emotionally safe environment for kids to just be kids. That means trying new things. If they fail, it's OK. It's a setting where they're not going to be made fun of for trying new things, and there will be a lot of praise when they do succeed." This program costs about $30,000 per year.

Most schools can't afford to pay for this program let alone public, low-income area schools. It seems to be the trend to cut out extra curricular activities, physical activities, and the arts. The playground is where kids can put the knowledge they learn in the classroom into practice. The playground is where kids learn social skills that are need for everyday interactions. With the First Lady focusing on the "Let's Move" Campaign I believe that this sheds light on this deficit in our school systems and it's a step in the right direction. Since most schools can't afford a program like this maybe schools can just start out by having and sustaining recess time and then work towards more structured time like the program offers.

Does Teaching Kids To Get 'Gritty' Help Them Get Ahead?

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/17/290089998/does-teaching-kids-to-get-gritty-help-them-get-ahead?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=share&utm_medium=twitter

This article talks about "girt" which is perseverance and determination.  Schools that teach grit change their way of thinking and teaching so that they are teaching their students to make mistakes and take chances even if they might be wrong.  It teaches them to get back up and keep trying even when they fail.  It challenges their thinking and keeps them trying instead of just giving up when things get hard.   They are still working on getting data to show the effectiveness of this mindset being taught in the school, but it has already shown an improvement in test scores.

I think this is a really interesting way to teach students.  In the article they talk about how they never use the words "smart," "gifted," or "brilliant."  Instead the way teachers praise is by telling them that "they must have worked hard" or  "To have performed this well, you must have put out a lot of effort." So it changes the positive reinforcement and praise to focus on the work they did and the effort they gave rather than the actual grade on the assignment. In fact, some schools even grade them on effort, not just the assignments. How do you think this would change kids?  Would it take away the "entitlement" people talk about kids having these days?  How would this affect school social workers' roles?  

Closing the achievement gap for disadvantage students

http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/docs/22_02_PolicyBrief.pdf

This article highlights the literacy gap in children who are disadvantage. Our economy is now requiring that literacy skills go beyond the third grade. This has been a major problem in the American school system.  Years ago children could get away with graduating by simply recognizing words. Many worked at jobs requiring limited to no skills or post degree education and received decent pay. Today, however, a bachelor's degree is almost equivalent to a high school diploma. So  literacy is required.

Additionally, the pattern for the high-poverty schools is qualified teacher transfer out for "better" opportunities leaving the schools with a high number of  new and inexperience teachers. The NCLB Act provides standards that are mandated by each State. The goal of the standardize is to improve a child's learning and simply pass them along.

Do you believe the NCLB helps or hurts that students? Do you think the standards are unrealistic?

"Why school isn’t for children anymore"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/03/why-school-isnt-for-children-anymore-teacher/

Some of you may have already seen this article that was published earlier this month in the Washington Post.  The article discusses a letter written by a teacher named Dawn Neely-Randall from Elyria, OH, advocating for change of the way we test our students.  This article hits close to home, as Elyria is my hometown, and I also have a passion for school social work.  Dawn Neely-Randall makes some excellent points about how these tests are labeling students for how they perform on a test one day out of year, and parents are only given a score of how well or poorly their child performed.  Parents and students never have the opportunity to review the test after it has been scored.  Students are not the only ones who are labeled, however.  Teachers are labeled as well, based on how their students perform on OAA tests.  It is admirable to see teachers advocating for their students. I think as social workers it is our job to empower, and help encourage more teachers to do the same, as well as working to empower and teach students to advocate for their educational rights. 

Positive Parenting Impacts Children's Learning

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/multimedia/lectures_and_presentations/fisher_education_nation/

In my current social work field placement as a Family Advocate in an early childhood center, I am searching for resources that will help parents engage and interact with their children more effectively. In this video, "Parenting for Brain Development and Prosperity", Dr. Paul Fisher, Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, emphasizes ways in which caregivers and their children can experience "positive, reciprocal interactions" in their homes. The child's early development, 0-3 yrs. is foundational to what follows in the school settings. Parents are open to professionals who come along side of them to offer support.

As a social worker, what effective referrals and resources have you offered to parents, families who have infants, preschoolers? As Social Workers, how can we improve the level of support to these parents?

Michigan’s Special Education Proposals Alarm Teachers, Parents

http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/michigans-special-education-proposals-alarm-teachers-parents/

This article is about a 19 page proposal about changing policies concerning children in special education classes in Michigan.  The basic purpose of the proposal to change ways that children with special needs are identified and taught in the classroom.  Some of the changes from this proposal include: evaluations in order to determine who is eligible for special education programs, an outline of the eligibility professionals qualified to perform the evaluations and determine eligibility, and the fact that a student designated as special needs retains that designation until graduation.  One of the biggest issues with this is the fact that some parents say they didn't know the hearing was happening; others weren't given time to read and understand the proposal.  Lori Lofton-Doniver, secretary and treasurer for the American Federation of Teachers said the changes would affect the power parents have in speaking for their children.  She also stated that special education teachers would not need a Master's degree and would be categorized as a teaching consultant (TC), thus not requiring the 3 years of classroom experience currently needed.

Michigan's Department of Education responded by saying many parents and teachers are making judgments based on erroneous interpretations and mistaken information.  They also stated that this is Michigan's effort to conform with special education rulings on a federal level.  A lot of contention surrounds the language of one of the proposed changes.  This change requires the administrators to review caseloads at the end of the year.  Some fear that this will allow the classrooms to exceed the standard teacher-student ratio in struggling districts. The Michigan Department of Education claims that the language is the way it is to help determine necessary staff for the following year.


Mark McWilliams of the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service stated "Any time you make a change of this scale in the rules-and these are fairly major changes-you're going to have confusion"

I think there are several important points from this article.  First, if you were the parent of one of these students, how would you feel knowing that these changes are going to impact the daily life of your child?  How about as a teacher for these students?  Finally, what are the good/bad parts of these changes that you can see?

9 yr old boy bullied over "my little pony" lunchbox

This story discussed how a 9 year old boy was being bullied for taking a “my little pony” lunchbox to school. His mom reports that he loves the show and she doesn’t see the harm in him having the backpack because the show promotes friendship, even though the show is geared more towards girls. The problem that this article identifies is the schools response to the situation. The school stated that they take bullying very seriously and they will continue to take steps to resolve the issue. They did ask that the boy leave the lunchbox at home since it seems to be a “trigger” for bullying. Mom’s response back was “ saying a lunchbox is a trigger for bullying is like saying a short skirt is a trigger for rape”. 

I find this to be an interesting debate that brings up a lot of questions. Did the school have the right to request that he leave the lunchbox at home? Do you think the boy should leave the lunchbox at home? Would leaving the lunchbox at home really stop the bullying for this boy? 

As a mother of a two year old son I struggled with what would I do if my son wanted to take a “girl” item to school. I love and accept my son no matter what but I also know that not everyone will see it the same way. Do I try to protect my son from the cruelty the world can offer or do I stand up against it with him to try to change it? What role does or should the school play? I strongly feel that schools need to step up and aide this change by allowing more evidence based programs in to help teach social skills to kids in schools. But change is a slow process and is not going to happen over night and it is painful to see kids get bullied and even in some cases lead to suicide because of the rejection society can offer. So should we teach victims how to not be “victims” or is that just giving more power to bullies? 

http://www.wric.com/story/24951935/school-wont-let-bullied-boy-bring-my-little-pony-bag-to-class 

Technology in Schools

There were several articles pertaining to current events in education that I considered positing about, and most of which addressed the integration of technology in the classroom. One discussed how a physical education teacher was incorporating iPads and the Nintendo Wii into his gym class, while another discussed how one school took a decidedly different approach and has their students gardening and embracing nature in hopes of teaching teamwork, respect for the community and education, and humanitarianism. I recently had a discussion with a family member who was outraged that his son had to do a report without using the internet. Aside from making me feel old, this encouraged me to think about the future of education.

This article that I stumbled across is about a local school district that just announced that they will be providing tablets for students and staff in grades K-12. This major integration of technology has presented differences of opinion within the community. One advantage to a technological approach to education is the fact that we live in a world of technological advancements, so learning how to utilize these devices is almost a necessity. Another advantage is that this will centralize assignments and allow students to access more current information. Also, this opens the door for a different type of interactive learning.

There are also some disadvantages to a completely technological education. While the internet does contain some useful information, how will educators ensure that students learn to differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources? Will this decrease face-to-face communication between teachers, students, and their families? Will social skills and public speaking no longer be a major focus of schools? Will this put students who attend schools that cannot afford these devices at a disadvantage?

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/11/hilliard-schools-to-provide-tablets-for-all.html

Teaching Students to Advocate for Themselves

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/to-keep-teenagers-alert-schools-let-them-sleep-in/

This article discusses an adolescent student in Columbia, Missouri who successfully advocated to have her high school's start time pushed back to 8:30 am instead of moved forward to 7:25 am.  The student first got the idea to take action from her AP History class, and she was able to collect research and advocate to the school board for this change.  Later start times for high school students have been studied extensively, and this article highlights some of the benefits (fewer athletic injuries and traffic accidents, fewer tardies and absences).  Though the research has been substantiated time and time again, few school districts have actually changed their start times.  More often than not, high schools start first and elementary and middle schools start one-two hours later.  As a school social worker advocating for the best interest of all students, it is important to examine the physical and emotional health benefits of allowing teenagers to get the recommended 8-9 hours of sleep while also connecting increased sleep to better academic outcomes.  It is also important that we empower our students to advocate for themselves, not only at the micro level (for themselves), but also at the mezzo and macro levels (to create community and systemic change).  How can social workers who work with children and teens teach our young clients to advocate for themselves at these levels?

Unions on edge as Arizona lawmakers weigh major expansion of education overhaul

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/13/all-eyes-on-arizona-lawmakers-looking-to-expand-controversial-education-program/

Unions on edge as Arizona lawmakers weigh major expansion of education overhaul

Lawmakers in Arizona could decide this week if they are going to increase the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program to 28,000 students in the next five years, with the goal of eventually having 1 million students being able to make the decision about how and where they receive their education. The Empowerment Scholarship Account is different than the traditional school voucher. The Empowerment Scholarship Account program transfers money the state would normally pay for a child to attend public school to a bank account. The students that qualify for this program are given a debit card and have the choice to use the money on educational expenses from books to home-schooling. Arizona is the first state in the country to implement a program like this. Arizona has implemented this program for 761 special needs students. Currently six other states are trying to implement the same type of program. Several bills in the Arizona legislation would provide this program to low-income children, which would take a considerable amount of money from the state’s education fund. This amount would be potentially $374 million a year. Students that are participating in this program receive at least $2,900 a year and depending on their need this amount can rise to $31,000. Students are given a certain amount of money to use for their high school education and if these students have money left over they are able to use it for higher education. If they don’t pursue higher education the money will be sent back to the state.

Clint Bolick, vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute stated that “The idea was to create a school-choice system for the 21^st century” and that “Our public schools are based on a 19^th century model.” Bolick believes that this type of education promotes the different types of school systems to compete for students. Arizona’s Democratic Senate Minority Leader Anna Tovar stated that this set up an unfair competition between schools that were poor and private institutions. She also stated that she thinks the Empowerment Scholarship Account will be discriminating public education.

The Empowerment Scholarship Account plan was first approved in 2011. Several states are waiting to see how this works for Arizona, with the intent of implementing the program in their state if Arizona is successful.

I think this program is interesting because it will allow students to make the choice about their education. I believe that students that are truly determined to have an education would be able to make good decisions about the type of education they would pursue. I believe that students that aren't in control of their education would not be able to use the money wisely to get the appropriate education. Students at high school age most of the time aren't prepared to make the type of decisions about their education that these students would have to make with the money that they would be given. I am interested to see how this program works for Arizona. 

student threatens over facebook

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20140226/NEWS01/302260010/Student-accused-sending-racial-threats-classmate


The above link is to an article from Lancaster Eagle Gazette from a situation that occurred in Lancaster Ohio in late February. 
There are two Junior High Schools in Lancaster City Schools. One of them is Thomas Ewing Junior High. 

A Thomas Ewing Junior High School student was suspended and could be expelled and charged with a crime after police were told he made racially charged threats on Facebook.
The Student, who is black, along with their family is upset and disturbed by the posting. The posting was from a white student and included pictures of lynchings and swastikas. (The white student is accused of sending them to the black student.)

The mother of the accused has also been very active in the situation saying this is not the first time postings have been racially motivated. The article reported, "She also told school authorities that her son “is out of control and she is unable to control his behavior at this point,” according to the report."

Please feel free to read peoples comments at the bottom of the article. 

I have posted this article to start up a discussion on whether items posted on social media should have school punishments, such as being expelled, or if they should be handled by the authorities. 
In addition, how should social workers in the schools handle the racially motivated comments made from one student to the other? Do you think race is still an issue today that doesn't receive enough attention? 

Social Workers placed in Norfolk schools

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/social_workers_to_be_placed_in_norfolk_s_schools_to_help_identify_needy_children_1_3415112

Social workers to be placed in Norfolk’s schools to help identify needy children.

This article talks about placing social worker's in the Norfolk school systems to help cut down the number of children who are taken away from their families by placing someone in their life at an early stage. This helps the parents and the children have a early stepping stone available to help with issues they may not have been able to handle without a school social worker. It also mentions the training that teachers would be given from a social workers perspective to help in the classroom as well.
I think this is a great idea and that school social workers should be a permanent job and required within all schools, everywhere! They have other training that teachers may lack in and could help build better relationships in between the schools, families and the community. How do you feel about school social workers? And do you think this would be a wise investment overall to help or decrease negative outcomes for families in the long run?

SEX ED

I can not believe we are still having this conversation...kids need to be taught sexual education. Research has time and time again shown the benefits of teaching children about sex, safety practices and healthy relationship early and often throughout their childhood.

Apparently Alaska didn't get the memo. They do not teach sex ed as part of the public school system.

And does it surprise any of you that Alaska has the highest rate of rate and sexual violence in the country?

3 times the national average!

This article only gets worse as residents of Alaska talk about the normalization of sexual violence in the home, with almost no heads turning at the mention that the woman next door gets beat up my her husband on a daily basis!

THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE! And it starts with sex ed. and a change in attitude towards sexual violence.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/opinion/sutter-alaska-sex-ed/index.html?iref=allsearch

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/268996343/when-jeremiah-couldnt-take-more-bullying-he-took-his-life

First, I apologize for posting such a heartbreaking story. The necessity of bully education is very important. Because of this terrible crime, the child's father has now become devoted to preventing bullying for special needs students. 

I would like to learn from you, what are the schools doing to prevent bullying?

Thanks

School Social Worker Forced To Resign

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2014/02/23/former-framingham-high-social-worker-suing-school-system/ZWz3YeJNtBuh4dH6yUc0tN/story.html

A former Framingham High School social worker who resigned last March after he said administrators mishandled sexual assault complaints against a male student is suing the town’s school system, alleging that district officials had pressured him to step down.


This school social worker requested action for a student who sexually assulted two people on different incidents.  Isn't that his job?  Instead, he got reprimanded by the school's faculty and was retaliated against.  This is what this school social worker gets for trying to protect the kids in the school?

Throughout the years stories are told time and time again about schools sweeping things under the rug whether it's a teacher sleeping with students, a teacher changing a star athletes grades, students assaulting other students, etc.  We hear it time and again.  As a school social worker, part of your job is to make sure that the school takes appropriate actions when it comes to circumstances that put your students in harms way.  I find it appalling that this school social worker was coerced into resigning after standing up for what he believes in and protecting his students.

L.A. County Social Workers go on Strike and File a Lawsuit Following the Death of an 8-Year-Old Girl

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9315331

This article is a follow up to a story regarding the L.A. DCFS. An 8-year old girl was brutally beaten by her mother and her boyfriend to death in May of 2013 and a large scale investigation was done on the agency. Two social workers and two supervisors were fired following the investigation into the child's death. Social workers at L.A. DCFS reported they carry close to 50 cases each and report that they are unable to ensure the safety of all the children on their caseloads. The L.A. DCFS social workers are filing a lawsuit with the county to reduce their caseloads to 31 per caseworker. The union is also asking for a pay raise and for 1,400 more caseworkers to be hired.

"Our children in Los Angeles County, they need to be protected. And they need to be protected by having additional social workers providing direct practice social work for our kids," said David Green, a social worker with SEIU Local 721.

Social workers in child welfare are all too often underpaid and overworked. In order to ensure the safety of children in such large urban areas the counties must reevaluate their finances and make child safety a priority. They must put an emphasis on hiring the most trained individuals to conduct such serious work as well, which will mean paying them more. Unfortunately too many things in society today are run by money and by policy created by those who do not even in work in the field. All of these issues must be considered if we truly believe that children deserve to grow up in a safe and stable home environment!

Calif. boy dies after signs of abuse were missed, report says

http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/calif-boy-dies-after-signs-of-abuse-were-missed-report-says

This article details an 8 year old boy in California who had signs of abuse when he died. It was found that paramedics were in the home just prior to his death and they found broken ribs, a fractured skull and BB pellets embedded in his lungs. This story has gained a lot of traction because the family had involvement with the Department of Children and Family Services. The story reads that there were a total of 6 social workers who had been to the house over the preceding 10 years to investigate reports against this child and at least one brother.  There has been outrage from the community and a county supervisor stated that there were red flags of abuse that were missed. Both parents are currently facing murder charges but have not yet entered pleas.

This is an extremely sad story that will unfortunately cast a shadow on social workers and particularly child welfare workers. There were numerous reports made and teachers were apparently aware of the child coming to school with bruises and other marks. Since the DCFS were involved, I think it's safe to say that there were some people who noticed the signs and made referrals. It's just unfortunate that there was apparently a lack of follow through. One of the biggest things that bothered me about the story is that the boy recanted his allegations a number of times. Is it because he made it up or because he was threatened and feared for his safety?  Given this story, the agency clearly dropped the ball.

With that being said, I also had a problem with the light the agency was portrayed in by one particular line: "A recent internal review of the department found there haven't been any workers fired in 15 cases where children died."  To most people that seems like a sickening statement because it means there's no accountability. I challenge that idea. There is zero context provided to those cases. It very we'll could be 14 cases of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death and this one case to make 15. It seems that the author wanted to go for shock value when he/she wrote the article. If so, well done, I'm sure many people got upset over this fact. If the author wanted to give an objective telling of whether or not workers are held accountable, there would be more info than just a number of deaths without a worker being fired.

Managed Health Care for Children in Foster Care

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/florida-moves-to-manage-health-care-for-foster-kids/2014/02/13/7d4ce066-9498-11e3-9e13-770265cf4962_story.html

The state of Florida aims to manage health care for children in the foster care system, which will enable them to more adequately address physical and mental health needs for children involved with foster care.  Children are now automatically enrolled in the state's Medicaid, and case managers have an allocated $150 per child to address socio-emotional needs (such as a new baseball mitt or a dress for a school dance).  In theory, this shift makes sense.  Foster care children often have gaps in medical and mental health care due to frequent changes in caregivers, and this program will address that.  It will also ensure that finances are not a barrier to children receiving necessary health care.  From a practical standpoint, I am curious as to how community-based case managers will be able to fill in gaps in children's medical histories (as the article says they will).  Will this significantly alter the amount of work that goes into each case, or will case managers still be able to provide appropriate care to each of their clients?  The article explains that states will need to pay higher rates to insurers, but that the pay-off is great because children in the foster care will have better health and will be able to avoid medical problems that result from a lack of proactive and preventative care.  Given the high percentage of kids in the foster care system who have significant medical needs, I agree that this is ultimately a positive shift.  Given the current state of Ohio's budget and its financial priorities, do you think the legislature would be willing to implement a similar program?

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial+Secrecy+child+welfare+system+fails+powerless/9202692/story.html

Secrecy in child welfare system

Just for fun, I wanted to share this for the comic on the page!
Often times many people in society have a bad image of the child welfare system.
This story, attached in the he link above is just one example of I'm sure many many undocumented instances. Many people say the "system failed".
Is this an accurate description?
Does the "system failing" depend on the county or even state that the instances occur in.

Burned infant in Knox County

http://columbus.gotnewswire.com/news/knox-county-man-charged-with-assault-over-infant’s-burns



Burned infant in Knox County


Mount Vernon Ohio is located in Knox County Ohio.
They have finally charged the boyfriend in a three-count indictment. He is accused of burning his girlfriend’s 5-month-old son so badly that part of the child’s left leg had to be amputated and he needed skin grafts on one arm. He is currently in jail. 
The charges allege Keen knowingly hurt the child and failed to seek appropriate medical help for him.
I am sure most of you have heard of this story and how much news coverage it received.
What are your feelings revolving around "accidental" instances that harm children?

Human Trafficking

This article discusses how a 15 yr old female, Emily, ran away from home and ended up linked w/ a Pimp and being sex trafficked. This article sheds light on the investigative procedures of locating possible human trafficking victims in Boston. Boston has been nationally recognized for their human task force and is looked up to as the standard. This national recognition is alarming due to way that Emily's case was dealt with. The investigative journalist was able to locate an ad for the youth online within 2 minutes which led to the youth being found but the Pimp got away. According to the article, everyday 4,000 children run away or are kicked out of their homes and every year 100,000 youth are sex trafficked. This abundant supply of youth make it available to recruit, with or without force, to be trafficked. There are numerous sources to search for a youth that may have been recruited but they are not being utilized by law enforcement and the families have to push for their case to be worked on. This article exposes the biases that our culture sees these youth as prostitutes and not victims of sex trafficking, like they were asking for their predicament. We live in a culture where we go after the youth offering the service more than their Pimp or the John paying for service. What I would like to know is if this task force will continue to pursue the Pimp or if they consider the case closed due to locating the youth. Until our attitudes change we will continue to drag our feet because we believe that these victims were asking for it and don't deserve the man hours.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/opinion/kristof-when-emily-was-sold-for-sex.html?_r=0

Child Endangerment

Last week three people were arrested in connection with child endangerment in Wheelerburg, Ohio. The children attended school online and one of them bravely notified their teacher stating that they were being abused.

Juan Carlos Sanchez, Edwina Louis, Bobbi Sue Pack

By Josh PolandThursday February 13, 2014 5:20 PM 
UPDATED: Thursday February 13, 2014 6:18 PM

       

WHEELERSBURG, Ohio - Investigators are calling it a "horrific" child abuse case.

Three Scioto County residents--Juan Carlos Sanchez, 44, Bobbi Sue Pack, 31, and Edwina Louis, 52,--were arrested earlier this week and face child endangerment charges for what detectives say the three did to three of Pack’s children.

Detectives say the adults tied the children to their beds with ropes and chains in their Wheelersburg home and also forced the children to go long stretches without eating.

The action of an online teacher to notify authorities about the abuse is drawing praise from the online education community.

Detectives with the Scioto County Sherriff's Office say the children were online students of Ohio Virtual Academy.

One of the children messaged her online teacher to tell them that she and her siblings were being abused. That is when detectives say the teacher contacted authorities.

"We are so very proud of this teacher, absolutely,” said Shannon Bozigar, professional development and training coordinator with Ohio Virtual Academy.

Neither the school nor the sheriff’s office is releasing the teacher's name.

But Bozigar says the teacher had been through the same child abuse prevention training that all teachers at the school are required to receive.

"We take time to train not only in child safety and violence prevention but in all areas to keep really the core of our mission which is educating students and keeping them safe,” Bozigar said.

What the Ohio Virtual Academy teacher did in notifying authorities is drawing praise from other e-schools across the state such as Columbus-based ECOT.

"I would hope that all of our teachers would handle the situation the same way that this teacher did,” said Rick Teeters, ECOT Superintendent.

Teeters says ECOT teachers go through an initial child abuse prevention training program and refresher courses every three years.

Cultural Competency and Adoption

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/03/native-american-child-welfare_n_4719553.html

In our child welfare classes we have all learned about historical laws regarding the specific adoption requirements of Native American children. This article highlights the challenges faced by Native American children in the system despite The Indian Child Welfare act of 1978.

The article talks about the disparities in the amount of Native American children adopted, and the number of Native American children in the foster care system that have been suspected to suffer from abuse and neglect.

Four Native American organizations have asked the United States Justice Department to launch formal investigations.

The laws regarding cultural competence for Native American children were put into place to combat these issues. But are these laws being strictly followed? In some cases traditions are being lost because in the eyes of the law some children are not "indian enough." Who gets to decide? In other cases lawyers and judges are using roundabout ways to specifically side step the law completely. This is very disturbing to me, and yet at the same time sounds very familiar for the American justice system. How often do we see populations being oppressed despite protective measures? And who will actually defend these children and keep cultures alive within the justice systems nebulous "Grey area"

Is DCFS diverting cases to save costs?

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-04-05/news/ct-met-dcfs-family-court-20100405_1_dcfs-probate-juvenile-court

This article in the Chicago Tribune is sad to read about, yet believable at the same time. It discussed how the court will divert families to the probation area, which means they would not have to help out families financially. I feel it shows even more how money runs the world and what people and systems may do to save them, despite who or how it affects people. In the specific case they talked about a grandmother was willing to take in another grand child even under her physically setbacks and who was not asked to take in, yet DCFS put her through probate court, meaning she would have to support the children all by her self financially.

This is not a long term foster care for children and in turn are only hindering these children. These children who are helpless and are suppose to be taken care of and who were not asked to be brought into this world. I think a lot has more has to be done and considered within the system to make sure these children and people who actually want to help and try and make a better life for these kids. Another care giver who is not the biological parent is willing to take on another person and to raise them should receive assistance and help from the state. But, I am not sure how or what exactly could be done to ensure this. What could be some options and possibilities to make sure the state does not try and push these "families" away and leave the financial burden on them?

Family Income and the Rising Cost of Quality Child Care

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/child-care-costs_n_4215659.html

Among US families, there is a growing disparity between the cost of quality child care and household income. Parents are feeling the budget crunch: the cost of quality child care vs. food, rent and/or mortgage payments. Some parents may feel pressured to take their children to care centers that are less expensive but not licensed.
Do you agree with the basic premise in this shared article: "Ensuring this care is high quality, affordable, and available for families is crucial to our nation's ability to produce and sustain an economically viable, competitively positioned workforce." How would you propose our nation's lawmakers respond to this need to improve the availability of quality child care in the US?

Woman Charged in Death of her Son, 2

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/nyregion/woman-charged-in-death-of-her-son-2-in-brooklyn.html?_r=0

This is another story of a mother beating and killing her child.  It is so saddening how people have difficulties with her children.  This mother was 19 when she killed her 2 year old son.  After reading this article and thinking about some stories I have heard in the past I have begun wondering if there is any research or statistics regarding the age of a parent who kills and/or abuses his/her child.  I think that would be very fascinating to see and if so, can there be a creation of some sort of program to help young parents?  I had never considered this before but have more recently thought about the fact it is many times young parents below the age of 25 that kill their children.

N.Y. / REGION

Woman Charged in Death of Her Son, 2, in Brooklyn

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONSFEB. 11, 2014

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A 19-year-old Brooklyn woman was charged Tuesday in connection with the death of her 2-year-old son, the latest in a string of suspicious child deaths in New York City investigated by the police.

Emergency responders were called to the woman’s apartment in Sheepshead Bay early last Thursday and found the boy, Jayden Smith, vomiting and having difficulty breathing. He was pronounced dead at Maimonides Medical Center.

On Tuesday, the New York City medical examiner’s office found that the boy died of blunt force trauma to his abdomen and ruled the death a homicide. His mother, Geraldine Smith, was charged on Tuesday evening with assault, child endangerment and assaulting a person under 7 years of age, police officials said.

The boy’s twin was put in the care of the city’sAdministration for Children’s Services Tuesday.

The agency, which is investigating the boy’s death, declined to say whether it had prior contact with the family, citing confidentiality laws.

Pam Holloman, a neighbor of Ms. Smith’s, said on Tuesday night that the twins had seemed like normal, happy toddlers.

“I wish she would have knocked on my door if she was having problems,” Ms. Holloman said. “Maybe we could have took the baby a little while for her.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed changes to child protection policies in response to the death of another child, Myls Dobson, 4, in Manhattan on Jan. 8; a caregiver has been charged in connection with his death. This month Kevasia Edwards, 2, was foundunconscious in her home in Queens with broken ribs and bruising around her mouth, and later died. Her mother, Ashley Diaz, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

Eli Rosenberg contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on February 12, 2014, on page A20 of the New York edition with the headline: Woman Charged in Death of Her Son, 2, in Brooklyn. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe