OCCUPY POVERTY…in the foster care system

In solidarity with the OCCUPY WALL STREET movement, OCCUPY POVERTY’s mission is to expose those activities against the most vulnerable of our citizens: the poor. One segment of the poor that is being continuously victimized are the parents and children involved in child abuse cases. In a recent investigation by the California State Auditor, it was discovered that nearly 600 homes out of 1000 private foster family homes where children had been placed were also the addresses of registered sex offenders.

Cited for this problem was the lack of funds, although the use of private foster family agencies has increased in the last 10 years with an additional $327 million in payments, because private foster homes are paid at a higher rate than those operated by the state or county. In the meantime, entitlement payments and wages for families of those children have decreased tremendously in the last 10 years. In addition, one of the primary reasons to uphold a case of child abuse against parents, and place children in out-of-home placement or foster care, is poverty.

Since the enactment of the War on Drugs in the 80s, this government attack on families has wreaked havoc with the destruction of thousands of families and children being repeatedly moved from home to home while growing up in foster care. In the past, children were removed based on hear-say and suspicion, but policies now include some measure of prevention, although it is still limited in its scope. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the Department of Social Services to provide protection for the children they find cause to remove from their homes.

The report continues to state that, “The counties we visited admit to placing children with these agencies out of convenience rather than for elevated treatment needs as originally intended.” Therefore, these placements were not due to advanced care for the children, but out of neglect, risk taking, and error by Child Protective Services. These are the same charges most often levied against parents when children are removed from their care.

OCCUPY POVERTY believes that children of primarily poor people are subjected to further abuse and harm by being placed in the homes of registered sex offenders. The possibilities of children being exposed to illicit and immoral treatment and activities are increased at the hands of these convicted criminals as opposed to their parents who may only lack the education, training, and ability to appropriately parent their children.

california-sex-offenders