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for a Nationwide investigation
of CPS
Herger Announces Hearing to Examine Child Welfare Reform Proposals 7/13/04 http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=1724 To Submit Comments/Statements to this Herger Hearing: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/submissions.aspx URGENT ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Please sign the Petition to request Congressional Inquires in ALL States Encourage the registered voters in your family and extended family to sign also. 2. Send your comment to the July 13, 2004 Herger Hearing to Examine Child Welfare Reform Proposals. Please include a request for Congressional Inquiries in All States like: "I request Congressional Inquiries of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services in All States. I have signed the Petition for this which can be viewed on http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/253404476 " and then proceed with your statement/comments. 3. Look up your State's Congressmen on http://www.congress.org or look for their email addresses on http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html . Write your Congressmen, tell them your story and request a Congressional Inquiry of CPS in your state. My statement to a previous Herger Hearing: http://www.geocities.com/family_rights_wv/hergerjuly1.html More on Why we want a Nationwide Investigation of CPS http://www.geocities.com/family_rights_wv/why.html Mandatory Mental Health Assessments targeting Pregnant Women and Children of IL. Voice your objections to the Herger Hearing and your state reps., or this will spread from state to state. IL launches compulsory mental health screening for children and pregnant women Monday, July 19, 2004 By The Leader-Chicago Bureau http://www.illinoisleader.com/news/newsview.asp?c=17748 Free Our Children Now Christina Amtower [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/family_rights_wv/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/family_rights_wv/ * Message from Rep. Joe Baca's (D-Calif) Office on Evidence Books, Investigations, Hearings, Receiving Testimony The PEW Commission on Children in Foster Care *PEW Final Report PEW Executive Summary The Petition Petition to Request Congressional Inquiries of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services in All States Affidavit for WV An example Affidavit for WV. A link is displayed for Example Affidavits for Other States as well. Affidavit Drive on AFRA AFRA's sworn Affidavit Drive. Preparing Evidence Books This information was supplied to us to prepare Evidence Books for Rep. Joe Baca's Forum (March 2004, Calif.). This can be used as an outline to prepare evidence books, but check for updated published information/requirements when the time comes. June 17, 2004 Subcommittee on Human Resources announces Hearing on Failure to Protect Child Safety Members of the public may submit comments to this hearing up through July 1, 2004 May 13, 2004 Subcommittee on Human Resources Hearing on State Efforts to Comply with Federal Child Welfare Reviews March 2004 Rep. Joe Baca Calls a Forum www.sbsun.com news story by Joe Nelson Images from Rep. Baca's Forum from March 2004 *NOTE: I am in the process of updating/correcting information and links in this section. This message from Rep. Baca's assistant has been confirmed: Hello: I apologize for not getting back with you soon, my plate has been full with projects, immigration and the CPS Reform. First of all, the evidence books/case work has been sent to Washington DC. Congressman Cardin, under the Ways and Means Committee will be formulating a committee to investigate CPS at the state and national levels. The committee is almost complete and it will be non-partisan with both Republicans and Democrats working on CPS Reform. The Judicial Council for the Supreme Court of California is also setting up a system to look into further abuses by the CPS network statewide. The Judicial Council invited membes of the Grandparents association to orientate them and to give an overview on the CPS Issues and the cases they received by mail. Governor Schwartzenegar has put forth a blue ribbon committee to look at the various departments in California and to look at abuse in powers and other activities by the various departments in California. The committee has been formed and its my understanding that this committee in the next few weeks will be looking at the CPS in San Bernardino County, Lastly the PEW Commission, under the auspices of Congressman Herger is having investigations, hearings and receiveing testimonies regarding CPS at the national level and will be addressing the same issue. There is no bill because they have not started to have hearings, if any, and if so needed to address the issue with a legislative bill or bills. it is still some time away before they get to that moment. But I do know that they have hundreds of cases from throughout the U.S, to work from. Thanks... The PEW Commission http://pewfostercare.org/ Final Report and Recommendations of Pew Commission http://pewfostercare.org/research/docs/FinalReport.pdf Executive Summary http://pewfostercare.org/research/docs/FinalExecSum.pdf Petition to Request Congressional Inquiries http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/253404476 Victims of CPS from across the U.S. sign the online Petition to Request Congressional Inquiries of Health and Human Services CPS in All States. It is urged that victims of CPS have all registered voters, or those eligible to vote, in their households and extended family to sign the Petition. Each signer needs their own email address to sign the Petition. Free emails are available from http://www.yahoo.com and http://www.hotmail.com . Suggestion: Check with extended family members, neighbors, co-workers, church members, professionals you deal with and request that they sign the Petition. For those that don't have PC's, set up free email accounts for them and assist them in finding the Petition to sign either at your home or the library. Print out the url for the Petition and leave flyers at work, grocery stores, gas stations, any place where you can find a bulletin board to Spread the Word. Affidavit example of a General Affidavit form for West Virginia. Free Example Affidavits for other states are available on http://www.ilrg.com/forms/affidavit-gen/us/wv AFFIDAVIT
State of West Virginia County of ________________ BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary, ___________________________________________________ [name of Notary before whom affidavit is sworn], on this _________________ [day of month] day of _________________ [month], 20____, personally appeared ___________________________________________________ [name of affiant], known to me to be a credible person and of lawful age, who being by me first duly sworn, on ________ [his or her] oath, deposes and says: ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ [set forth affiant's statement of facts] __________________________________ [signature of affiant] __________________________________ [typed name of affiant] __________________________________ [address of affiant, line 1] __________________________________ [address of affiant, line 2] Subscribed and sworn to before me, this _________________ [day of month] day of _________________ [month], 20____. [Notary Seal:] __________________________________ [signature of Notary] __________________________________ [typed name of Notary] NOTARY PUBLIC My commission expires: ________________, 20____. Affidavit Drive Information on AFRA's Sworn Affidavit Drive http://familyrightsassociation.com/campaigns/affidavit_drive/ Sample Affidavit on AFRA http://familyrightsassociation.com/bin/FORMS/SAMPLE_AFFIDAVIT.TXT Preparing Evidence Books CONGRESSIONAL COORDINATOR HAS REQUESTED THAT ALL SPEAKERS SUBMIT EVIDENCE IN A STANDARDIZED FORMAT AS FOLLOWS. (SUGGESTION: Do the best you can and get your evidence book mailed.) Victim Witnesses: Victim Witnesses. Individuals and families, victims of the Child Welfare System and Courts who have evidence of crimes (including crimes of omission such as police or CPS refusing to investigate) committed by government employees and vendors (such as GALs, psychologists, expert witnesses, visitation supervisors, court appointed attorneys, foster/group homes) including perjury, falsified documents, child endangerment (including sexual abuse and homicide, courts placing children with abusers, etc.), coerced testimony, extortion, etc . Each speaker will have ten minutes. Please submit your documents in a black three-ring binder (with clear plastic insertion cover on front and spine) that includes in this order: 1) a cover sheet with your name, relationship to the child(ren), contact information, your county of residence (example: Frankfort County), your congressional district number (example: 61st Congressional District of Indiana), your state legislative district number (example: 42nd Assembly District of Indiana), and date ; 2) a typed, double-spaced copy of your spoken remarks; (or your written speech) 3) your brief resume; 4) a chronological timeline of events in your case from the first CPS contact to the current status of your case; 5) list showing names and titles of all persons involved in your case , including family members [indicate relationship to child(ren)], names and titles of social workers and their supervisors and managers (indicate any degrees and licenses, if unlicensed, so state), county counsels and other attorneys for both sides (include state bar numbers), judges (including commissioners and referees, if no oath of office letter available, so state), foster parents, name of group home, name of non-profit corporations, visitation supervisors, law enforcement officers, medical professonals/institutions, note any official complaints filed against individuals/corporations listed; 6) a brief, one- to three-page descriptive synopsis of your case, double spaced; 7) a table of contents for succeeding documents of evidence in your case (explain briefly what each document proves); 8) evidence; 9) media articles about your case (electronic media appearances can be listed, identify station, name of show/newscast/documentary, and dates of appearances) . Please do not exceed 100 pages. You may be asked to submit additional evidence at a future date. If you are submitting legal cases as evidence only the first page with the case number and court seal and the accompanying minute order are necessary at this time. Beginning with your remarks (2), please identify each page in the upper-right corner with your name (Last name, first initial) and page number (1 of 100). All pages must be on white paper (to facilitate clear copies). Outside identification of binder -- Please insert a copy of your cover sheet on the outside front of the binder. On the spine of the binder please insert a white label showing your last name, first initial, relationship to child(ren) and state of residence (WV). Expert Witnesses: Expert Witnesses. Authors, attorneys, medical professionals, academics, other professionals, advocates and heads of organizations, will need a written speech that would take 10 minutes or less if actually spoken. Please submit your documents in a white three-ring binder (with clear plastic insertion cover on front and spine) which includes in this order: 1) a cover sheet showing your name, title, contact information and date (March 13, 2004); 2) a double-spaced copy of your spoken remarks; 3) your resume/curriculum vita; 4) a table of contents for succeeding documents; 5) documents you deem important to apprise members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Please do not exceed 100 pages. You may be asked to submit additional evidence at a future date. Beginning with your remarks (2), please identify each page in the upper-right corner with your name (Last name, first initial) and page number (1 of 100). All pages must be on white paper (to facilitate clear copies). Outside identification of binder -- Please insert a copy of your cover sheet on the outside front of the binder. On the spine of the binder please insert a white label showing your last name, first initial, title and state of residence (example: CA). June 17, 2004Subcommittee on Human Resources announces Hearing on Failure to Protect Child Safety http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=detail&hearing=156&comm=2 Details of this hearing: ADVISORY FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2004 http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=1626 To Sumit comments to this hearing by close of business Thursday, July 1, 2004: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/submissions.aspx May 13, 2004Subcommittee on Human Resources Hearing on State Efforts to Comply with Federal Child Welfare Reviews http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=detail&hearing=148 |
| March 2004 - Rep. Joe Baca calls a Forum http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2017182,00.html Speakers line up to report abuses by kids' agencies Baca-led panel records claims at SB hearing By JOE NELSON, Staff Writer SAN BERNARDINO - They are stories people sometimes read about in newspapers or see on television: children savagely beaten, burned with cigarettes, or sexually molested by their foster parents. Sometimes it's all of the above. Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, and state legislators Saturday heard such stories during an all-day forum at City Hall. But the focus of the forum was to address another kind of abuse, that allegedly inflicted upon parents, relatives and others by child protective agencies nationwide. Numerous complaints from people across the country about extensive abuses they say they have suffered by child protective agencies, primarily parents and relatives alleging they were stripped of their custodial rights, were snagged in a mess of bureaucratic red tape, and even falsely accused of crimes by inept social workers, prompted Baca to call the forum. Representatives of Government Watch, the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights and groups claiming to represent victims of child protective agencies also attended and served on a panel with Baca to hear and record the complaints. The presentations were audio and video recorded and transcribed. Baca promised they would be sent to the appropriate state, county, federal agencies and legislatures for further action. A resounding allegation Saturday was how child protective agencies push to adopt children out for profit instead of trying to place them in the custody of relatives. Child protective agencies receive state funds for every child they adopt out. Critics told of children burned hundreds of times with cigarettes, being forced to swallow baking soda for punishment and being sexually molested by their foster parents. When they complained to social workers, the complaints fell on deaf ears, they said. Some alleged they were even accused of lying and had frivolous complaints filed against them by social workers to cover up their own blunders and avert an investigation. ``It's really been an eye-opener right out,'' Baca said Saturday during the forum in a maxed capacity City Council Chambers. ``It tells us we need some form of a uniform standard nationwide. Apparently there's been a lot of abuse.'' Baca said a critical element to fixing the system would be to ensure that social workers receive proper training, that stricter requirements be implemented for the certification of social workers, and that social workers and the whole child protective services system be held accountable for wrongdoing and subject to criminal penalties and fines. (emphasis added) While many of the grim stories heard Saturday told of ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances, some allegations were even more colorful, as if they were right out of an ``X-Files'' script. Ted Gunderson, who said he is a former senior FBI agent, told of an international child kidnapping ring involving a conspiracy among the wealthiest, most powerful people in the nation. Every day, Gunderson said, children are being kidnapped off the streets and sold into child prostitution and forced to participate in blood rituals and sex orgies. He spoke of secret societies and dropped names like ``The Finers'' and ``The Illuminati,'' alleged social orders of affluent people holding most of the power and influence in government or society, including judges, politicians, and attorneys. ``The system, basically - is corrupt to the core,'' Gunderson said. Whatever the stories were, they were all taken seriously. Baca said he would first find out if Gunderson is legitimate before he inquires as to if his story is true. ``But it's something you can't take lightly,'' Baca said. Arizona state Rep. Ray Barnes, R-Phoenix, said: ``If there's an international conspiracy, if there is an international selling of kids, we've got a problem.'' Critics residing in San Bernardino County who attended the forum hoping to speak got left out in the cold when time ran out at 5 p.m. and everyone was forced from the building. Out-of-state speakers and those from outside Southern California were allowed to speak first. But some didn't seem to mind. ``There are so many stories that need to be heard,'' said Raymond Matney, 53, of Redlands, who alleges he has never seen his son, now 7, who was adopted by a family out of state at birth. He continues his efforts to connect with his son and said he was never given parental rights because he wasn't married to the boy's mother. ``The baby was bought and sold before he was even born,'' Matney said. |