Investigation Into Guardian Ad Litems Shows Corruption and Bias

A guardian ad litem is appointed by the court to "protect the best interests of the children" in court. Does this happen? An investigative reporter in one area says no.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/22258017/investigation-exposes-little-oversight-of-child-advocates

Kids Die Under the "Watchful" Eye of Berks County CYS; No One Seems To Notice

If you have lived in Berks County, you may be shocked to know that CYS does not always protect children. Indeed, you may be shocked to know that kids are abused and that kids even die under the care of the agency.

What is more shocking is that this agency, that has a budget of $50 million dollars, does nothing to fix the issues that created the problems. Even more shocking is that the average citizen has no idea of what is going on.

Our reporter talked with several people on the street in Reading PA and confirmed that the public had no knowledge of these events. Why is this? Why is the news media not covering these stories? Here are just a few cases of the children who have paid the ultimate price: they were betrayed by a system   that was supposed to protect them.


 1. This little boy, only one year old was beaten, drugged, raped and MURDERED while in state care!!! 


http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19971020&id=l0kwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nKYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3585%2C3635646

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19971024&id=m0kwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nKYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1536%2C4994927


2. Here's another child who was murdered in BCCYS care

Here's another child who died under BCCYS' "Watchful Eyes"!! Hey Jen! What say you about this?

http://blackchildrenmurderedbyabuse.blogspot.com/2012/11/amira-brown-12-years-old-beaten-to-death.html

3. And yet another

Here's another one for ya, Jen!! A child died while BCCYS was watching!!! How can you say your "CLIENTS" are doing the right thing..... REALLY???

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=516720

http://m.wfmz.com/Mother-speaks-after-grand-jury-charges-man-for-child-s-death/-/15946050/22499864/-/e7ldgiz/-/index.html

4. Here's more:

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ucmprd/groups/webcontent/documents/document/p_034667.pdf

Biker Groups, Churches Sponsor Oceanfront Trip For Members Of "I Survived Berks County" Support Group

Last night, a group gathered in Virginia Beach to share a meal and have some fun. From all appearances, the group looked like any other group at the ocean front having a cookout. There was laughter, singing, and lots of food.  But this was different then your average get together.

The get together was sponsored by churches and biker groups in Virginia. The attendees? Adults from the "I Survived Berks County" support group which has formed in Lehigh County. Members of the group are adults who had CYS involvement in their lives when they were young. Many of the adults were sent to homes like Kids Peace and Bethany Home. Others were sent to live in foster care homes. In some cases, the foster care homes were worse then what they endured at home.

"I am so grateful for these people. It's nice to get away and I've never been to Virginia before", said one attendee.

"The people are nice and they really care about what we've gone through", said another. "It helps. It helps to know people care."

Counselors were also available if participants needed to talk. Some of the adults did just that; others remained silent.

" I don't trust counselors" said one man who identified himself just as G Daddy. "In Berks County, counselors are part of "the system". They'll sell you out in a heart beat to make money. That's all kids are in Berks--a way to make money." G Daddy got up suddenly and walked to the ocean, throwing shells into the water. A biker came up alongside of him and just stood silently, with his hand on G Daddy's shoulder.

Pastor CJ is old enough to remember the civil rights movement in the 1960s although he won't say his age. "I remember the marches and I remember folks getting beat up and even killed for standing up for what was right. Houses were burned and people woke up to burning crosses on their lawns if they chose to speak out. I remember when the schools were segregated and when you could only use certain bathrooms and certain water fountains. I can relate to the anger these people have at the system. But anger will only destroy you. What happened to these young people was wrong, but it happened. We're here today to say that we care and to help them process what happened, to help them move forward, to give them a safe environment to talk about what happened to them."

Andy used to live in Pennsylvania. He now lives in Virginia.  "My parents were foster parents. These kids were deeply wounded when they came to our family. Some of them had horrible things done to them at the hands of their parents before the system stepped in and gave them a safe place to live. Others had a safe place to live and were just taken."

Andy continued. "I've kept in touch with a bunch of the foster kids that lived with our family. Their stories didn't end well. They didn't have the support they needed, they didn't get the help they needed to heal. It affected their kids as well. That's why I'm here today. I want to help."

"If you aren't part of the solution, you are the problem" said another sponsor of the trip. I want to be part of the solution.

Adults Who Were Victims of Child Abuse Share Their Stories

Stewards of Children is a new blog which features children who were let down by "the system". These adults, who were once child abuse victims, share their stories of how they overcame and went from surviving to thriving.

Many children in Berks County are being victimized today simply because those in authority do not wish to see the truth. Parents are being accused of abuse simply as an act of retaliation while other parents who do abuse children are walking free. In some cases, children are being sent to detention facilities in order to cover over the abuse rather than dealing with it.

You can read the stories here:

http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6300229/k.43F8/Childhood_Stories_Documentary.htm