News

Hundreds rally at Capitol against child abuse, neglect

Scott Davis LSJ.com — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:34:00 GMT

April 13, 2011
32,000 children were victimized in Michigan in the last year alone

Child abuse still an issue in Wyoming

Lindsey Erin Kroskob lkroskob@wyomingnews.com — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:31:00 GMT

April 14, 2011

In 2010, 735 children were victims of child abuse.

New hotline makes it easier for Memphians to report child abuse, neglect

Kontji Anthony wmctv.com — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:55:00 GMT

4/11/11
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton launched a new telephone hotline Monday designed to make it easier for residents of the Bluff City to report child abuse and neglect.

Life After Foster Care: Believing I Can Succeed

Jessica Jimenez HuffPostImpact — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:52:00 GMT

4/11/11
My name is Jessica. I am a college student currently in foster care. I have been a ward of the state for more than 13 years.

Helping foster youth get to college

CARL CIARAMELLA — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:35:00 GMT

April 7, 2011
Cal State San Marcos offers registration and housing priority; other help through the ACE program

During April's Child Abuse Prevention Month, American Humane Association Spotlights Ways To Keep Kid

PR Newswire — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:31:00 GMT

April 5, 2011
Different Approaches Encourage All Americans to Get Involved Before Abuse Starts and to Support Families, Be Good Neighbors All Year Round

DCFS is hosting workshops to help youth complete the First Star UCLA Bruin Academyapplication

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:19:00 GMT

April 7, 2011
FIRST STAR UCLA BRUIN GUARDIAN SCHOLARS SUMMER ACADEMY
Who's it for? Foster youth currently in 8th grade and entering ninth grade in fall who may be interested in attending college!!

Haley Barbour doesn't care about born children

BY ALEX PAREENE salon.com — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:56:00 GMT

April 6, 2011
One of the many reasons why it's amazing that Haley Barbour is supposed to be taken semi-seriously as a presidential candidate is that he's basically the governor of a failed state.

Free'ish Solutions: Early Enrollment at College for Foster Youth

David AmbrozExecutive Director of the Los Angeles City College Foundation — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:03:00 GMT

4/4/11
Despite every obstacle imaginable, foster youth are making it to college in California.

Transitional program for foster children in the works

Christopher Hong Kansan.com — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:57:00 GMT

March 31, 2011
Imagine growing up without a stable family, group of friends or a sense of familiarity. Moving from home to home, perhaps without a mentor to teach you life skills.

At Concord Youth Home, State Cuts Take a Casualty

TREY BUNDY the Bay Citizen — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:54:00 GMT

March 31, 2011
Seneca center took in troubled kids other agencies passed on; now it's shuttered

Help doesn�?Tt end with foster care

JACK SWANSON — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:35:00 GMT

March 29, 2011
OELWEIN, IOWA - When most people talk about their children "leaving the nest" it's usually with a little bit of mirth and perhaps some sadness mixed in, but for young adults who have been in foster care programs, it's definitely no laughing matter, and can be quite daunting when they are expected to face the world on their own.

WKU adopts program to help foster teens

Evansville Courier & Press — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:19:00 GMT

March 27, 2011
Universities across Kentucky have started offering a mentoring program aimed at pairing foster teens with community members.

Child abuse, at-risk kids programs may see cuts

By Robin Pyle Avalanche-Journal — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:08:00 GMT

March 20, 2011
Local child abuse prevention experts are concerned proposed budget cuts to prevention programs would have a devastating impact on Lubbock, which already has a child abuse rate more than twice the state average.

Oregon lawmakers to hear from public about bill giving free tuition to foster children

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:00:00 GMT

March 22, 2011

Current and former Oregon foster children could get the opportunity to go to college for free.

Lori Wortz To Chair Michigan Child Abuse And Neglect Prevention Board

Gov Monitor — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:57:00 GMT

16th March 2011
Governor Rick Snyder has announced the appointments of Lori Wortz, John Brown, Shelley Anne Kester, Mark McDaniel and Thomas Zook to the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.

States' use of foster kids' benefits is assailed

The Associated Press NEW YORK — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:39:00 GMT

Mar. 16, 2011
"In state after state, we are sabotaging foster children's futures rather than providing guidance and help," says a detailed report on the issue being released Wednesday by First Star, a national nonprofit which advocates for abused children, and the University of San Diego School of Law's Children's Advocacy Institute.

Report: States Confiscate Benefits of Foster Children; Many Left Destitute as They "Age Out" of Care

SuperUser Account — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:03:00 GMT

Washington, DC, March 16, 2011 - States across the country regularly confiscate the assets of foster children, including Social Security survivor and disability benefits - all but ensuring these youths' failure as they "age out" of the foster care system at age 18, according to a new report released today.

COMPLAINT ON COVERAGE: JOURNALISM IS CHOICES: YOUR JAMES McKINLEY MADE THE WRONG ONES:

Peter Samuelson, Pres and Co-Founder First Star — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:26:00 GMT

Dear Editor;
I write as President of www.firststar.org the non-profit which advocates nationally on behalf of abused and neglected children, with regard to "Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town" by James C. McKinley Jr., published by you on March 8, 2011.

Funding down, requests for help up at organization preventing child abuse

Carolyn Scofield WPTV.com — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:14:00 GMT

03/08/2011
FT. PIERCE, Fla. - White flags crowd a room at CASTLE in Ft. Pierce. The 197 flags will stand tall and together in a field later this week. It will be CASTLE's Memory Field, and each one of the flags represents a Florida child who died as a result of abuse or neglect.

Group to unveil plan to prevent child abuse

Kathleen Quilligan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:09:00 GMT

March 10, 2011
SCHERERVILLE, INDIANA At last year's Annual Forum on Child Abuse & Neglect the president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America told attendees they couldn't really expect to be effective at preventing child abuse if they didn't have a plan in place.

Senator Landrieu Reintroduces Foster Care Mentoring Act

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:02:00 GMT

Last week Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), introduced the Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2011 (S. 420) with cosponsors Mark Begich (D-AK) and Tim Johnson (D-SD).

Making school the center of a foster kid's world

Patty Fisher Mercury News columnist — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:50:00 GMT

3-8-2011
In some ways, it's a typical middle-school parent-teacher conference

Strategy needed to thwart child-abuse deaths

KIMBERLY DAY TBO.com — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:38:00 GMT

March 8, 2011
Florida residents have certainly been hit with their share of news about child tragedies in the past several weeks.

Child abuse, neglect in county impacts youngest most

Steve Block, Staff writer, TTi . — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:34:00 GMT

March 08, 2011
Infants under the age of 1 year old showed the highest rate of maltreatment in Las Animas County, according to recently released child abuse statistics from the Colorado Department of Human Services' Division of Child Welfare (DCW).

'Baby Vanessa' custody battle may end in U.S. Supreme Court

Mary McCarty Dayton Daily News — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:53:00 GMT

March 6, 2011
Whatever happens in Montgomery County Juvenile Court this week in a long-delayed custody hearing, the nationally publicized "Baby Vanessa" case probably is far from over.

This is Dropout Nation: The Foster Care Ghetto and School Reform

RiShawn Biddle — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:42:00 GMT

March 2, 2011
Some 424,000 children nationwide were in foster care in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Twenty-six thousand of them each year age out of the system, often while still in high school.

Child advocate: why is neglect legal?

Justin Fenton The Baltimore Sun — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:33:00 GMT

MARCH 3, 2011
Adam Rosenberg, director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, will be testifying in Annapolis today in favor of child abuse legislation and sent out this statement this morning:

State child abuse, neglect cases on the rise

nbc11news.com — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:04:00 GMT

Feb 24, 2011
More than 11,000 cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every year in Colorado.

Deadly toll of child abuse

Herald Tribune — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:58:00 GMT

March 1, 2011
The annual report compiled by the Florida Child Abuse Death Review Committee is always grim reading. But the information is important.

LA Cty Dept of Children & Family Services Supports First Star/UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy

Letter from Antonia Jimenez, Acting Director — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:43:00 GMT

February 24, 2011
Letter of Support and endorsement of the First Star/UCLA Bruin Guardian Academy by LA county Dept of Children & Family Services

Foster children take case for tuition waivers to lawmakers

The Portland Tribune — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:01:00 GMT

Feb 28, 201
Foster children from across the state gather Monday in Salem to promote legislation they hope will improve Oregon's foster care system.

Venus Williams speaks to Rising Star winners

DAVID J. NEAL DNEAL@MIAMIHERALD.COM — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:56:00 GMT

02.26.11
Venus Williams, who gave the keynote address to Sun Life's Rising Star Awards National Summit.

The Fleecing of Foster Children: How We Confiscate Their Assets and Undermine Their Financial Secur

First Star & CAI — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:42:00 GMT

March 16, 2011, from 3:30-4:40pm
United States Capitol, Room H137

Court of Appeals Rules Vanessa Doss Stays in CA - For Now Continue reading at NowPublic.com: Court

Now Public — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:01:00 GMT

July 17, 2010
For the first time since her court battles began, almost two years ago, Stacey Doss, an Orange County, CA mother, feels her voice is finally being heard. The Orange County Appellate Court, ruled in her favor this week, saving Doss' two year old daughter, Vanessa, from being pulled out of her home and placed in foster care - indefinitely and the Justices are asking attorneys on both sides of the custody battle, to be ready to discuss the best interests of the child - a ruling Doss is hoping the courts will ultimately decide means staying with her, in So California.

Society may be willing to pay a high price to prevent child abuse and neglect, study suggests

e.science news (source University of Georgia) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:30:00 GMT

February 22, 2011
The amount the public will pay to prevent the death of a child may be twice that of an adult, according to a new University of Georgia study that asked 199 individuals how much they would pay to prevent a death from child abuse or neglect.

Jacksonville job program started for young adults out of foster care Read more at Jacksonville.com:

LISA COLLINS Jacksonville.com — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:25:00 GMT

February 24, 2011
It is a part-time job, assisting in transition to life as an adult. The Southside Jacksonville-based Family Support Services of North Florida has implemented a job readiness program for young adults ages 18 to 21 who have aged out of foster care.

Education Court launches in Santa Clara County

By Miriam G. Mazliach — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:25:00 GMT

Program focuses on improving academic performance of foster youth

State worker puts human face on cuts

Susan Cover Maine Today — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:14:00 GMT

February 21
Lisa Fitzgerald's job will be eliminated if Gov. Paul LePage's budget is passed as proposed.Lisa Fitzgerald is one of five state workers who investigate child abuse and neglect in foster homes, day cares, and group homes.

National strategy needed to stop child abuse

Kayla Kennerup Editorial Press Connects.com — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:12:00 GMT

Feb. 18, 2011
Child abuse is a growing epidemic in the United States. In 2009, nearly 1 million children were either abused or neglected.

A Brighter Future: Ending Child Abuse Through Advocacy and Education

Univ of SC Upstate — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:04:00 GMT

February 17, 2011
Spartanburg, S.C. - According to the most recent statistics reported by The Children's Defense Fund (2011), in South Carolina a child is abused or neglected every 41 minutes, a child dies before his or her first birthday every 16 hours, and a child or teen is killed by gunfire every 6 days. Child maltreatment not only includes physical and sexual abuse but also emotional abuse and failure to meet the basic needs of the child.

Study: Child abuse, neglect up in Colorado

Dave Young KWGN Denver — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:01:00 GMT

Feb 28, 2011
DENVER -- The rate of child abuse and neglect in Colorado is on the rise, in sharp contrast to the rest of the nation, which has seen a decrease over the last several years.

Year-old center in Vero Beach helps more than 50 youths leaving foster care

Christin Erazo TCPALM — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:53:00 GMT

February 17, 2011
VERO BEACH - About 800 young adults in Florida's foster care system turn 18 years old every year, and some stumble across a harsh reality - they are no longer entitled to a home.

A Call to End 'The National Media Blackout on Child Abuse'

Teresa HuizarExecutive Director, National Children's Alliance Hiffington Post — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:48:00 GMT

February 15, 2011
Every day in America, there are an estimated seven children who die from abuse or neglect -- some 2,500 per year (expert estimate of actual deaths).

Prevent child abuse with tax check-off

The Daily Nonpareil Online, Iowa — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:39:00 GMT

February 16, 2011
The state income tax check off provides taxpayers an opportunity to donate a portion of their refund to preventing child abuse in local communities. Those who don't receive a refund can still contribute to the cause by making a donation upon filing.

Children aging out of foster care could find a place at Delaware State University

DoverPost.com — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:15:00 GMT

Feb 15, 2011
Delaware State University and the State Division of Family Services announced a new initiative Feb. 14 that will make higher education a reality for eligible foster youths.

Programs help Foster Children attend college

Sherrie Johnson — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:11:00 GMT

02/16/2011
BALTIMORE - 18-year-old Jermard Bryant has been in the Foster Care System for much of his life. His mother was addicted to drugs and couldn't take care of him or his siblings.

Lawsuit seeks child abuse records

Deborah Yetter dyetter@courier-journal.com — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:06:00 GMT

Jan. 27, 2011
The state's two largest newspapers have filed a lawsuit against the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, alleging officials are refusing to release records of some child abuse deaths and injuries despite a judge's ruling last year that it must release such documents under the state open records law.

Foster care bill improves students chances

Mercury News editorial — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:08:00 GMT

02/13/2011
It's not easy being one of California's 75,000 foster children. Most attend nine schools before their 18th birthdays, going from home to home, learning firsthand the high cost of being neglected. Despite some promising legislation in recent years, California continues to fail the children who are its wards.

See what First Star is doing to improve educational opportunity for foster youth.

CHART: Child poverty, abuse on the rise in Great Lakes Bay Region

Andrew Dodson | Booth Mid-Michigan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:57:00 GMT

February 10, 2011
More than 21 percent of children in the Great Lakes Bay Region live in poverty.