The Division of Family and Children Services in America
Many recognize Division of Family and Child Services as the organization responsible for pulling crying children from the grasp of the weeping mother who is unfit to provide for the child’s needs. Many scorn DFCS for “tearing apart families,” or for the neglect of foster children. Public opinion seems to establish the Division of Family and Children Services as an enemy, a scapegoat for the mistreatment of children within the system, and the instability of foster care homes. This organization is trademarked by the unfortunate duties it is forced to perform, but should also be applauded for the successful placement of many children into stable and loving homes.
The Division of Family and …show more content…
In the Christopher Johnson Case of Illinois in 2010, the DFCS is accused of acting on behalf of the agency’s best interests, seeming to find the easiest yet unfair settlement to the dispute. Before being placed into his grandmother’s custody, Christopher Johnson was living on the scarce diet of hot dogs, cereal, and fast-food chicken. He lived in an apartment with his teenage brothers and sisters. His disabled grandmother, Cleaster Johnson, who, at the time, was raising three other grandchildren, was deemed fit by the DFCS to become primary care taker of young Christopher. Child-welfare workers supposedly directed her toward obtaining legal guardianship, which lacked the benefits that a foster parent would receive. Mrs. Johnson stated that no one explained to her that Christopher was eligible to receive free medical care and the monthly stipend she was entitled to as his caregiver. The grandmother also stated that she was never given an option by the DFCS, who were accused to have been steering cases away from DFCS care to avoid long-term obligations and to reduce caseloads. Margaret Benson, executive director of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, states, “DCFS isn’t doing its job. Probate Court is not a long-term foster …show more content…
Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal, formed a council to analyze the child welfare system and brainstorm ways that the system can better protect children. In addition to the council, Governor Deal also ordered that the proposed idea of privatization amongst the child welfare system be piloted in two regions in Georgia, one of those being Athens. The 175 newly hired case workers are part of a three-year plan to employ 525 new DFCS workers, and it is expected that these workers will have “a direct positive impact of staff caseloads as a result” stated Graham. Although “the ability of the state to operate Child Protective Services has been decimated,” according to Karl Lehman a CEO of Childkind, The state of Georgia is taking direct action to improve the working situation at DFCS (Miller,
Many recognize Division of Family and Child Services as the organization responsible for pulling crying children from the grasp of the weeping mother who is unfit to provide for the child’s needs. Many scorn DFCS for “tearing apart families,” or for the neglect of foster children. Public opinion seems to establish the Division of Family and Children Services as an enemy, a scapegoat for the mistreatment of children within the system, and the instability of foster care homes. This organization is trademarked by the unfortunate duties it is forced to perform, but should also be applauded for the successful placement of many children into stable and loving homes.
The Division of Family and …show more content…
In the Christopher Johnson Case of Illinois in 2010, the DFCS is accused of acting on behalf of the agency’s best interests, seeming to find the easiest yet unfair settlement to the dispute. Before being placed into his grandmother’s custody, Christopher Johnson was living on the scarce diet of hot dogs, cereal, and fast-food chicken. He lived in an apartment with his teenage brothers and sisters. His disabled grandmother, Cleaster Johnson, who, at the time, was raising three other grandchildren, was deemed fit by the DFCS to become primary care taker of young Christopher. Child-welfare workers supposedly directed her toward obtaining legal guardianship, which lacked the benefits that a foster parent would receive. Mrs. Johnson stated that no one explained to her that Christopher was eligible to receive free medical care and the monthly stipend she was entitled to as his caregiver. The grandmother also stated that she was never given an option by the DFCS, who were accused to have been steering cases away from DFCS care to avoid long-term obligations and to reduce caseloads. Margaret Benson, executive director of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, states, “DCFS isn’t doing its job. Probate Court is not a long-term foster …show more content…
Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal, formed a council to analyze the child welfare system and brainstorm ways that the system can better protect children. In addition to the council, Governor Deal also ordered that the proposed idea of privatization amongst the child welfare system be piloted in two regions in Georgia, one of those being Athens. The 175 newly hired case workers are part of a three-year plan to employ 525 new DFCS workers, and it is expected that these workers will have “a direct positive impact of staff caseloads as a result” stated Graham. Although “the ability of the state to operate Child Protective Services has been decimated,” according to Karl Lehman a CEO of Childkind, The state of Georgia is taking direct action to improve the working situation at DFCS (Miller,