Inquisition 21
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| Page Referral
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State intervention
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
We are moving towards a society where the state tries to legislate for appropriate behavouir
The grotesque new world of fostering
Some US commentators suggest that 30% of US foster parents abandon fostering each year, giving as their prime reason allegations of abuse and the risk of such allegations being made against them by the children they are caring for. A new industry in ‘allegation prevention training and survival skills’ has arisen in the US as a result. Commentators also suggest that less than ten per cent of allegations are ‘substantiated’, but that even in those homes where the allegations were found to be unsubstantiated no foster children were returned after the investigation. More seriously foster parents lack the fuller legal safeguards enjoyed by adoptive and natural parents. Those investigated manifested considerable stress symptoms as a result of the allegations, and these were commonly aggravated by hostile or insensitive investigations.
As the process of foster parents giving up fostering, and potential foster parents scared off from it, continue, the need for foster care and special needs adoption continue to rise, and it is said that over 500,000 children in the US now need foster homes.
Most of the reporting is anecdotal. Commonly heard are expressions such as ‘most often false’ but ‘frighteningly common’. Quotes include: "It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me" and “We can't say we weren't warned.”
The real surprise for many however is that allegations are now so common that they are part of the initial foster parent training in the US and elsewhere and social services in the UK are issuing leaflets about it to existing carers.
One US parent reported: “During our initial foster parent training, the presenter talked a little about allegations, but in a subsequent training session, we were told not to wonder ‘if’ an allegation would be made, but ‘when’. She continued: “We thought we were prepared for an allegation, but we could never have known what was in store for us. We could never have imagined or prepared ourselves for the process that would be so totally devastating for our entire family.”
She continues: “The longer you are a foster parent, the chances of having an allegation made against you greatly increases. - - - a foster family has a 50-50 chance of an allegation, with the vast majority of these having no basis. Increase the years and you increase the percentage rate. This number appears to be growing. - - - local agencies report they are seeing increases in allegations. One large county in Ohio indicated their allegations of foster families over a five year period have increased by 400%.”
She then continues with a devastating account of what happens after a false allegation even where social services know that the accuser has a track record of similar allegations. She first writes what you would expect: “The allegation is found to be unsubstantiated and, after a couple of days, your life returns to normal.” And then adds: “In an ideal world, this is how an allegation would be handled, but in reality, this isn't even close to what you will encounter. The above scenario is fiction. - - - You are GUILTY, until you prove yourself innocent. Because this is an administrative investigation and not a criminal one, you have no legal rights. You are NOT innocent, until proven guilty, and you cannot face your accuser. DCFS will remove the foster children in your home and place them into other foster homes BEFORE you are even questioned or told what the allegation is. You will only be told an allegation has been made, but not until the DCFS Investigation Unit questions you, will you be told what the allegation is. You will not be told what the child has said; it's confidential. You, your family members, and the other foster children will be interviewed by an investigator. The police will be contacted and may question individuals. If you are with a private agency, they will take a ‘stand back’ approach, so as not to compromise the investigation. The people from your agency, whom you worked with for years, won't return your phone calls and will try to avoid any contact with you. Your social worker from DCFS will take this same approach. You are suddenly standing alone.”
Others reported what few appear to know which is that your own natural children will be removed also.
Another wrote: “There is no greater injustice than to do kind deeds, such as making a difference in a foster child's life, and then be accused of a criminal act.” In fact, this is true also of every youth club leader falsely accused, and every one who has had the experience of having been a Good Samaritan only to find that the person they helped subsequently talked with a lawyer.
A UK parent who had given up fostering said that one of the hardest things she and her partner had to deal with was ‘the betrayal by our agency’. That same agency demands police checks on anyone who stays overnight in a foster home.
Advice from UK social services
The following comes from Hampshire County Council. To fully appreciate this, imagine that you are either thinking of fostering or are an existing foster parent. This is what you read: “What can I do to make it less likely that a complaint or allegation will be made against me and my family? And who can make a complaint and what sort of things are complained about?
“Complaints can come from a variety of sources including the child, a parent, a neighbour, school, a doctor or someone from Social Services. They fall into three categories which for ease of description are referred to as first, second and third level complaints.”
We skip to the all-important ‘Third level’. “These allegations result in a Child Protection Investigation. The same procedures are used for birth parents and foster carers. Third level allegations involve physical, emotional and sexual abuse, or neglect.
“Each investigation will be different and therefore the order of events may vary. Child protection investigations must look at the safety of ALL children in the household and that, of course, includes your own children. However, the procedures make it quite clear that only in exceptional circumstances where it is believed that children are at ‘immediate risk of significant harm’ should a child, or children, be removed from a foster home without warning and proper preparation.
“As soon as possible, an independent social worker will visit you and the child to start the investigation. This may include a medical examination of the child and any other children in the household. Previous children you have fostered may be contacted and interviewed. You and the alleged abuser (this could be a family member) may also be interviewed by the police. You may be asked to write a statement giving your version of event. Your Family Placement social worker will advise you about how to do this. Once the child protection investigation has been carried out, the independent service manager will decide whether or not to hold a Child Protection Conference. The main reason for holding a Child Protection Conference is to decide whether a child in your care needs to be on the Child Protection Register. (Editor – the trawling and widening process to search for other evidence ensuring that many more know about the original allegation and are encouraged ‘to come forward’.)
“Who attends a Child Protection Conference?
“If a conference is held, it is likely that you will be invited to attend. You can bring a friend or advocate with you for support or to speak on your own behalf. (You are already on trial.) The child who is the subject of the allegation may be there if (s)he wants to be and is old enough to understand what the meeting is about.
“The independent service manager will chair the meeting and the Family Placement social worker who has been involved with your case will be present. Some people will be there because they know you and the child you are looking after. There will also be some people there who regularly attend Child Protection Conferences to represent Health, Education, Probation and Police authorities. (Note the police)
“If other people are asked to attend, your Family Placement social worker will tell you who they are and why they are there.
“What happens at the Conference?
“The person chairing the meeting will explain why the meeting is being held and the order in which things will happen. Everyone at the meeting, including you, will be introduced. (And these are the accused parents.) People attending the meeting who know you and your family will say what has been happening and some of these people might bring written reports to the meeting. You will be asked for your views and you may bring a written statement with you if you wish and your foster child will be asked to say what (s)he thinks. All this information will be discussed.
“What can be decided at the meeting?
“There are several things that may be decided: That your foster child is not at harm and nothing further need happen. That more information is needed before a decision about what should happen can be made. That your foster child is at risk of harm and that something needs to be done.
“What should I be doing during an investigation?
“You are likely to be feeling shocked, hurt, vulnerable and angry at different stages of the investigation, but this must not stop you asking for written information, writing down your version of events, asking questions, and bringing together any reports or diaries you have written about the particular placement or incident. You should immediately seek some support from your local foster carers' group, your friends or the National Foster Care Association. The Hampshire County Council Employee Support Line is available to you as to all members of staff. Do not be shy about asking your Family Placement social worker where you can get independent support - it will not be held against you. (Editor. All reports point to the social workers refusing to talk to accused foster parents.)
"You should remember that whoever offers you support, their first responsibility is always for the safety of children and they will not, therefore, be able to guarantee you total confidentiality. (Editor – this is the safety of children mantra and a warning that they and the police will tell the local media.)
And if it can possibly be amusing at this stage
The advice goes on and takes us into – how do we describe it? A Kafkaesque, an Orwellian world?
“Meetings are not so alarming when you know in advance who will be there and what will actually happen. You should be aware that attending a Child Protection Conference may have legal implications. Although legal advice can be expensive, it is important to take the right advice at the right time. NFCA members can take advantage of 24 hour legal advice and legal costs insurance unless they are subsequently proved guilty in Court of the alleged offence.”
“What happens if the police become involved?
“Being the subject of an allegation of abuse is a serious matter. If you do become involved in a police investigation it is wise to take legal advice from a solicitor at the earliest possible stage. If you are attending a police station voluntarily in order to assist the police with their enquiries, but are not under arrest, you are free to leave the police station at any time. If the police do not want you to leave, you can only be detained if you are placed under arrest.
“If you are under arrest at a police station, you have the right to consult privately with a solicitor. This includes the right to speak to a solicitor on the telephone. If you do not know a solicitor experienced in criminal law then independent legal advice at the police station is available free of charge from the duty solicitor.”
And when it's all over?
This is the actual heading in the document: ‘And when it's all over?’
And this is the answer: “You may want a break from fostering or time out from your foster child.
“You may be asked to undertake some training on a specific topic relevant to the allegation.” (This is likely to be sex abuse therapy when you come out of prison, or a condition of early release.)
“You may decide that fostering is not for you and your family and retire. You may be de-registered as a foster carer by Social Services.
“You may be left with the complaint or allegation unresolved - although this caused much distress, it is sometimes inevitable.” (Your reputation in ruins.)
And surely, this is the ultimate insult: “You, or members of your family, may wish to receive counselling. Your Family Placement social worker can advise you on how to arrange this.” (The same one that helped land you in the mess in the first instance?)
And the future?
“After a serious complaint you may well feel insecure in your role as carers, lacking in self-confidence, guilty that you have put your family at risk. You are likely to need time to heal and recuperate with your family. Listen to what they have to say. Give yourself space and time. Nurture yourself. (Loud laughter!)
“In the longer term you may find that the experience has helped you to learn fresh skills and to discover new strengths in yourself and your family so that you can move forward with confidence to the next stage of your fostering career.”
See also A black eye for fostering.
State intervention
The iron fist of the state
We are cowed
The blacklist expands
Internet - tool of repression
The story of a ‘lucky family’
The grotesque new world of fostering
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