"Child Abuse Resolutions" That Passed the PA State Senate

From Bob Mensch's website:
http://www.senatormensch.com/2013/10/16/senate-approves-five-strong-child-protection-bills/

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.

Berks County Survivors Support Group Reacts to Superior Court Verdict

A staff member interviewed several members of the newly formed support group for children who have aged out of "the system" in Berks County to judge their reaction to the Superior Court ruling which was published today. All interviews were conducted on the condition that names not be revealed due to fear of retaliation.

Read more about that post here:http://berkscountynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2013/10/berks-county-slammed-in-superior-court.html

"It's been an awesome week. For the first time, I have hope" says a now adult survivor. "A number of people were down in Washington DC this week protesting with groups from all over the country in front of the White House for reform and there were Congressional briefings that were held. That was incredible. To think that people care enough about kids to go and travel and go to DC with all this chaos. Wow."

"Then, a group spoke out about Berks County at a Missions Conference. That was just awesome!"

"Then, that doctor was arrested for over-prescribing meds", continued another support group participant. He saw a lot of foster kids. Some in our group actually went to him."

"Then this....this was just the icing on the cake. A number of us were taken when we were kids and placed in foster care. We always suspected that something wasn't quite right. Now, I've reconnected with my birth parents and we are piecing together the story and healing. But today, the Morganti family successfully fought against CYS and what they did. That was just awesome."

Another adult survivor continued, "I want to say thank you to the people in the BCCYS corruption group. Thank you for standing up for the kids of Berks County and for holding people accountable for their actions.Thank you to the Morganti family too." She began crying uncontrollably. "If only someone had been there for us and for our families. Maybe things would have turned out differently."

"More people need to speak out and to take their cases to Superior Court", said one young man who identified himself only as Mr. Gonzalez. "Stay strong and speak out like the Morganti family did."